Haken

Haken is a German noun meaning hook. It denotes a curved or bent metal piece used to catch, hang, or secure objects, such as a fishing hook, a clothing hook, or a wall hook. The form can describe any device that uses a curved projection to hold something in place, including hardware fasteners and climbing anchors. In English, the word hook is a cognate term.

In everyday German, phrases such as “Da ist der Haken” signal a snag or catch in a plan. The term also appears in numerous compound nouns, including “Kleiderhaken” (clothes hook) and “Türhaken” (door hook). The word is etymologically related to the English word hook; both derive from a common Germanic root for a curved projection used to seize or hold.

As a surname, Haken appears in German-speaking regions. The physicist Hermann Haken is known for his work on laser theory and the development of synergetics, a framework for describing how order emerges in complex systems.

In some compounds, such as Hakenkreuz, the word is part of the historical term for the hooked cross used on the Nazi flag. The usage is context-specific and carries strong historical associations.