hämta

Hämta is a Swedish verb meaning to fetch, retrieve, or bring something from one place to another, often to the speaker or to a specified location. It can also mean to collect or pick up items that are at a distance or not immediately reachable.

Conjugation and common forms include: infinitive hämta; present hämtar; past tense hämtade; supine hämtat; passive hämtas. Imperative: hämta. Examples: Jag ska hämta posten. Kan du hämta vatten i köket? Vi hämtade bagaget vid flygplatsen. The verb frequently appears in phrasal forms such as hämta upp (to fetch up or bring up) and hämta fram (to bring forth or produce).

Usage notes and nuances: hämta generally implies going somewhere to obtain something and then bringing it to the desired place. It contrasts with ta, which can be broader and less location-specific. The reflexive hämta sig means to recover or regain one’s composure, or in some contexts to recuperate.

Etymology and cognates: hämta derives from the same Proto-Germanic root as related North Germanic verbs. Cognates include Norwegian hente and Danish hente, and Old Norse henta. The Swedish form reflects shared Germanic origins and regional sound changes.

In modern usage, hämta is common in everyday speech and is also used in computing or technical contexts to mean “to fetch” or “to retrieve,” for example hämta data från ett API. Overall, hämta describes the act of going to a source to bring something back to a recipient.