inpräglat

Inpräglat is a Swedish adjective meaning ingrained or imprinted, describing something that has been formed or impressed upon a person, object, or system and remains resistant to change. It is used for memories, behaviors, norms, or structures that have been internalized through experience, education, or early development.

The word derives from the verb inprägla, meaning to imprint or instill; the past participle inpräglat expresses the result of that process. In everyday language and in fields such as psychology, education, linguistics, and cultural studies, inpräglat describes elements that are deeply established rather than temporary.

Examples include an inpräglat memory of an event, an inpräglat habit acquired over many years, or inpräglade norms guiding behavior. In academic discussions, the distinction is often between inpräglat, internalized knowledge or attitudes, and explicit or declarative knowledge that can be stated directly.

In biology and psychology, imprinting as a specific developmental process is typically referred to with related terms such as prägning or präglning in Swedish; inpräglat is used more broadly to denote ingrained responses or patterns, whether or not they arose during a sensitive period. The term thus bridges everyday language and technical contexts, signaling durability and deep internalization.

See also: imprinting, prägning (prägning), ingrained memory.