Speil

Speil is the Norwegian noun for a mirror, referring to a reflective surface used to view oneself or surroundings. It covers a range of objects, from handheld cosmetics mirrors to larger wall-mounted units found in homes and public spaces. In everyday Norwegian, speil is common in expressions about appearance, perception, and symmetry, and it appears in various compound words and phrases describing reflections or mirrored surfaces. Etymologically, speil is part of the North Germanic family of words for mirror and is cognate with Danish spejl and Swedish spegel, sharing roots in older Germanic languages. In Norwegian literature and culture, the mirror is a frequent symbol associated with identity, truth, and self-examination, and the word is used metaphorically in many contexts. Outside everyday language, speil may also occur as a proper noun in rare cases, such as in place names or surnames, though this usage is uncommon. Overall, speil remains the standard term for a mirror in contemporary Norwegian, with close cognates across related Scandinavian languages.