kääns

Köns is a Swedish noun meaning sex or gender. In everyday language it can refer to the biological characteristics that distinguish male and female organisms, as well as to social and cultural concepts of gender. In compound forms, köns- functions as a prefix that links terms to sex or gender, for example könsorgan (genitals or sex organs), könsidentitet (gender identity), and könsroller (gender roles).

Biology and medicine commonly describe biological sex as determined by chromosomal makeup, anatomy, and hormones. In humans, chromosomes are typically XX or XY, but variations exist, and intersex individuals may have atypical chromosomal patterns or anatomy. Because sex development can vary, many medical and scientific contexts emphasize a spectrum rather than a strict binary.

Societal and cultural aspects of köns relate to gender, which encompasses roles, expectations, and identities constructed by cultures. Gender identity is a person’s internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or elsewhere on the gender spectrum. Language, policy, and social practice are increasingly inclusive of transgender and non-binary identities, recognizing that gender is not solely determined by biology and can differ from assigned sex at birth.

Linguistic note: köns- is the attributive form used in Swedish compound nouns to denote relation to sex or gender. In English translations, the terms könsorgan, könsidentitet, and könsroller are often rendered as genital organs, gender identity, and gender roles, respectively.