Vegetabilisk

Vegetabilisk is an adjective used in Swedish to describe something that originates from plants. It denotes plant-based or botanical origin and is used to distinguish from products derived from animals or minerals. The term is widely applied in labeling and marketing, as well as in nutritional, culinary, cosmetic, and bioproduct contexts.

Common applications include vegetabilisk olja (vegetable oil), vegetabiliskt protein (plant-based protein), and vegetabiliska färgämnen (plant pigments). In these contexts, the word emphasizes source material rather than production method. It can be contrasted with terms that indicate animal origin, such as animalisk, or with mineral-based materials.

It is important to note that vegetabilisk describes origin from plants but does not by itself guarantee vegan status. A product labeled vegetabilisk may still involve processing aids or components of animal origin, depending on production practices. Conversely, many vegetabiliska products align with vegan or vegetarian diets and ethical preferences.

Etymology traces back to Latin vegetabilis, via Swedish usage. The term is closely paralleled in other Scandinavian languages (for example, Norwegian vegetabilisk and Danish vegetabilsk) and is commonly found in food labeling, nutritional guides, and scientific writing to signal plant-derived sourcing.