författarna

Författarna, literally “the authors,” is the definite plural form of the Swedish noun författare, which denotes a person who writes literary, scholarly, or other texts. In Swedish, the term is used to refer to the authors of a work or to discuss authors as a group. The definite plural författarna is used when the specific authors are known or being identified, while the indefinite plural författare refers to authors in general.

Grammatical notes: The singular definite form is författaren (the author), the indefinite plural is författare (authors), and the definite plural is författarna (the authors). The phrase can appear in various constructions, for example “Författarna till verket” meaning “the authors of the work.” In many contexts, the term functions as a common noun rather than a proper title.

Etymology: Författare is formed from the verb fatta, meaning to compose or to write, with the agentive suffix -are. The prefix för- is a productive derivational element in Swedish. The word has deep roots in the language’s tradition for naming those who produce written works and has been in use since medieval times in some form.

Usage and significance: Författarna is widely used in literary criticism, bibliographies, and discussions of authorship. It can refer to a specific group of writers or to authorship as a concept. While it can serve as a descriptive noun in ordinary text, it may also appear as a heading or label in lists that identify contributors to a book, article, or project.