rädda

Rädda is a Swedish verb meaning to save, rescue, or protect someone or something from danger or loss. It is commonly used in physical contexts, such as saving a person from harm, as well as in figurative contexts, such as saving a project, a life, or a reputation. The verb can also imply preserving something from damage or decay.

Conjugation and forms:

- Infinitive: rädda

- Present: räddar (ex: Jag räddar dig)

- Past simple: räddade (ex: Hon räddade katten)

- Supine / perfect participle: räddat (ex: Har räddat många livet)

- Passive present: räddas (ex: Livet räddas av hjälpen)

- Imperative: rädda (ex: Rädda barnet!)

Usage notes:

Rädda is transitive and requires an object, often a person or thing in danger or need of protection. It appears in emergency contexts, rescue operations, and moral or social senses, such as saving resources or preserving heritage. The related adjective rädd means afraid or frightened, which is a separate word despite the similarity in spelling.

Etymology:

Rädda originates from older Germanic roots shared with other Scandinavian languages, with cognates such as Norwegian redde and Danish redde. The word has long been used in Swedish to express acts of rescue and protection, as well as metaphorical saving.

See also:

Related verbs and phrases include räddningsarbete (rescue work), räddningstjänst (rescue services), and räddas i passiva constructions describing what is saved. The term should not be confused with rädd (afraid), which is an adjective.