Svälj

Svälj is a Swedish verb meaning to swallow, that is, to pass a substance from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus, or more broadly to cause something to be swallowed. It is used for both literal ingestion of food or drink and the figurative act of accepting something.

Etymology and related forms

Svälj derives from the Swedish verb att svälja. It has cognates in other North Germanic languages, such as Danish svelge, Norwegian svelge, and Icelandic svelgja, reflecting a common linguistic heritage. The verb forms a standard part of Swedish verb conjugation, with the infinitive att svälja and the imperative Svälj; the exact past and participle forms vary within Swedish's broader system.

Usage

In everyday speech, svälj appears in sentences like “Hon sväljer vatten” or “Han sväljer en tablett.” It also occurs in metaphorical expressions, for example “svälja sin stolthet” to mean accepting something humbly or enduring a grievance. The term can appear in medical or anatomical contexts when describing the act of swallowing or the swallowing process.

Medical and technical context

In medical Swedish, terms related to swallowing difficulty are common, such as dysfagi, which denotes swallowing disorders. The phrase sväljningsreflex refers to the reflex that triggers swallowing. Professionals may discuss assessment or treatment of swallowing function in relation to dysphagia or esophageal disorders.

See also

Related concepts include other eating and digestion terms such as tugga (chew) and smälta (digest). For precise conjugation and usage, consulting a Swedish dictionary is recommended, as forms can vary across dialects and contexts.