Hänga

Hänga is a Swedish verb with two primary senses. The most common meaning is to suspend or attach something so that it hangs, for example by hanging a picture on a wall or hänga upp en lampa. It can also describe things that are already suspended, as in tavlan hänger på väggen. A second, more informal sense is to spend time with others, or to accompany someone, in phrases like hänga med (to tag along) and hänga på (to join in or come along).

The verb is both transitive and intransitive, depending on the construction. Transitive use is often separable in phrasal form, as in hänga upp tavlan or hänga upp dem. Intransitive use expresses state, as in Tavlan hänger på väggen. Common phrasal forms include hänga upp (to hang up), hänga med (to come along), and hänga på (to join). Imperative forms include häng upp den! (hang it up) and häng med! (come along).

Conjugation and forms are standard for Swedish strong verbs. Present tense: hänger (jag hänger). Past tense: hängde (jag hängde). Supine/perfect participle: hängt (jag har hängt). The noun häng, meaning hanging or suspension, and the related verb forms are widely used in everyday Swedish.

Etymology and related forms: hänga is cognate with other North Germanic languages; its basic sense of suspension dates back to Old Norse and shared Germanic roots. The word appears in many compound verbs and set phrases, making it a versatile part of everyday speech. See also phrases such as hänga med, hänga upp, and hänga på for common uses.