försök

Försök is a Swedish noun with several related meanings centered on the idea of attempting, testing, or exploring. The primary sense is an act of trying to achieve something, an effort to reach a goal, whether successful or not. The term is used in everyday speech as in "göra ett försök" (to make an attempt) and in phrases such as "ett försök till förbättring" (an attempt to improve).

In science and research, försök also denotes an experiment or test conducted to study a hypothesis or evaluate a method. In this sense, "ett försök" is synonymous with "experiment" in English in many contexts, though "experiment" can be used with more formal nuance.

Etymology: The word is a compound of för- and sök (from söka, "to seek"), tracing back to Old Swedish. The sense of forward action or attempt underlies both everyday and technical uses. The term has cognates in other Germanic languages; English "attempt" corresponds to försök in many contexts.

Legal use: In Swedish criminal law, försök denotes an attempt to commit a crime. A person can be convicted of försök even if the crime is not completed. The punishment for försök is typically defined by the underlying offense and is intended to reflect the intent and the danger posed by the attempted act.

Use and context: Common collocations include "försök att" (an attempt to), "misslyckat försök" (failed attempt), and "försöksverksamhet" (experimental work). The term is widely used across everyday language, journalism, and academic writing.