bemästa

Bemästa is a Swedish verb meaning to master or to gain thorough command of a skill, subject, language, or field. It conveys reaching a high level of competence and control, usually through study and practice. The word is transitive and commonly used with a direct object, as in bemästra ett språk (“to master a language”) or bemästra ett ämne (“to master a subject”).

Etymology and usage notes: bemästa is formed with the prefix be- attached to the verb mästra, which in Swedish carries the sense of handling or governing something with skill. The term is closely related to the noun or adjective forms for masterful expertise, and it is often used in formal or didactic contexts to emphasize substantial proficiency rather than casual familiarity.

Conjugation and examples: bemästa behaves like a regular -a verb. Present tense: bemästrar; past tense: bemästrade; supine: bemästrat. In perfect constructions one can say har bemästrat. Examples: “Hon bemästrar flera programmeringsspråk.” “Efter år av övning bemästrade hon konsten att presentera inför publik.”

Relation to synonyms and nuance: bemästa is frequently compared with behärska, another common verb meaning to master. While both express high competence, bemästa can carry a slightly more deliberate or formal nuance. Behärska is widespread in everyday language and also emphasizes control and proficient handling.

See also: mastery, language acquisition, learning strategies.