ryggrad

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From rygg +‎ rad; after German Rückgrat.

Noun

ryggrad f or m (definite singular ryggrada or ryggraden, indefinite plural ryggrader, definite plural ryggradene)

1. (anatomy) a spine or backbone (also used figuratively)

Synonyms

• ryggsøyle
• virvelsøyle

References

• “ryggrad” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From rygg +‎ rad; after German Rückgrat.

Noun

ryggrad f (definite singular ryggrada, indefinite plural ryggrader, definite plural ryggradene)

1. (anatomy) a spine or backbone (also used figuratively)

Synonyms

• ryggsøyle
• virvelsøyle

References

• “ryggrad” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Swedish

Etymology

rygg + rad. Compare Dutch ruggengraat, German Rückgrat

Noun

ryggrad c

1. backbone, spine
2. (figuratively) backbone (strength, fortitude, courage)

   ha ryggrad att säga vad man tycker

   have the backbone to say what one thinks

Declension

Declension of ryggrad
	Singular		Plural
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	ryggrad	ryggraden	ryggrader	ryggraderna
Genitive	ryggrads	ryggradens	ryggraders	ryggradernas

Derived terms

• ryggradslös (“invertebrate, spineless”)

See also

• ha råg i ryggen
• inte röra någon i ryggen

References

• ryggrad in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• ryggrad in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)