bekröning

Bekröning is a Swedish noun that primarily refers to the act of crowning or conferring a crown, especially in a royal or ceremonial context. In later usage, the word can also denote a formal recognition or honor awarded to a person, expressed metaphorically as a “crowning” of merit. The sense of crowning is the core idea, while the recognition sense is more figurative and less common in everyday language.

Etymology and scope: Bekröning is formed from be- plus kröning, the latter meaning crown or coronation and deriving from the verb kröna (to crown). The root kröning is closely related to the concept of coronation (kröning) in Swedish. In modern ordinary language, kröning is the more typical term for a coronation, while bekröning appears more in historical, literary, or ceremonial contexts and can be considered a formal or archaic variant.

Usage and nuance: In historical or ceremonial writing, bekröning describes the moment and ceremony in which a crown is placed or bestowed, i.e., the coronation of a monarch. In a broader or metaphorical sense, bekröning can refer to publicly recognizing achievement or merit, though belöning (reward) or utmärkelse (honor/award) are more common choices in contemporary Swedish. The word carries a tone of solemnity and formality.

See also: belöning, utmärkelse, hederspris, krona, kröning.