dölja

Dölja is a Swedish verb meaning to hide, conceal, or camouflage. It can refer to hiding a physical object, concealing information, or masking feelings or intentions. The verb is transitive, typically taking a direct object (dölja något), and it can be used reflexively in expressions such as dölja sig. It is commonly found in everyday language, journalism, and literature, and it denotes both neutral and negative acts of concealment depending on context.

Grammatical notes: In ordinary Swedish, dölja is conjugated as a regular verb in present usage, with forms such as döljer in the present tense and an appropriate past tense form in narrative and speech. The imperative form is dölj. The verb also appears in passive constructions and in participial forms when describing concealment, for example in phrases like döljs or dolda sammanhang, depending on syntax and meaning.

Usage and nuance: Dölja carries a neutral to negative nuance because concealment often implies secrecy or deception. It is used for hiding physical items, evading detection, or masking truths and intentions. Common collocations include dölja sanningen (to hide the truth), dölja sina känslor (to hide one’s feelings), and dölja spåren (to hide the traces). The word also appears in phrases that describe protective concealment, such as camouflaging in nature or safeguarding privacy.

Related terms: The adjective form for concealed is often used in compound phrases (for example, describing something as hidden or obscured). The concept is closely linked to phrases about privacy, security, and honesty, and it appears across formal and informal registers.