Granne

Granne is a noun used in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish to denote a person who lives nearby—a neighbor. In English, it is typically translated as neighbor. The term is used for someone who shares a geographic vicinity, such as the person living next door or in the same block. It can refer to a neighbor in both casual and everyday contexts, often carrying a neutral or friendly tone.

Etymology and forms: The word is of North Germanic origin, with cognates in Danish and Norwegian and from Old Norse granni, meaning a close or nearby person. In Swedish, the definite singular form is grannen, and the plural is grannar. The base form grann- appears in various neighborhood-related compounds.

Usage and related terms: In Swedish, grannen and grannar are standard for “the neighbor” and “neighbors.” The stem grann- appears in compounds such as grannskap (neighborhood or locality) and grannsamverkan (neighborhood cooperation, including crime prevention). The term generally denotes a person rather than a relationship; however, it can reflect social ties within a local community.

Cultural notes: Granne conveys a sense of proximate proximity and everyday social life in a neighborhood. It is most common in informal speech and rural or close-knit settings, where neighborly interaction is a salient aspect of daily life. It should not be confused with terms for more distant neighbors or non-residential relationships.

See also: neighbor, neighborhood, neighborhood watch, neighborly relations.