meningsfull

Meningsfull is an adjective used in Swedish and Norwegian to describe something that has meaning, significance, or purpose. It translates roughly as meaningful in English and is used to indicate that an experience, action, or object contributes to a sense of value or purpose.

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun mening, meaning sense or meaning, combined with the suffix -full, meaning full of. The compound literally describes something that is full of meaning. The Danish cognate is meningsfuld.

Usage: Meningsfull is commonly applied to experiences, work, relationships, and decisions, emphasizing perceived value rather than merely factual correctness. Examples include ett meningsfullt liv (a meaningful life), ett meningsfullt projekt (a meaningful project), and ett meningsfullt samtal (a meaningful conversation). In Norwegian it is used similarly and conveys a comparable sense of significance.

Related terms: betydelsefull is a near synonym in Swedish, also meaning significant or important. The nuance between these words can be subtle: betydelsefull emphasizes overall significance or impact, while meningsfull highlights sense, purpose, or personal value.

In other languages and contexts: Swedish and Norwegian use the same form, while Danish uses the cognate meningsfuld. The concept appears in discussions of education, psychology, and human development, where it is linked to well-being and purposeful living.

See also: semantics, meaning, purpose, significance.