På

På is a common preposition in the Scandinavian languages Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish. It primarily conveys a sense of position or contact, meaning on, onto, or at, but its exact meaning can vary with context, making it resemble the English prepositions on, at, or in combination with other elements.

Core uses include describing physical location on a surface (on the table), indicating a place people or objects occupy (at the hospital, at the bus stop), and marking time expressions (on Monday, in the summer). It is also used with certain verbs and in many fixed phrases to express relations such as methods, conditions, or occasions (on purpose, on the basis of, on holiday). In many instances, the choice between på and i in Scandinavian languages hinges on whether the referent is a surface or an enclosed space; on surfaces tends to use på, while enclosed spaces often use i.

Examples:

Swedish: Jag sitter på stolen. (I am sitting on the chair.)

Norwegian: Jeg står på bussholdeplassen. (I am at the bus stop.)

Danish: Bogen ligger på bordet. (The book is on the table.)

Common phrases and idioms include på grund av (because of), på tide (in time), på en måte (in a way), and komma på något (to think of/remember something). Variants and nuances exist across languages, so idiomatic usage should be learned in context.