svin

Svin is a term found in several Germanic languages that denotes the domesticated pig, or more generally swine. In Icelandic the word is svín (with an acute accent on the í); in Danish and Norwegian the form svin is used. In Swedish, the standard word for pig is gris, while svin may appear in older texts or as a loanword in specific contexts. The primary sense in all these languages is the animal, and the term is also encountered in discussions of pork production and animal husbandry.

Etymology and cognates: Svin derives from the Proto-Germanic root *swīn-, which is cognate with the English word swine and the German Schwein. The common thread across Germanic languages is a shared ancestral name for the animal, though modern usage and spelling vary by language and region.

Usage and connotations: While svin primarily means the animal, it can carry pejorative or insulting overtones in some contexts, similar to the English "swine." The exact severity and acceptability of the term depend on language and culture, ranging from neutral description to strong negative characterization.

See also: Pig, Swine, Hog, Domesticated pig.