Speglingen

Speglingen is a Swedish noun meaning the reflection or mirror image, used for both literal reflections seen in a mirror or in water and for figurative representations. It can refer to how something is portrayed or perceived, as in a visual or conceptual image of reality.

Etymology and form: the word is derived from the verb spegla, meaning to reflect or mirror. The base form spegling adds the noun suffix -ing, and the definite form is speglingen. The plural indefinite form is speglingar, and the definite plural is speglingarna. A related term is spegel, which refers to a physical mirror.

Usage: in everyday language speglingen describes what is seen in a surface that reflects light, for example a lake’s speglingen or a mirror’s spegling. Metaphorically, it is used to speak of representation or self-image, such as the speglingen of reality, society, or character.

Contexts: in literature and philosophy, speglingen is employed to discuss how identity, truth, or social norms are mirrored or distorted in perception. In psychology and cultural analysis, the term can appear in analyses of self-perception, media representations, or the relationship between subject and world. Its usage tends to emphasize the interpretive and sometimes contested nature of reflection.

See also: spegel, referring to a physical mirror, and spegla, the verb meaning to reflect or mirror. The concept is commonly encountered in Swedish discussions of imagery, representation, and perception.