repetera

Repetera is a Swedish verb meaning to rehearse, practise, or repeat something in order to remember or perform it. The primary sense is to go over material or a performance by repeating it until it becomes more accurate or familiar. The verb is commonly used in education, theatre, and music, as well as in everyday speech when someone wants to drill or refresh knowledge.

Etymology: Repetera is a loanword from the French répéter, meaning to repeat or rehearse, and it likely reached Swedish via German repetieren. It shares its root with the English word repeat and the noun repetition. In Swedish the infinitive is repetera; the present tense is repeterar; the past tense is repeterade; the supine is repeterat. The form is regular for an -era verb.

Usage: In schools, teachers ask students to repetera material before tests. In theatre and music, performers use repetition and rehearsals to refine lines, cues, and phrasing. In everyday language, repetera can mean simply to repeat something for emphasis or to commit information to memory by reciting it aloud.

Related terms include repetition (the act of repeating) and repetition as a noun for a practice session or rehearsal. Repetera is distinct from other Swedish verbs meaning practice, such as öva or träna, which emphasize ongoing skill development rather than the act of going over already learned material.