Dalen

Dalen is the definite form of the Nordic noun dal, meaning "the valley," in Norwegian and Swedish. The basic noun dal refers to a long, low-lying area bordered by hills or mountains, often shaped by a river. The term originates in Old Norse dalr and Proto-Germanic *dalaz, and the definite suffix -en is used in Norwegian and Swedish to form dalen.

In toponymy, dalen appears as a common place name in Norway and Sweden. It denotes a valley location and is used for villages, farms, or geographic features situated in or near a valley. Because valleys are common across the region, many different places bear the name Dalen. The spelling can vary between dalen, the generic definite form, and Dalen when used as a capitalized proper name for a specific location.

Dalen is also found as a surname in Nordic countries, reflecting its use as a toponymic surname derived from geographic features.

Overall, the term encapsulates linguistic history and landscape naming practices in Norwegian and Swedish contexts. It functions as both a common noun meaning valley and as a proper name applied to multiple places and, less commonly, to people.