Lagom is a Swedish word that might require an explanation to guests from abroad. We find it very useful. It pops up everywhere in all kinds of discussions so you will surely hear it when talking to Swedes. There is no direct english equivalent, meaning “just the right amount”.
It can be used as an adverb, as in “Han har lagom mycket pengar” (literally “He has lagom much money”). Or as an adjective: “Klänningen var lagom för henne” (“The dress was lagom for her”). Lagom can be applied to just about anything from food and drink to travelling, weight reducing or salary negotiations - you name it. If it´s not too much or too little but just about what one would expect it should be, then it´s lagom.
The origin of the term is an archaic dative plural form of lag (“law”), referring not necessarily to judicial law but to “common sense” law (see also my posting on The Jante Law). A translation here would be something like “according to common sense”. A widely spread misconception is that it is a contraction of “laget om” (“around the team”), a phrase used by the ancient Vikings to specify how much mead one should drink from the horn as it was passed around in order for everyone to recieve a fair share.
In a single word, lagom is said to describe the core of the Swedish national psyche, one of consensus and equality.
/Curt Landin
Filed under: Swedish business culture | Tagged: cultural, Curt Landin, fun facts, jante law, lagom, sweden
