samtalar

Samtalar is a Swedish verb meaning to converse, to hold a talk, or to engage in dialogue. It is used for both casual, everyday conversations and more formal discussions or negotiations. The form samtalar is the present tense, used for all persons (jag samtalar, du samtalar, han/hon samtalar, vi samtalar, de samtalar).

Etymology and related forms: samtala comes from sam- meaning together and tala meaning to speak. The noun form samtal refers to a conversation, an interview, or a talk. Related verb forms include samtalade (past tense) and samtalat (supine/participial form). In Swedish, samtalar can be complemented by prepositions such as med (with) or om (about), as in samtala med någon or samtala om ett ämne.

Usage and nuances: Samtalar emphasizes dialogue and mutual exchange. It is commonly used in both private and professional contexts. Examples include "Vi samtalar regelbundet för att planera projektet" (We converse regularly to plan the project) and "Polis och vittnet samtalar" (The police and the witness converse). In formal or diplomatic contexts, samtala can describe discussions aimed at reaching understanding rather than immediate agreement, though more specific terms like förhandla (negotiate) may be used when bargaining is involved.

See also: samtal, the noun for a conversation; samtalston, the tone of a conversation; samtalsterapi, talk therapy, where the verb form may appear in clinical descriptions.