Slående

Slående is a term used in the Scandinavian languages, primarily Swedish, Norwegian and Danish. It functions as an adjective and as the present participle of the verb slå, meaning to strike. In its figurative use, slående describes something that is striking, clear, or highly noticeable, while in a literal sense it can refer to a physical strike or blow.

Etymology and form: Slående comes from the verb slå, with the present participle suffix -ende forming a descriptive adjective. The same construction appears across Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, yielding similar meanings in each language.

Usage: In figurative language, slående is common in both formal and everyday contexts. Examples include slående bevis (conclusive evidence), slående likhet (striking similarity), and slående argument (persuasive argument). It can also appear in constructions like “Det var slående hur…” to indicate something that is striking or notable in a given situation. In a literal sense, slående may describe a physical strike or blow, such as a slående slag, particularly in sports or combat contexts.

Variation and nuance: While widely understood in all three languages, the exact nuance can vary. In Norwegian, synonyms such as påfallende are often used for “striking” in a non-lighting sense, whereas slående remains common in formal or literary style. In Danish and Swedish, the term carries both the literal and figurative weight without implying aggression.

See also: Striking (translation), Slå, Figurative language.

Overall, slående is a versatile word in Scandinavian usage, conveying immediate impact, either visually and cognitively, or physically through a strike.