Ojämn

Ojämn is a Swedish adjective meaning not even, uneven, or irregular. It describes things that lack uniformity or symmetry, such as surfaces, distributions, or processes. For example, an ojämn väg refers to a road with bumps, and a situation with ojämn fördelning describes resources that are unevenly distributed.

In mathematical language, ojämn is commonly used to describe numbers that are not divisible by two. However, the standard term for these numbers in Swedish is udda tal, with ojämnt tal appearing in some texts or older usage. In practice, most contemporary sources prefer udda tal when talking about odd numbers, even though ojämnt tal may still be understood.

Beyond math, ojämn is used in general contexts to indicate irregularity or imbalance. It can describe textures (an ojämn yta), measurements, or schedules that do not align smoothly. It is also used to talk about social or economic conditions, such as an ojämn fördelning of income or opportunities, indicating inequality or lack of parity.

Etymology and usage notes: ojämn is formed from the prefix o- meaning “not” and jämn meaning “even.” The term emphasizes deviation from a standard of equality or uniformity. In synonyms, jämn contrasts with ojämn, while “udda” is the common mathematical term for odd numbers.