betjänar

Betjänar is a Swedish verb meaning to serve or attend to someone, particularly by providing help, hospitality, or customer service. It is used for people who perform a service for others, such as shop staff, waiters, healthcare workers, or public officials who assist citizens. The sense can cover both direct interpersonal service and actions delivered through systems designed to meet someone’s needs.

Etymology and cognates: The verb is formed with the prefix be- attached to tjäna, which means to serve or earn. It is related to Danish betjene and Norwegian betjene, and traces back to Old Norse þjóna, meaning to serve. The prefix be- adds a sense of performing the action on behalf of others or in relation to a service.

Conjugation and grammar: The present tense is betjänar (jag betjänar, du betjänar, han/hon betjänar, vi betjänar, ni betjänar, de betjänar). The past tense is betjänade. The supine/past participle is betjänat, and the past participle used attributively is betjänad (en betjänad kund). The passive voice is formed with har betjänat (har betjänat kunderna).

Usage notes: Betjäna denotes delivering service in a professional or logistical sense and is common in hospitality, retail, public administration, and caregiving. It is more specifically tied to serving others than tjäna, which often means to earn money or to be of use in a broader sense.

Examples: Hon betjänar kunderna i butiken. Vi har betjänat gästerna hela kvällen. En betjänad kund väntar vid disken.