kraften

Kraften is a Swedish term meaning “the power” or “the force.” It is the definite form of the noun kraft, which denotes physical strength, capacity, or a specific force. The indefinite form is kraft; the plural is krafter, and the definite plural is krafterna. In everyday language and in scientific contexts, kraften can refer to a particular force previously mentioned or to the concept of force in general.

In science and technology, kraft is commonly used as the word for force in physics, with kraften used when speaking of a specific force. The term also appears in many compound nouns that describe different kinds of power or energy, such as vindkraft (wind power), vattenkraft (hydropower), and kraftverk (power plant). These compounds reflect how kraft functions as a productive stem in Swedish.

Etymology and cognates: kraft is cognate with Danish kraft and Norwegian kraft, all deriving from Proto-Germanic roots related to strength and power. The definite suffix -en is characteristic of Swedish noun inflection.

In popular culture, kraften is the Swedish translation of “the Force” in the Star Wars franchise, and is widely recognized among Swedish-speaking fans.

See also: kraft, force, power, and related compounds such as vindkraft and vattenkraft.