Merke

Merke is a term that appears in several Germanic languages with related meanings tied to marking, noting, or identifying something. Depending on language, it can refer to a physical mark or sign, a brand or label, a feature or characteristic, or the act of noticing. It also occurs as a surname or in place names in parts of Northern Europe.

Etymology and cognates: Merke stems from Proto-Germanic roots linked to marking a boundary or sign. Cognates include the English mark and the German merken, as well as similar forms in Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish (merke, märke, mærke). Across these languages the core idea involves marking, identifying, or perceiving.

Usage by language: In Norwegian Bokmål, merke means a mark, a brand, or a sign, and as a verb it means to mark or to notice. In Swedish, märke is the noun for a brand or mark, and märka is the verb to notice or to mark. In Danish, mærke covers brand or sign, and at mærke means to notice or to mark. In German, Merke is not a common standalone noun; related terms include das Merkmal for a feature and merken for the verb to notice or remember.

See also: mark, Merkmal, sign, label.