øre

Øre is a Nordic term with two primary senses in different languages: anatomy and currency. In Danish and Norwegian, øre denotes the ear and also serves as the monetary subunit of the national currency. In Swedish, the corresponding monetary unit is öre, while the word for the ear is örat or öra. The term’s sense as a currency unit is historical in origin and is still used in accounting and pricing in some contexts.

Anatomy: The ear is the organ of hearing and balance. In Norwegian medical usage, it is described in three main parts: the outer ear (ytterøre), the middle ear (mellomøre), and the inner ear (indre øre). The ear collects sound, converts it into neural signals, and helps regulate balance.

Currency: As a monetary unit, øre/öre is the fractional subdivision of the Danish krone, Norwegian krone, and Swedish krona, with 1 kroner/krona = 100 øre/öre. In practice, the smallest coins have been phased out or rarely used in many places, and prices are often expressed in whole kronor or round figures, with öre value appearing primarily in accounting or historical contexts.

Usage and variation: The spelling reflects language differences: øre in Danish and Norwegian, öre in Swedish. The term remains part of official currency terminology in the respective countries, even as cash usage for the smallest denominations has diminished. Beyond currency, the word preserves its meaning as “ear” in the Nordic languages, though the everyday term for the anatomical ear varies by language and form.