kränkt

Kränkt is a Swedish adjective meaning offended, insulted, or hurt. It describes a person’s emotional state when they feel treated with disrespect, or it can characterize actions or statements judged as insulting or demeaning. In everyday language, one can say “Hon blev kränkt av kommentaren” or refer to “kränkande behandling” as a category of conduct.

The word derives from the verb kränka, to offend or wound. The term belongs to the Swedish Germanic word stock; related forms include the noun kränkning (an insult or violation) and the adjective kränkt, used either attributively or predicatively.

In use and legal context, kränkning denotes violations of personal integrity, privacy, or reputation. The phrase “kränkande behandling” is used in Swedish statutes and institutional policies, notably in education and employment, to describe harassing or humiliating conduct. The expression also appears in everyday discourse to acknowledge that someone perceives harm even if the act is legally ambiguous.

Socially, the notion of being kränkt has been central in public debates on politeness, free speech, and what some call kränkthetskultur, the culture of taking offense. Critics argue it may chill expression, while supporters emphasize the importance of dignity and protection against disrespect.