råden

Råden is the definite plural form of the Swedish noun råd, and it is used primarily to refer to formal bodies that give guidance or make decisions—councils within government, organizations, and institutions. In this sense, råden denotes multiple councils (for example, kommunernas råden, the councils of the municipalities). The word can also appear in a broader sense to refer to the set of recommendations or guidance that have been issued, though in everyday usage svenska typically uses råd for “advice” in the plural indefinite.

Etymology and forms: Råd derives from Old Norse ráð and Proto-Germanic *raþą, meaning advice, counsel, or decision. In Swedish, the noun has two related senses: advice (råd) and council (råd). The definite forms are rådet (the council or the advice in a definite sense) and råden (the councils or the set of guidance in a definite sense). The indefinite plural is råd, meaning “councils” or “pieces of advice” without specifying them. The definite plural råden is therefore used when referring to known, particular councils or to a defined set of recommendations.

Usage notes: In formal or institutional writing, råden is common when talking about multiple decision-making bodies or their collective guidance. When referring to general or unspecified advice, Swedish normally uses råd (and the phrase flera råd for “several pieces of advice”). Distinctions depend on whether you are signaling definite, known entities (råden) or general, non-definite guidance (råd).