figur

Figur is a noun used in several Germanic languages, most notably German, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. Its core sense centers on the idea of a figure or form, including the visible outline of a person, a character in a narrative, or a sculpted or figurative representation. In everyday use it can refer to body shape (for example, a “sportliche Figur” in German), a fictional character (a Figur in a novel), or a small statue or statuette (eine Figur).

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from Latin figura and passed into the Romance and Germanic languages through Old French figure. Cognate forms appear across the Scandinavian languages and in German, with related terms in English such as figure and figurine.

Usage across languages: In German, Figur is feminine (die Figur) and commonly covers a person in a story, a human silhouette, or a sculpture. In Scandinavian languages, figur communicates similar concepts of a person, character, or representation. The term also partnerships with related adjectives and phrases (figurativ, figurine in English usage, figurine in some German contexts).

See also: Figurine, figure, figurative, sculpture.