spetsen

Spetsen is the definite form of the Swedish noun spets, meaning the tip or point of something. The term is used for the sharp end of objects such as a knife, a pen, or a needle, as well as for pointed or apex-like features in nature or anatomy. In everyday language, phrases like spetsen på pennan or spetsen av en kniv illustrate its literal use, while metaphorical applications may describe the leading edge or most advanced aspect of a process or design.

Etymologically, spetsen derives from spets-, a stem associated with sharpness and pointedness, with the definite suffix -en in Swedish. The word thus functions as a concrete noun in ordinary speech and as part of compound expressions describing pointed extremities or apexes.

In geographic naming, the form may appear in Nordic toponymy to denote pronounced or pointed landforms, such as capes, promontories, or ridges. While not a fixed term for a specific place, it can occur in descriptions or names that emphasize a sharpened or projecting feature of the landscape.

Spetsen also belongs to the broader family of related words and cognates in Scandinavian languages, where equivalent forms exist to describe tips, points, or leading edges. As a common linguistic element, spetsen helps convey precision, reach, and the notion of a distinguished endpoint in both physical objects and abstract concepts.