såret

såret is the definite singular form of the Swedish noun *sår*, which translates to “wound” in English. In Swedish it denotes any break in the skin or underlying tissue caused by external trauma, disease, or surgical intervention. The word is used in both literal medical contexts and figurative language, where it can refer to emotional or psychological injury.

Etymologically, *sår* descends from Old Norse *sár*, sharing roots with the Old English *sār* and the German *Wunde*. The definite article is suffixed in Scandinavian languages, turning *sår* into *såret* (“the wound”). The term appears in historical medical texts dating back to the medieval period, where it was used to describe battlefield injuries and common ailments such as ulcerations.

In contemporary Swedish healthcare, *såret* is a central concept in wound care (sårvård). It encompasses classification by depth (superficial, partial‑thickness, full‑thickness), etiology (traumatic, pressure, diabetic, venous) and healing phases (hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, remodeling). Guidelines from the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) outline standardized assessment tools, such as the PUSH (Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing) score, to monitor *såret*’s progress.

Beyond medicine, *såret* features frequently in literature, music, and popular discourse as a metaphor for loss, grief, or societal wounds. Notable examples include the 1974 ballad “Såret” by Swedish singer-songwriter Cornelis Vreeswijk and the 2015 novel *Såret i hjärtat* (The Wound in the Heart), which uses the term symbolically to explore post‑war trauma.

Overall, *såret* functions as both a concrete medical term and a versatile metaphor within Swedish language and culture, reflecting the physical and emotional dimensions of injury.