Behoven

Behoven is the definite plural form of the Swedish noun behov, meaning needs, requirements, or necessities. The term is used across Swedish discourse to describe what individuals, groups, or societies require to function, maintain welfare, or achieve well-being. Needs can be physical, such as food or shelter, psychological, such as safety or belonging, or social and economic, such as education or income. In planning, policy, and design, behov is common in phrases like behovsanalys (needs analysis) and behovsstyrd design, which aim to identify and prioritize the requirements of users or communities. The word also appears in everyday speech, for example “människors grundläggande behov” (people’s basic needs).

Grammatical notes: behov is a neuter noun; the indefinite plural is behov, while the definite plural is behoven. Adjectives may modify it, yielding combinations such as grundläggande behov, sociala behov, ekonomiska behov. The form behoven is used with a definite sense in many constructions, for instance “Behoven hos barn måste tillgodoses” (The needs of children must be met). The expression “behovet av” conveys “the need for” and is common in both formal and informal Swedish.

In Swedish usage, behoven can refer to universal or context-specific needs, ranging from basic survival requirements to more abstract or aspirational goals. Its usage spans disciplines such as sociology, economics, public administration, and user-centered design, reflecting its role as a foundational concept in describing what is required to support individuals and societies.