påstod

Påstod is the past tense form of the verb påstå in Swedish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Danish, meaning to claim or assert. It is used to report that someone claimed something or that a belief or statement existed, often in contexts where the truth of the claim is uncertain or disputed.

In these languages, the present tense form is påstår, and the infinitive is påstå. Past tense constructions typically follow regular verb patterns within each language. Examples include: Swedish: Han påstod att han hade sett vad som hände. Norwegian: Hun påstod at hun hadde gjort det. Danish: Han påstod, at han havde set hvad der skete. In all three, påstod is commonly used to attribute a claim to someone, sometimes with an implication that the claim is unverified or contested.

The word is widely used in journalism, literature, and everyday speech to indicate reported speech or asserted beliefs. Its usage often signals that the speaker is presenting someone else’s claim rather than an established fact, and it can carry nuance depending on context and tone.

Etymology: Påstod is cognate across Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish and derives from the common Germanic linguistic heritage shared by these languages. While the exact historical development differs by language, the verb form serves a similar function in all three.

See also: påstå, påstår, påstand, påstås.