engång

Engång is a Swedish noun and adverb related to the concept of a single occurrence or use. In its core sense it means “one time” or “on one occasion,” and is used for events or actions that happen only once. The term can also function as a base for compounds describing products intended for single use, especially with the prefix engångs-.

In practice, engång is used to describe a one-off event, such as a release or performance that does not repeat, though in everyday Swedish the phrase en gång is more common for indicating time. When referring to objects, the form engångs- attaches to nouns to indicate disposability, e.g., engångsartikel (disposable item), engångsprodukter (single-use products).

Common contexts include healthcare and hospitality, where disposable items are used for hygiene and convenience, e.g., gloves, syringes, plastic cutlery. Environmental concerns have led to regulation and debates about engångsprodukter, with efforts to reduce waste by promoting reusable alternatives or recycling.

Note on translation and usage: in English-language texts, engång is usually rendered as “one-off” when referring to an event and as “single-use” or “disposable” when referring to products. The term is widely understood in Swedish-speaking contexts and is part of discussions about consumption, hygiene, and waste management.