speciell

Speciell is a Swedish adjective meaning "special," "particular," or "peculiar." It is used to describe something that stands out from the ordinary in a given context, such as a feature, condition, or situation, or to mark relevance to a specific case.

Etymology and form: The word comes from Latin specialis, via French spécial, and entered Swedish through early modern borrowing. As an adjective, speciell agrees with the noun in gender and number. Indefinite singular: en speciell sak, ett speciellt fall. Definite forms: den speciella saken, det speciella fallet. Plural: speciella saker; de speciella saker.

Usage and nuance: Speciell can convey that something is distinctive to a situation or not common, but it can have a softer or more everyday connotation than the synonym särskild. In some contexts, särskild emphasizes particularity or importance, while speciell may imply peculiarity or distinctiveness without judgment. The adverbial form speciellt means “especially” or “in particular.” Example: Det är speciellt viktigt att följa instruktionerna. Common collocations include speciell behörighet, speciella behov, and speciell behandling, though the noun phrase särskilda behov is also widely used in formal styles.

Relation to related terms: Särskild is a closely related adjective with overlapping meaning, often used for something that is particularly notable or distinct in a broader sense. In technical or legal Swedish, both words may appear, but choosing between them can subtly affect tone or emphasis.

Overall, speciell is a versatile term in everyday Swedish, signaling something that is not generic but applies to a specific, notable context.