sätta

Sätta is a Swedish verb meaning to put, place, or set something in a particular position, and more generally to establish or initiate something. It is also used reflexively in the sense of “to sit down” (sätta sig) and appears in many phrasal verbs that modify its sense, such as sätta igång (to start), sätta upp (to put up or hang), sätta in (to insert or install), and sätta på (to turn on or put on).

Grammar and forms: Sätta is an irregular verb. The infinitive is att sätta; the present tense is sätter; the past tense is satte; the supine and past participle are both satt. The present passive form is sätts. In perfect constructions, forms like har satt are common, as in “jag har satt nyckeln där” (I have put the key there).

Usage and meanings: The core sense is physical placement or arrangement, as in placing objects or setting things in a position. It can also mean to establish rules, prices, schedules, or positions: att sätta ett pris (to set a price), att sätta upp regler (to establish rules). Many extended meanings exist through phrasal verbs and idioms, such as sätta igång something (to start something) or sätta livet till (to risk one’s life).

Common examples: “Hon satte nyckeln på bordet.” (She placed the key on the table.) “De sätter igång maskinen nu.” (They are starting the machine now.) “Sätt upp affischen på väggen.” (Put the poster up on the wall.)

Etymology and related terms: Sätta derives from older North Germanic roots and is related to nouns like sätt (manner, way). It coexists with many related verbs and idioms in Swedish, reflecting a broad range of spatial, temporal, and figurative meanings.