Chemiskt

Chemiskt is a non-standard spelling of an adjective meaning chemical or chemically in some contexts. It is not part of the standard orthography in major Germanic languages, where the equivalent forms are typically kemisk or kjemisk (Swedish, Danish, Norwegian) or chemisch (Dutch, German). The appearance of the form with a “ch” often reflects historical usage, typographic variation, or influence from languages that retain the “ch” spelling.

Etymology and relation to other forms

The root in all related terms goes back to the same linguistic source as English chemical, ultimately from Latin chemia and Greek khēmeia. The prefix or morpheme chem- appears in many languages to signal a relation to chemistry. The variant chem- forms can appear in transliterations, loanwords, or stylistic choices, but the standard spelling in Scandinavian languages uses k rather than ch.

Usage and notes

In contemporary writing, chemist forms with “ch” are generally considered nonstandard in standard Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian, and may be encountered only in historical texts, regional dialects, or as branding and stylistic device. When conveying the intended meaning clearly, it is advisable to use the conventional spellings kemisk or kemiskt for chemical or chemically in those languages, and chemisch or chemical equivalents in other languages.

See also

Chemistry, chemical, kemisk, kjemisk.