gränser

Gränser is the Swedish plural noun meaning borders or boundaries. The singular form is gräns. The term is used for both physical borders—such as the boundaries between countries or regions—and more abstract limits, including time, responsibility, or personal space. Etymology: gränser derives from the Old Swedish gräns and is cognate with Danish grænse and Norwegian grense, reflecting shared Germanic roots for the concept of a limit or boundary.

In geography and political discourse, gränser denotes national or regional borders and the rules that govern crossing them, such as border controls, visas, or territorial claims. In law and policy, the idea of gränser is used to define jurisdiction, rights, and obligations across spaces. In everyday language, people refer to personal or social gränser when discussing boundaries in relationships, work, or safety.

In culture and literature, the concept of gränser is used metaphorically to explore the limits of identity, culture, and morality. The plural form is common in discussions of multiple borders—national, cultural, or conceptual—and in debates about migration, security, and sovereignty.

See also gräns, gränslinje, gränsöverskridande.