betyda

Betyda is a Swedish verb meaning to mean, signify, or imply. It is used to express the meaning of words, signs, or statements, or to indicate the consequences or significance of something. In everyday speech, questions such as Vad betyder det? (“What does that mean?”) are common, and phrases like Det betyder att vi måste handla illustrate a stated consequence. Det betyder mycket can mean that something matters a lot or has high significance to someone.

Conjugation and forms: the infinitive is betyda; the present tense is betyder; the simple past is betydde; the past participle (used with har) is betytt, as in Det har betytt mycket.

Etymology and related terms: the verb is linked to the root betyd-, found in betydelse (meaning, significance). Related adjectives include betydelsefull and betydelsefullt (meaningful, significant). In more formal or technical contexts, the verb beteckna is used to mean “to denote” or “to designate,” for example in mathematics or notation.

Usage notes: while betyda often covers the literal sense of a word or statement, it can also convey implications or inferences in discourse. When describing personal impact, the phrase betydligt or “det betyder mycket för mig” expresses emotional or practical importance. The distinction between betyda and beteckna hinges on everyday meaning versus technical designation.