kännedom

Kännedom is a Swedish noun that denotes awareness, knowledge, or familiarity with a person, subject, or situation. It refers to a state of knowing, often implying a degree of familiarity rather than expert skill. The term can indicate personal acquaintance with someone as well as factual knowledge about something, such as awareness of a fact, event, or condition.

Etymology and related terms: Kännedom is formed from the verb känna, meaning to know or feel, with the abstract-noun suffix -dom, creating a concept of the state of knowing. In other Scandinavian languages, cognate forms express similar ideas, for example Danish kendskab and Norwegian kjennskap, which cover related notions of knowledge or familiarity.

Usage and nuance: In Swedish, kännedom is commonly used with the prepositions om or av to express knowledge or awareness of something, for example kännedom om ett ämne or kännedom av en person. It is frequently found in formal writing, official notices, and legal or administrative contexts to describe what someone knows or is aware of. The term tends to be more formal and focused on awareness or familiarity, whereas kunskap more broadly covers knowledge or understanding, including skills or theoretical grasp.

Examples: Hon har god kännedom om företagets ekonomi (She has good knowledge of the company’s finances). Det finns kännedom om händelsen (There is awareness of the incident). Ingen kännedom om saken (No knowledge of the matter).

Overall, kännedom serves as a precise, somewhat formal term for knowledge or awareness, distinguishing familiarity or awareness from broader or deeper expertise.