Ställa

Ställa is a Swedish verb meaning to place, put, or set, and more broadly to arrange or position something or someone. It is used both literally for physical placement and figuratively in a range of expressions. The form is transitive and often appears in fixed phrases that describe actions, arrangements, or requirements.

Etymology and related forms: Ställa comes from the Germanic family of verbs related to the idea of placing or setting. It has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish stille and German stellen, reflecting a common root with similar meanings.

Usage and common expressions: In everyday speech, ställa covers physical placement, for example, Hon ställer glaset på bordet (She places the glass on the table). It also appears in many idiomatic constructions: ställa frågor (to ask questions), ställa krav (to set/advance requirements), ställa upp (to stand in or volunteer), and ställa sig (to assume a position or stance). The verb can also describe adjustment or tuning in technical contexts, as in Ljudet måste ställas in (The sound must be adjusted). In reflexive or semi-fixed phrases, one may encounter ställa sig i kö (to line up) or ställa sig framför kamerorna (to position oneself in front of the cameras).

Conjugation and forms: Present tense is ställer (jag ställer, du ställer, han/hon ställer, vi ställer, ni ställer, de ställer). Preterite is ställde (jag ställde, du ställde, han/hon ställde, vi ställde, ni ställde, de ställde). The past participle is ställt, used with har to form perfect tenses (har ställt). The imperative form is ställ (singular and commonly used in plural contexts as well).

Notes: Ställa differs from stilla, a related but separate verb meaning to calm or settle. Ställa is widely used across everyday and formal Swedish, with numerous collocations and polysemous uses.