lät

Låt is a Swedish noun meaning a song or musical piece, typically a composition with lyrics that is performed or recorded. In everyday use, låt refers to a specific track, especially in popular, folk, and contemporary music. The word is widely used in media, music industry, and among listeners, and it is common to encounter phrases like “en låt,” “den här låten,” and “låttitel.”

Grammatical forms and related words: the indefinite singular is en låt; the plural is låtar; the definite singular is låten. The related verb låta, meaning to let or allow, yields the imperative form låt, as in “Låt mig gå” (Let me go) or “Låt oss börja” (Let us begin). Compound forms include låttext (lyrics), låtskrivare (songwriter), and låtlista (playlist or track list).

Usage and distinctions: låt is commonly used for individual musical works, especially modern or popular music, while sång is a broader term for a song or singing in general and can refer to a performance by a singer or a song in a more formal sense. The choice between låt and sång can signal emphasis on the recorded track or on the act of singing itself, depending on context.

Cultural context: Låtar are central to Swedish pop, rock, folk, and traditional genres. The term also appears in media coverage, music charts, and educational contexts when discussing repertoire, songwriters, and performances.

See also: låtar, låten, låttext, låtskrivare.