begära

Begära is a Swedish verb meaning to request or demand something, typically in a formal or official sense. It can denote asking for information, documents, compensation, permission, or other terms to be granted. In legal, administrative, and institutional contexts the verb is common: a court may begära bevis, an authority may begära en förklaring, or a citizen may begära utredning. The nuance ranges from a polite request to a firm demand, depending on context and tone.

Conjugation and usage: begära is an irregular verb. Infinitive begära; present begär; past begärde; supine begärt. Imperative begär. Present participle begärande; past participle begärt or begärd when used as an adjective in compound tenses. It is typically used with objects in the accusative, for example begära något (to request something) or begära tillstånd (to request permission).

Etymology and related forms: begära is a native Swedish verb, cognate with Danish begære and Norwegian begjære, reflecting common Germanic roots and a be- prefix used in various derivations. The form and sense align with other Scandinavian languages in denoting formal requests or strong demands.

Usage notes: In everyday speech, alternatives such as fråga (to ask), be om (to request), or önska (to wish) may be used depending on formality and nuance. Begära tends to mark a formal or legal register, or a strong demand within official communication.

Examples: Jag begär en kopia av protokollet. Domstolen begär bevis. Vi begär att få tillgång till dokumenten. Han begärde ersättning för kostnaderna.