Utreda

Utreda is a verb used in Swedish (and in Norwegian with similar meaning) to mean to investigate, examine, or clarify a matter. It implies a process of gathering information, analyzing facts, and drawing conclusions, often within formal, administrative, or legal contexts.

Usage and scope: Utreda is commonly used with a direct object referring to the matter being examined. Phrases include utreda en händelse eller ett ärende (to investigate an incident or case) and utreda orsakerna till något (to investigate the causes of something). The related noun utredning denotes the investigation or inquiry itself. In Swedish, you might say: "Polisen ska utreda händelsen" or "Företaget kommer att utreda orsaken till avbrottet."

Grammatical notes: Utreda is a transitive verb. The corresponding adjective utredande can describe an investigative or explanatory quality, as in utredande arbete.

Etymology and cognates: The word is formed from the prefix ut- combined with the verb reda, which means to arrange, prepare, or set in order. This reflects a sense of working through information to clarify a situation. In other North Germanic languages, cognate forms exist with similar meanings: Norwegian utrede and Danish udrede carry the same general sense of clarifying or analyzing, highlighting a shared linguistic heritage.

See also: utredning (investigation), utredningsarbete (investigative work). The term is distinct from but related to words for describing conclusions or recommendations that may follow after an utredning.