Exempel

Exempel is a neuter noun in Swedish, meaning a representative instance used to illustrate a general rule, statement, or pattern. It is a fundamental tool in explanation and argumentation, helping to clarify meaning by showing a concrete case. In English, the closest equivalent is “example.” In everyday language, the compound phrase “till exempel” is used to introduce an illustration, roughly equivalent to “for example,” and the adverbial form “exempelvis” can be used to introduce instances as well.

Etymology and origins: The Swedish word originates from the French exemp(le), which in turn comes from the Latin exemplum meaning a copy, pattern, or model. The form and usage entered Swedish through historical contact with Latin and French, becoming a common part of educational, legal, and literary language.

Usage and grammar: Exempel is a common device in both spoken and written Swedish to illustrate rules, norms, or hypotheses. The singular is “ett exempel,” and the plural is formed without changing the noun itself, typically used with determiners such as “flera exempel” or “många exempel.” In specialized contexts, compounds like “exempeldata” (example data) or “exempelmening” (example sentence) are widely used in teaching, linguistics, and computing.

See also: Related terms include mall (template), modell (model), and förebild (model or exemplar). The concept of an example is central across education, law, science, and technology as a means of demonstrating or testing ideas.