Burken

Burken is a Swedish noun in its definite form, meaning “the can” or “the jar.” It is the definite form of burk, which denotes a container used for holding food or other goods. In everyday language, burken can refer to metal cans as well as glass jars.

Etymology and form: The word burk and its definite form burken belong to the broader family of Germanic-derived terms for containers. In Swedish, the definite singular is formed by adding the suffix -en to the indefinite noun (burying the noun with the article the as in burk → burken). The plural burkar corresponds to cans or jars in general.

Usage and examples: Burken is commonly used to describe a physical container in ordinary speech. For example, a phrase like “en burk med sylt” means “a jar of jam,” and “burken är tom” means “the can/jar is empty.” The term is also encountered in households and kitchens where canned or jarred goods are discussed or referenced.

Varieties and related terms: The related form burk covers the general category of containers, while burken specifies a particular can or jar that is being referred to. Dialectal variation can affect pronunciation and exact usage, but the basic meaning remains the same across standard Swedish.

See also: burk, container, tin can, jar.