påstå

Påstå is a verb used in Swedish and Norwegian (Bokmål) meaning to claim or assert something, often about a fact or statement that may be disputed. It is commonly used to introduce reported content, with a clause that follows, typically via att in Swedish or at in Norwegian. The verb can express hedging or skepticism, especially when attributed to someone else or presented as a claim rather than an established fact. In journalism and formal discourse, the passive form det påstås or Det påstod is frequently used to attribute a claim to sources rather than endorsing it.

Conjugation and forms differ slightly between Swedish and Norwegian but share the same core meaning. Infinitive: påstå. Swedish present: påstår; past: påstod; supine (used in perfect tenses): påstått. Norwegian Bokmål present: påstår; past: påstod; supine: påstått. The passive form is common in both languages: Swedish Det påstås att …; Norwegian Det påstås at ….

Usage notes: påstå is a strong, claim-oriented verb. It is not guarantees of truth; it signals that the speaker is reporting someone else’s assertion, often with evaluation or skepticism. Synonyms in Swedish and Norwegian include hävda (to assert). The verb regularly appears with that/att clauses (påstå att …) and in passive constructions (Det påstås att …) to frame information as claims by others.

Examples:

Swedish: Hon påstår att hon varit i Paris i helgen. Det påstår att projektet blir klart nästa månad.

Norwegian: Han påstår at han har lest boken. Det påstås at prosjektet vil være ferdig neste måned.