smäll

Smäll is a Swedish noun used to denote a sudden loud sound such as a bang or crack, or a blunt physical hit. It can also be used figuratively to refer to a setback or a hit to one’s finances or reputation.

In literal usage, it describes both noise and impact: for example, en smäll mot huvudet would be a blow to the head, and en smäll mot bilen could refer to a bang on the car. In everyday speech, “han fick en smäll i ansiktet” is a common way to say someone received a blow to the face. The word also appears in sporting contexts to describe a heavy collision or strong contact.

Figuratively, smällen expresses the idea of a significant loss or negative consequence, such as en ekonomisk smäll for a financial hit. The definite form smällen and the plural smällar are standard Swedish; compounds include smällare (firecrackers), which produce a loud bang.

Etymology and usage notes: the noun derives from the verb smälla (“to smack, to bang”) and is of Germanic origin, with cognates in related Scandinavian languages. The term is primarily used in Swedish; outside Sweden, English speakers typically translate it as “bang,” “hit,” or “blow,” depending on context. Smäll is a flexible term that covers both physical impacts and metaphorical shocks, and it remains a common part of everyday Swedish vocabulary.