spegelblankt

Spegelblankt is a Swedish adjective and adverb used to describe a surface that is perfectly smooth and reflective, like a mirror. The term is commonly applied to water, ice, glass, or other polished surfaces when there are no waves, ripples, or textures visible. It conveys a sense of stillness, clarity, and pristine condition, and is frequently found in nature writing and weather or travel descriptions.

Etymology and form: spegelblankt is a compound of spegel (mirror) and blank (smooth, glossy). It is used predicatively, as in vattnet är spegelblankt, and attributively with neuter nouns (ett spegelblankt hav) or common-gender nouns (en spegelblank yta).

Usage notes: The expression emphasizes calm, reflective surfaces and is most often linked to natural settings such as lakes, seas, and frost-covered surfaces, but it can also describe meticulously polished man-made surfaces or architectural glass. In literary contexts it can heighten atmosphere by underscoring quietness and stillness.

Examples:

- Vattnet var spegelblankt.

- Ett spegelblankt hav låg framför oss.

See also: related terms include spegelblank, which functions as a related descriptive form referring to similarly smooth surfaces. The phrase is primarily descriptive and stylistic, rather than technical, and is widely understood in Swedish-speaking contexts.