gåtan

Gåtan is a Swedish noun meaning a riddle, puzzle, or enigma. It is the definite singular form of gåta; the indefinite singular is en gåta, and the plural is gåtor, with the definite plural gåtorna. The term refers to a statement or question designed to test ingenuity, often with a hidden solution or a clever wording. Gåtor can vary from short brain teasers to longer traditional riddles and may appear in oral tradition, literature, games, and everyday speech.

Etymology and cognates: Gåtan derives from Old Swedish gåta and belongs to the North Germanic word family. Related forms are found in other Scandinavian languages, such as Norwegian gåte and Danish gåde, which reflect a shared linguistic heritage for riddles and puzzles.

Usage and context: In Swedish usage, gåtan is used for both classic folklore riddles and modern puzzle genres. It appears in classrooms, family activities, and media as a form of wordplay or mystery. Common expressions include lösa en gåta (to solve a riddle) and gåtan är svår (the riddle is difficult). Beyond entertainment, the concept of a gåta can be employed metaphorically to describe something puzzling or hard to interpret.

See also: gåta, riddle, puzzle.