klättra

Klättra is a Swedish verb meaning to climb or ascend by using the hands and feet. It is used to describe moving upward on natural or man-made surfaces, such as rock faces, trees, ladders, or buildings. The verb can also be used figuratively to mean overcoming a barrier or achieving a higher position.

The infinitive is klättra; the present tense is klättrar, the past tense is klättrade, and the supine form is klättrat. The related noun for the activity is klättring, and a climber is called a klättrare. The verb has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish and Norwegian klatre.

Climbing as a sport or activity is commonly referred to as klättring. People climb on natural terrain (bergsklättring) or indoors at climbing gyms (inomhusklättring). The practice requires equipment such as a harness (sele), rope (rep), carabiners (karbin eller krok), and a belay device (surrningsutrustning), along with appropriate safety knowledge and training. Climbing emphasizes technique, risk assessment, and environmental awareness, and it includes various styles such as rock, ice, or mixed climbing, as well as bouldering on shorter walls without ropes.

Safety and training are essential in climbing. Proper instruction, a suitable partner, and adherence to safety protocols reduce the risk of injury. Environmental considerations, such as leaving no trace and respecting local access rules, are also important in outdoor climbing. The term klättra thus encompasses both everyday movement and organized sports within Swedish language use.