metaphoriska

Metaphoriska is an adjective used in Swedish to describe something that relates to or employs metaphor. The form is the inflected plural or definite singular form of metaforisk, and it commonly appears before nouns to indicate metaphorical use, such as metaforiska uttryck (metaphorical expressions) or det metaforiska uttrycket (the metaphorical expression).

In Swedish grammar, metaforisk belongs to the word class of adjectives and agrees with the noun it modifies in number and definiteness. The form metaforiska is used with plural nouns or with definite singular nouns, reflecting standard inflection patterns for adjectives ending in -isk in many contexts. The term is most often encountered in literary criticism, linguistics, and discussions of figurative language.

Etymologically, metaforisk derives from metafor, the Swedish for metaphor, which in turn traces back to the Greek metaphorē, meaning “carrying across.” The suffix -isk attaches the meaning “pertaining to” or “characterized by,” producing a word that signifies metaphorical usage rather than literal meaning. While the word itself is common in descriptive writing, it does not denote a separate theoretical category; its function is to label language or imagery as figurative.

Metaphoriska is commonly used to describe literary devices, rhetorical strategies, and everyday language that relies on metaphor. It can modify phrases such as metaforiska bilder, metaforiska uttryck, or metaforiskt språk, highlighting the figurative nature of the expression being discussed. See also metaphor, metaphorical language, figure of speech.