måtten

Måtten is a term used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to denote measurements or the set of measures used to quantify physical quantities. In everyday language as well as in education, måtten refers to the size, extent, or amount of something, as expressed in units such as length, area, volume, mass, or time. The word is related to mått (measure) and appears in the definite plural form in some dialects and formal varieties as måtten, meaning “the measures” or “the measurements.”

Etymology and variation: Måtten derives from the older Nordic word for measure and cognates with Swedish mått and German Maß. The concept encompasses both the act of measuring and the units used to express results. In practice, måtten as a concept is now largely aligned with the International System of Units (SI).

Modern use and standardization: Since the widespread adoption of metric systems in the 19th and 20th centuries, måtten in Norway and neighboring countries are usually expressed in SI units (meters, kilograms, liters, seconds, etc.). In science and commerce, discussions of måtten focus on accuracy, traceability, and calibration, reflecting metrology principles.

See also: Measurement, Unit, SI, Metrology, Dimensional analysis.