bemöta

Bemöta is a Swedish verb that means to respond to or meet something with a reply, argument, or reaction. It is commonly used when addressing statements, claims, criticism, questions, or accusations. The act can range from a considered counterargument to a brief, factual reply, and it is a central concept in debates, journalism, and public discourse.

Etymology and forms: The verb is formed with the prefix be- added to möta, meaning to meet. Its basic forms are bemöter (present), bemötte (past), and bemött (supine or past participle). The passive form bemöts is used to indicate that something is being responded to. The related noun bemötande denotes the manner or act of meeting or replying, as in ett vänligt bemötande or ett kritiskt bemötande.

Usage notes: Bemöta is often followed by a direct object such as en kritik, ett påstående, eller en anklagelse. In public discourse, to bemöta criticism is to provide a reply, often with facts or arguments; to bemöta ett påstående is to counter it; to bemöta en fråga is to answer it. The tone and aggressiveness depend on context; it can be civil, firm, or confrontational.

Examples: Partiledaren bemötte kritiken med en detaljerad förklaring. Organisationen bemötte anklagelserna med nya data. Hon bemötte frågan lugnt men tydligt. The term is also used in media to describe responses to statements or rumors, and it remains common in both formal and everyday Swedish.