Målet

Målet is the definite form of the noun må l in several Scandinavian languages, most commonly Swedish, Norwegian (bokmål and nynorsk), and Danish. The core meaning is “the goal,” “the objective,” or “the target.” The indefinite singular form is mål, with målet used when referring to a specific, identifiable goal.

In everyday usage, målet appears in both sports and non-sport contexts. In sports, it denotes the goal itself—the physical frame or the act of scoring. In broader language, målet refers to the end or aim of an action, plan, or project. It is used in phrases such as nå målet (to reach the goal), sette seg et mål (to set a goal), or arbeide mot et singulært mål (working toward a specific objective).

The term also figures in planning, management, and policy discussions, where målet denotes an intended outcome or target to be achieved within a timeframe. It can describe personal ambitions as well as organizational or governmental targets, such as financial goals, performance metrics, or strategic aims.

Etymologically, målet is the definite form of må l in the Scandinavian language family, reflecting the common linguistic pattern where definite articles attach to nouns. The word shares cross-linguistic cognates across Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, underscoring its broad use in expressing aims and endpoints.

See also: Goal (sports), Objective, Target.