önskan

Önskan is a Swedish noun meaning a wish, desire, or request. It can refer to a personal longing, a hoped-for outcome, or a formal request. In everyday language it is used to talk about what someone hopes for or would like to happen, as well as to describe a wish expressed by someone. The indefinite form is en önskan; the definite singular is önskan; the plural is önskningar; the definite plural is önskningarna.

Etymology and related forms: Önskan is derived from the verb önska, meaning to wish. The word is cognate with Danish ønske and Norwegian ønske, and it shares common Germanic roots with related forms in other Scandinavian languages. The concept and terminology are well established in both spoken and written Swedish.

Usage and examples: In Swedish, önskan can express personal desires, such as in “Min önskan är att resa snart” (My wish is to travel soon). It also appears in formal or collective contexts, for example “Vour önskan är att uppfylla kundernas behov” (Our wish is to fulfill the customers’ needs). Collocations include expressing, fulfilling, or granting an önskan, as in “att uppfylla en önskan” or “att tillmötesgå någons önskan.” The phrase “på någons önskan” denotes something done at someone’s request or desire.

See also: önska (to wish), önskningar (plural), önskningen (definite plural). The term is used across informal speech and formal writing, from personal conversations to official documents.