förvandling

Förvandling is a Swedish noun meaning a change in form, appearance, character, or state. It is used across sciences, humanities and everyday language to describe transitions from one condition to another. The term covers physical, biological, mathematical, and metaphorical changes, depending on context.

Etymology and scope. The word derives from the prefix för- and from vandling, linked to the verb vandla or related roots meaning to turn or transform. In Swedish, förvandling functions as a general label for processes that alter structure or identity.

Biology. In biology, förvandling describes metamorphosis, the developmental change through which an organism assumes a different form. A classic example is complete metamorphosis (holometabolism), such as caterpillar to butterfly or grub to beetle, with distinct larval and pupal stages. Incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolism) features gradual change without a pupal stage, as seen in many other insect groups.

Mathematics and computer science. In these fields, a transformation is a relation that maps objects from one set to another while preserving certain properties. Geometric transformations include translation, rotation, reflection, and scaling. Linear transformations are represented by matrices and are central to changing coordinates or viewpoints in space or data.

Social and cultural dimensions. Förvandling also describes personal, organizational, or societal change, such as digital transformation in business, urban redevelopment, or shifts in identity and values. Metaphorically, it denotes transitions in narratives, perspectives, or modes of understanding.

See also. Transformation, metamorphosis, and metamorphosis in biology.