österländsk

Österländsk is a Swedish adjective meaning "eastern" or "from the East." It is used to describe things tied to the East—geography, culture, philosophy, art, or religions—and is commonly contrasted with västerländsk, meaning "Western," to indicate East–West differences or influences.

The term is formed from öster, meaning "east," and the suffix -ländsk, which yields a sense of belonging or association with a region or culture. It is widely used in both academic writing and everyday language to refer to traditions and ideas associated with the East, without pointing to a single specific country or culture.

Usage and nuance: in neutral descriptive contexts, österländsk is a standard descriptor. However, older texts or certain contexts can carry Orientalist overtones, reflecting historic Western perspectives on the East. In contemporary Swedish, more precise regional terms are often preferred when possible (for example, östasiatisk for East Asian, sydasiatisk for South Asian, or Mellanöstern for the Middle East) to avoid broad generalizations.

Examples: österländsk filosofi (Eastern philosophy), österländska konsttraditioner (Eastern art traditions), österländska religiösa traditioner (Eastern religious traditions). The term remains a common, general descriptor for cultural and intellectual traditions associated with the East, while recognizing its limitations and the availability of more specific regional terms.