View source for Lagom

{{Short description|Swedish and Norwegian word for "just the right amount"}}
{{Listen|filename=Sv-lagom.ogg|title=Pronunciation of lagom|description=Pronunciation of ''lagom''. Male speaker.|format=[[Ogg]]}}
{{Conservatism in Sweden|Principles}}
'''''Lagom''''' (pronounced {{IPA|sv|ˈlɑ̂ːɡɔm|}}) is a [[Swedish language|Swedish]] word meaning {{Gloss|just the right amount}} or {{Gloss|not too much, not too little}}.

The word can be variously translated as {{gloss|in [[moderation]]}}, {{gloss|in balance}}, {{gloss|perfect-simple}}, {{gloss|just enough}}, {{gloss|ideal}} and {{gloss|suitable}} (in matter of amounts). Whereas words like ''sufficient'' and ''average'' suggest some degree of abstinence, scarcity, or failure, {{lang|sv|lagom}} carries the connotation of appropriateness, although not necessarily perfection. The archetypical Swedish [[proverb]] "{{lang|sv|Lagom är bäst}}", literally {{gloss|The right amount is best}}, is also translated as {{gloss|Enough is as good as a feast}},<ref name="guardian">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/06/lagom-sweden-hygge-lifestyle-trends | title=Calm down trendspotters – 'lagom' is not the new hygge | work=The Guardian | date=6 February 2017 | accessdate=5 December 2019 | author=Orange, Richard}}</ref> or as {{gloss|There is virtue in moderation}}.<ref>[[Gruner + Jahr|Prisma]]'s ''Stora Engelska Ordbok'', 1995.</ref>

== Etymology ==
The origin of the term is an archaic [[Dative case|dative]] plural form of {{lang|sv|lag}} ({{gloss|law}}), in this case referring not necessarily to judicial law but common-sense law. Literally meaning {{gloss|according to law}}, a more close translation would be {{gloss|according to custom}} or {{gloss|according to common sense}}.<ref name="ursprung">{{cite web | url=https://www.svd.se/se-upp-for-retoriken-om-ursprung | title=Se upp för retoriken om ursprung | work=[[Svenska Dagbladet]] | date=7 June 2015 | accessdate=5 December 2019 | author=Karlsson Anna-Malin}}</ref> The earliest attestations of the word are from 17th-century texts.<ref name="mörka">{{cite web | url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/1143348?programid=503 | title=Den mörka sidan av lagom | publisher=Sveriges Radio | date=29 August 2018 | accessdate=5 December 2019 | author=Blennow, Anna}}</ref>

A common [[false etymology]] claims that it is a contraction of {{lang|sv|laget om}} ({{gloss|around the team}}); according to this myth, the phrase was used in [[Viking]] times to specify how much [[mead]] one should drink from the horn as it was passed around in order for everyone to receive a fair share.<ref name="ursprung" />

== Use ==
{{lang|sv|Lagom}} is most often used as an adverb, as in the sentence "{{lang|sv|Han är lagom lång}}" (literally {{gloss|He is just the right height}}). {{lang|sv|Lagom}} can also be used as an adjective: "{{lang|sv|Klänningen var lagom för henne}}" (literally {{gloss|The dress was just right for her}}), which would be equivalent to {{gloss|The dress fits her}}. The adjective form is never [[Inflected language|inflected]].

== Cultural significance ==
The value of "just enough" can be compared to the idiom "less is more", or contrasted to the value of "more is better". It is viewed favorably as a [[sustainability|sustainable]] alternative to the [[hoarding]] extremes of [[consumerism]]: "Why do I need more than two? {{lang|sv|Det är}} [It is] {{lang|sv|lagom}}"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandnet.com/~see/living/articles/rightamount.htm  |first1=Alan |last1=AtKisson |title=The Right Amount |year=2002 |access-date=2025-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060314195102/http://www.islandnet.com/~see/living/articles/rightamount.htm |archive-date=2006-03-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It can also be viewed as repressive: "You're not supposed to be too good, or too rich".<ref>Gustavsson, 1995.</ref>

In a single word, {{lang|sv|lagom}} is said to describe the basis of the Swedish national psyche, one of consensus and equality. "My aunt used to hold out her closed fist and say, "How much can you get in this hand? It's much easier to get something in ''this'' [open] hand".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.04/anoto_pr.html  |first1=Steve |last1=Silberman |title=The Hot New Medium: Paper. |date=2001-04-01  |access-date=2025-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425080505/https://www.wired.com/2001/04/anoto/ |archive-date=2023-04-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Comparable terms in other languages ==
{{more citations needed section|date=December 2019}}
The word "{{lang|sv|lagom}}" also exists in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], in both [[Bokmål]] and [[Nynorsk]]. The connotations in Norwegian, however, are somewhat different from Swedish. In Norwegian the word has synonyms as {{gloss|fitting, suitable, comfortable, nice, decent, well built/proportioned}}. While some synonyms are somewhat similar in meaning (e.g. {{gloss|suitable}} and {{gloss|reasonable}}, {{gloss|fitting}} and {{gloss|in balance}}), many present in Swedish do not exist in Norwegian and vice versa. The Norwegian words {{lang|no|passelig}} and the more common {{lang|no|passe}} are very similar, translating roughly as {{gloss|fitting, adequate, suitable}} in English. {{lang|no|Passe}} can be used in every context where the Swedish {{lang|sv|lagom}} is used, e.g. {{lang|no|passe varm}} ({{gloss|right temperature/adequately warm}}), {{lang|no|passe stor}} ({{gloss|right size}}), etc.

