påtar

Påtar is a Swedish verb in its present tense form, specifically the third-person singular of the verb påta. The core meaning is to undertake or to take on a responsibility, task, or obligation, often with the nuance of deliberate commitment. It is commonly used with the reflexive construction att påta sig something, meaning to take on or assume something voluntarily.

In usage, påtar sig is found in formal, administrative, or legal language, as in “Han påtar sig ansvaret för projektet” (He undertakes the responsibility for the project). In everyday speech, speakers more often use variants such as ta på sig or anta when expressing a similar idea; påta sig tends to carry a more formal or emphatic tone.

Etymology and related forms: the Swedish verb är cognate with the Danish påtage and the Norwegian påta, all sharing a core sense of undertaking or assuming an obligation. The concept is closely linked to the idea of “putting on” responsibility, akin to donning clothing as a metaphor for taking on duties.

Notes: påtar as a lexical item is somewhat formal and may be perceived as literary in contemporary conversation. For everyday language, forms like ta på sig or anta kan be preferred depending on context. The verb exists primarily in the fixed expression påta sig, which emphasizes deliberate commitment to a task or role.