Ändamål

ändamål is a Swedish noun meaning the purpose, objective, or intended result of an action, plan, object, or policy. It denotes what something is meant to achieve and is often used to distinguish the end from the means. In everyday language it appears in phrases such as “mitt ändamål” (my purpose) or “ändamålet med projektet” (the aim of the project).

Etymology and sense: the word is a compound of endam (purpose or intent) and mål (goal or target). It is a long-standing term in Swedish and shares a family resemblance with related Germanic terms for ends or purposes. The primary sense centers on the end that an action or thing is intended to realize.

Contexts and usage: in ordinary speech, ändamål refers to the end a person or action is meant to serve. in design and technology, it describes the intended use or function of a product—the problem it is meant to solve. in law, policy, and administration, the term is used to identify the stated objective of a regulation, program, or institution, and to assess whether activities align with that objective. In philosophy, conceptually it aligns with teleology, the study of purposes or ends in nature and human action, though the term is typically used in Swedish to describe concrete aims rather than abstract theories.

Nuance and synonyms: while related to syfte (purpose or aim), ändamål often carries a more concrete or outcome-oriented nuance, emphasizing the end result sought by actions, plans, or devices.