partikkel

Partikkel is a Norwegian term meaning particle or small component. It is used across disciplines to denote a small unit that can be a physical object, a unit of matter, or a linguistic element depending on context. The precise meaning is determined by the field and the surrounding terms.

In physics, a particle is a localized object with defined properties such as mass, charge, and spin. In particle physics, the term often refers to elementary particles—quarks, leptons, and gauge bosons—that are described by the Standard Model. Composite particles such as protons, neutrons, and mesons are bound states of quarks. Modern experiments use accelerators and detectors to study particles at subatomic scales.

In chemistry and materials science, 'particle' can denote any small lump or droplet, including atoms, ions, molecules, nanoparticles, colloidal particles, or aerosols. Particle size, shape, and surface properties influence behavior in solutions and materials. Characterization methods include electron microscopy and light scattering.

In linguistics, a partikkel (particle) is a function word that does not form a major lexical category and carries little lexical meaning. Particles contribute to grammar, aspect, mood, negation, or discourse. Norwegian examples include negation 'ikke' and discourse particles such as 'jo' and 'altså'.

Originating from Latin particula, meaning a small part, the term has a broad usage across disciplines. Across contexts, a particle is typically a small, identifiable unit that participates in larger systems, from subatomic interactions to sentence structure.