välkänt

Välkänt is a Swedish adjective meaning well known or widely recognized. It is used to describe people, places, ideas, or facts that are familiar to many people. The form välkänt is the neuter singular inflection of the adjective, while välkänd is used for common gender nouns (en välkänd författare), and välkända for plural (välkända märken).

Etymology and form: the word is a compound of väl meaning well and känd meaning known. As with many Swedish adjectives, the ending changes to agree with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Examples include ett välkänt faktum, en välkänd upptäckt, and välkända personligheter.

Usage and nuance: välkänt tends to carry a neutral to positive nuance, indicating that something has broad recognition rather than moral judgment. It can imply legitimacy or routinized recognition, but can also be used descriptively for things that are merely widely familiar. In some contexts, it can be replaced by allmänt känt or allmänt känd to emphasize widespread awareness.

Antonyms and related terms: the opposite of välkänt is obekant or okänt, meaning unknown or unfamiliar. Related synonyms include känd (known), berömd (famous), and omtalad (widely discussed).

Examples in use: “ett välkänt faktum” (a well-known fact), “en välkänd politiker” (a well-known politician), “välkända varumärken” (well-known brands). The choice between välkänd and välkänt depends on the noun’s gender and number, following standard Swedish adjective agreement.