Spelningen

Spelningen is a Swedish term that denotes a live musical or theatrical performance, comparable to “the show” or “the gig” in English. It is commonly used in Swedish-language media to refer to a single concert, festival appearance, or stage performance by an artist or group.

Etymologically, the word derives from the verb spela, meaning to play, with the noun-forming suffix -ning and the definite article -en. The construction emphasizes the act of performing and the event as a whole, rather than the content of the performance itself.

In everyday usage, spelningen can describe both the event and the act of performing. Media coverage may talk about a forthcoming spelning in Stockholm or review a spelning attended by the journalist. The term is neutral in tone and applies across genres, including pop, rock, folk, jazz, and theatre, without implying quality or duration.

Spelningen also appears in media as a title for live releases or documentary material when a particular performance serves as the focal point. When used as a proper noun to denote a specific work, capitalization and context indicate it is the name of a particular event or production.

In Swedish, the related noun spelning refers to performing in general, while the plural spelningar denotes multiple performances. The definite form spelningen emphasizes a specific, identifiable event.