frågan

Frågan is the definite singular form of the Swedish noun fråga, meaning a question or an inquiry. It is an en-word (common gender) in Swedish grammar, with indefinite singular fråga, definite singular frågan, indefinite plural frågor, and definite plural frågorna. The word denotes something asked for information, a topic under discussion, or a matter to be resolved, and it can function as the subject or the object in a sentence, for example: Frågan är hur vi ska gå vidare.

In everyday use, frågan appears in political, academic, and media contexts to introduce issues and topics. It is common in phrases such as frågan om klimatpolitik (the question of climate policy) or Frågan är central (the question is central). Related terms include frågeställning (the research question or inquiry) and frågeord (interrogative words like vad, hur, varför). The verb fråga (to ask) shares a common linguistic root, linking the noun and verb in meaning related to seeking information.

Etymology and variation: The Swedish word frågan derives from older Germanic roots common to the Nordic languages, and while other languages use different forms for “question,” the concept of inquiry is a long-standing part of the language. As a result, frågan remains a core term in discussions of rhetoric, logic, law, and everyday communication, signaling a focal point in dialogue and analysis.