spår

Spår is a Swedish noun with several related meanings, all centered on marks left by movement, presence, or activity. The word can denote a physical trace such as a track or footprint, but it can also refer to a line or path, a hint of something that has happened, or signs that point toward a person, place, or event. In Swedish, spår is typically used in both literal and figurative contexts.

In everyday language, spår most commonly means a track or trail. This includes animal tracks (djurspår), human footprints (fotspår), and general tracks left in mud, snow, or soil. It can also describe a path or route, for example a set of tracks on a map, or the visible path a vehicle or animal has followed. The term is extended to the idea of a trail of evidence or signs indicating past actions or occurrences, such as “spår av en tidigare civilisation” (traces of a former civilization) or “spår av förräderi” (signs of treachery).

In transportation and infrastructure, spår refers to a rail or tram track. The concept is tied to terms like spårvidd (track gauge), spårvagn (tram), and other contexts where a fixed path is laid out for vehicles to follow.

The verb spåra, to trace or track, derives from the same root and is used when following clues or investigating origins. Spår thus covers physical traces, navigational routes, forensic clues, and archaeological or historical traces, making it a versatile term in Swedish.