samtalet

Samtalet is the definite form of the Swedish noun samtal, which means a conversation or dialogue between two or more participants. It covers a range of spoken exchanges, from casual chats to more formal meetings or interviews, and can also refer to conversations in professional or therapeutic contexts.

The word originates from sam- meaning together and tal meaning speech or talking, reflecting the idea of speaking together. In standard Swedish, samtalet signals a specific conversation that has already been identified in the discourse.

Morphology and usage: The base form is samtal. Indefinite singular is ett samtal, definite singular is samtalet, indefinite plural is samtal, and definite plural is samtalen. The definite form is used when referring to a particular conversation, for example, "Det var ett långt samtal." The term is versatile and common in both spoken and written Swedish, in casual talk as well as in professional or formal contexts.

Contexts and examples: In everyday language, samtalet can describe ordinary social interaction, such as "Vi hade ett långt samtal." In organizational or educational settings, it appears in phrases like "utvecklingssamtal" (a development discussion) or "samtal med klienten" (a conversation with the client). In media or public life, references to a specific exchanged dialogue may also use the definite form, for instance when describing a notable or previously discussed conversation. Synonyms and related terms include konversation, dialog, and intervju, which vary in nuance and formality.

See also: konversation, dialog, intervju, utvecklingssamtal.