förtjänta

Förtjänta is a Swedish adjective form derived from the verb förtjäna, which means to deserve or earn. The term denotes that something is deserved or merited and is commonly used to describe rewards, recognition, or outcomes that are considered justified.

Grammatically, förtjänta appears as the plural form of the adjective when it modifies plural nouns. In singular usage the corresponding form is usually förtjänt. The word can function before a noun as an attributive adjective, for example: ett förtjänt erkännande or förtjänta belöningar. In many contexts the related noun förtjänst (merit or deservedness) is used to refer to the concept more abstractly.

Usage and nuance: förtjänta emphasizes that merit has been earned and is deserved by the subject. It is common in formal or evaluative language, such as journalism, official reports, or awards discussions. The term can apply to people, achievements, or outcomes, often paired with nouns like belöningar, erkännande, eller resultat.

Relation to related terms: förtjänst is the noun form representing merit itself or deservedness. The verb förtjäna forms the basis for the adjective; related expressions include phrases like förtjänt erkännande or fόrtjenta utmärkelser, depending on grammatical form and context.

See also: Swedish grammar on adjectives and participles, förtjänst and andra merit-relaterade uttryck. For language learners, note that svenska adjektiv ofta böjs i singular och plural, vilket påverkar formen för “förtjänt” kontra “förtjänta” när de kopplas till olika substantiv.