Räcka

Räcka is a Swedish verb with several closely related senses centered on reaching and sufficiency. Its core meanings include to extend or reach with the body or an object, and to be enough or to suffice in quantity or capacity. The word is common in everyday Swedish and appears in both literal and figurative expressions.

Conjugation and forms are as follows: infinitive räcka; present räcker; past räckte; supine räckt; past participle räckt. In compound tenses it works like other verbs, for example har räckt. The verb can be used transitively, meaning to hand over or pass something, and intransitively or with a complement to indicate sufficiency.

Usage and phrases. The phrasal verbs räcka ut and räcka upp are especially widespread. Räcka ut means to extend or reach out a hand or arm, as in offering or presenting something. Räcka upp is used for raising a hand. The most common sense is existential or quantitative: det räcker means it is enough, and det räcker till + number or person specifies capacity (for example, Det räcker till två personer). Räcka till can also express suitability or ability in a given situation, as in an amount that is sufficient for a task or a group.

Etymology and cognates. Räcka is a native Scandinavian verb with cognates in other Nordic languages, such as Danish rekke and Norwegian rekke, reflecting a common Germanic heritage related to direction and capacity.

See also. Related verbs describe extending or passing objects, while phrases such as räcka till and räcka ut illustrate the broader usage of reach and sufficiency in Swedish.