äppelformad

Äppelformad is a Swedish adjective meaning apple-shaped. The term is formed from äpple, meaning apple, and formad, meaning shaped, and it is used to describe objects whose silhouette resembles an apple. Typically an äppelformad form is rounded and bulbous, with broad upper and lower parts and a relatively narrower middle, though the exact contour can vary depending on the object.

The usage is descriptive rather than technical. In everyday language, äppelformad may describe items such as containers, vases, or sculptures that have a rounded body and a neck-like constriction. In a more general sense, it can also be applied to descriptions of shapes in nature or design, where no formal geometric classification is intended.

In Swedish discourse, äppelformad is often contrasted with other shape terms, such as päronformad (pear-shaped), to convey differences in contour. The word is primarily a visual descriptor used across contexts like design, art, fashion, and informal anatomical or biological descriptions, where precise mathematics are not required.

Etymologically, the word reflects a straightforward naming convention common in Swedish: a familiar object (the apple) used as a reference point for a recognizable silhouette, followed by the common adjectival suffix formad. The term is widely understood in Swedish-speaking communities and relies on common perception of what an apple’s contour looks like.