kólla

Källa is a Swedish noun with several related meanings. Most commonly it denotes the source from which something originates, such as a natural spring or a stream, or a source of information or evidence. The term can refer to physical origins as well as abstract ones, for example the source of a rumor or a problem. The plural is källor and the definite singular is källan.

Etymology and history: The word comes from Old Norse and related Germanic roots, originally designating a spring or outlet of water. Over time the meaning broadened to include non-physical origins and later figurative uses in journalism, science, and everyday speech.

Usage and terminology: In media and scholarship, källa is central to citing and verifying facts. Common compounds include källhänvisning (citation) and källkritik (source criticism). Phrases like "enligt källan" or "från denna källa" indicate information provenance. In everyday language a "källa till uppgiften" is the source of the information. In hydrology, källa also refers to a natural water source.

Forms and related terms: The basic forms are en källa (indefinite), källan (definite singular), källor (plural), and källorna (definite plural). Related terms include källhänvisning and källkritik, which are commonly used in academic, journalistic, and critical contexts.