använder

Använder is the present tense form of the Swedish verb använd a, meaning to use or to employ. It is used to express that someone or something is currently making use of a tool, method, resource, or piece of information.

Etymology and related forms: The verb använd a derives from the prefix an- combined with vän da (to turn), giving the sense of turning toward a purpose or applying something. In modern Swedish, använd a has several related forms: infinitive använd a, present använ der (the form discussed here), past använde, supine använt, and the adjective använd d or thederived noun användbar for “usable” or “usability.” Scandinavian cousins include Norwegian anvende and Danish anvende, sharing the same root.

Usage and grammar: Använder is commonly used with a direct object to indicate what is being used—for example, a device, tool, method, or piece of information. The verb is used in both formal and informal contexts and can pair with various subjects, including impersonal constructions like man används with passive or generic meaning. The related passive form is används, meaning “is used.” Common collocations include använda en dator (to use a computer), använda ett verktyg (to use a tool), and använda metoder (to use methods).

Usage notes: While använd a is the standard everyday term for “to use,” Swedish also preserves synonyms and related expressions such as använda och nyttja, with nytta connoting making use of resources or benefiting from them in certain contexts. The past tense of använd a is använde, and the past participle is använt, used in perfect constructions like har använt (has used).

See also: använda, användbar, användbarhet, använt, används.