frågande

Frågande is a Swedish word that functions as both a present participle of the verb fråga (to ask) and as an adjective. It describes the act of asking or the quality of being inclined to ask, i.e., an inquiring or interrogative character. In everyday language it is used to describe people, expressions, or tones that indicate inquiry rather than to serve as a noun.

Etymology and form: Frågande is formed by adding the participial suffix -ande to the verb fråga/fråga. The form is used across genders and numbers when employed attributively or predicatively, for example with the nouns blick, ton, ansikte, or röst.

Usage: Attributive examples include ett frågande ansikte (a questioning face), en frågande ton (an inquiring tone), and ett frågande leende (a questioning smile). Predicative usage appears in sentences like Hon såg frågande ut (She looked inquisitive). The term conveys curiosity, doubt, or a desire for information and is common in descriptive prose, journalism, and dialogue.

Relation to other terms: Frågande is related to the verb fråga and to synonyms such as nyfiken (curious) or inquisitive in English. It should not be confused with interrogative words (frågeord), which are a separate grammatical category.

See also: frågeord, interrogativ, fråga.

Examples: Hon gav honom ett frågande leende. Det var en frågande röst i intervjun. These usages illustrate how frågande signals a request for information or clarification within a response or interaction.