[[Finnish language|Finnish]] has the word {{lang|fi|sopivasti}}, which carries similar connotations of {{gloss|just right}}.

The concept of {{lang|sv|lagom}} is similar to the [[Russian language|Russian]] or [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] expression {{lang|ru-latn|normal'no}} ({{lang|ru|нормально}}, literally {{gloss|normally}}), which indicates a sufficient and sustainable state, for example of one's livelihood. In Russian, the word is often used as an answer to the question "how are you?". Polish {{lang|pl|w sam raz}} means the same as {{lang|sv|lagom}}. Comparable terms are found in some south Slavic languages, for example [[Serbo-Croatian]] {{lang|sh-latn|umereno}} or {{lang|sh-latn|umjereno}}. In [[Slovakian language|Slovakian]], the expression {{lang|sk|tak akurát}} is used.

Ιn ancient Greek, there was the famous phrase of [[Cleobulus]], {{lang|grc-latn|metron ariston}} ({{lang|grc|μέτρον ἄριστον}}),  meaning {{gloss|moderation [literally: measure] is best}}.

In [[Albanian language|Albanian]], the word {{lang|sq|taman}} has the same meaning. It is derived from [[Ottoman Turkish]] {{lang|ota-latn|tamam}} meaning {{gloss|precisely}}, borrowed from [[Arabic language|Arabic]] where it means {{gloss|complete, perfect}}. In Albanian it is used in essentially the same way as {{lang|sv|lagom}}, as in "a {{lang|sq|taman}} amount", "not a {{lang|sq|taman}} person" ({{gloss|not a normal person}}), {{lang|sq|taman!}} ({{gloss|agreed, OK}}), etc. The word {{lang|sq|taman}} is also used in some Slavic languages ([[South Slavic languages|South Slavic]]) and almost perfectly translates {{lang|sv|lagom}} to those languages.

In [[Chinese philosophy]], the concept of {{zh|t=[[Doctrine of the Mean|中庸]]|labels=no}} ({{zh|p=zhōngyōng}}) expresses the similar concept.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8914806&fileOId=8914814}}</ref>

In [[Thailand|Thai]], the word {{lang|th|พอเพียง}} ({{lang|th-latn|phor phiang}}) expresses a similar meaning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thematter.co/pulse/lagom/38232|title=ปรัชญา 'ลากอม' : แง่งามของสวีดิชหรือวิกฤติแห่งความกลาง?|last=SIRICHANTHANUN|first=WASSACHOL|date=2 November 2017|website=the matter|accessdate=3 January 2018}}</ref>

In Indonesia, both [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] and [[Javanese language|Javanese]], there is a common word for it, {{lang|id|pas}}, which means {{gloss|right amount (countable measurement), match, enough}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kbbi.co.id/arti-kata/pas|title=Arti Kata "pas" Menurut Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia {{!}} KBBI.co.id|website=kbbi.co.id|language=id|access-date=2018-02-13}}</ref>

In [[Swiss German]] dialects, similar to {{lang|sv|lagom}}, is the  word {{lang|gsw|gäbig}}; in German, the term means something like {{gloss|comfortable, suitable, handy}} in the case of objects, or in relation to people and conditions {{gloss|affable, pleasant, sympathetic}}.

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Centrism]], a political ideology
* [[Festina lente]]
* [[Gezellig]]
* [[Golden mean (philosophy)]]
* [[Goldilocks principle]]
* [[Hygge]]
* [[Law of Jante]]
* [[Mathematical optimization]], choosing not too high, not too low values of input parameters in <span style="letter-spacing: -0.01em">view to maximize/minimize an objective function</span><!-- this way it can fit into 3 lines -->
* [[Moderate]], a middle position in a left/right political scale
* [[Moderation]], eliminating or lessening extremes
* [[Simple living]]
* [[Slow movement (culture)|Slow movement]]
* [[Social model]]
* [[The Story of the Three Bears]]
* [[Sweden: The Middle Way]]
* [[wikt:Special:Search/sweet spot|Sweet spot]]
* [[Via media]], the philosophy of the 'middle way'
* [[Wasat (Islamic term)]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary}}
* {{wikiquote-inline}}
* The Swedish Academy's dictionary, [http://spraakdata.gu.se/saob/ ''Svenska Akademiens ordbok''.]

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[[Category:Swedish words and phrases]]
[[Category:Culture of Sweden]]
[[Category:Norwegian words and phrases]]