båda

båda is a Swedish determinative and pronoun meaning "both" or "the two (of something)". It is used to refer to the entirety of a pair of items, people, or concepts. The word is interchangeable with the adverb att bägge, which is more formal or literary. In Swedish, båda can function as a demonstrative determiner preceding a noun, as in båda barnen (both children), or as an object pronoun in a clause, as in Jag såg båda.

Grammatically, båda is inflected for number but not for gender. It has a plural form båda and is used for both singular and plural nouns depending on context. It is typically used with the article the definite form, but sentence structure may omit definite articles in colloquial speech. For example, isolerade båda systemet, meaning "sever both systems." In idiomatic usage, båda is frequently employed in expressions such as båda gånger (both times) or båda sidor (both sides).

The word's etymology traces back to Old Norse bæði, originally referring to a pair of identical or parallel items. It has remained in modern Swedish with consistent meaning. Consistent usage across literary and spoken contexts makes båda a standard term for expressing dual reference.