beteckna

Beteckna is a Swedish verb meaning to designate, denote, signify, or label something by giving it a sign, name, or symbol. It is used in everyday language as well as in technical, scientific, and mathematical contexts. The infinitive form is beteckna, with present tense betecknar, past tense betecknade, and supine betecknat.

The word is formed from the root related to teckna, meaning to draw or sign, with a prefix that broadens the meaning to designate or signify. The related noun beteckning refers to a designation, label, or symbol, and is commonly used in both spoken and written Swedish to describe the sign that identifies something.

In usage, beteckna is typically transitive: you betecknar an object or concept with a sign, term, or symbol. It is common to say att något betecknas med eller som ett visst tecken eller ord. In mathematical and scientific writing, it often appears as “betecknas med bokstaven …” or “beteckningen x,” indicating how a quantity or concept is denoted in formulas or diagrams.

Common synonyms include benämna (to name or designate) and ange (to specify), though beteckna tends to imply the use of a symbol or formal notation. The term is neutral and widely used in education, research, and technical documentation.

Examples:

- I matematiken betecknas hastigheten med bokstaven v.

- Fenomenet betecknas med tecknet π i formeln.

- Variabeln betecknas som x i den här ekvationen.