släpper

Släpper is a Swedish verb meaning to release, let go, or allow to pass. It can refer to physically letting go of an object, but it is also used in more figurative senses, such as releasing content to the public, permitting entry, or freeing someone from restraint. Common uses include släppa in phrases like släppa in (to admit someone), släppa ut (to let out), släppa taget (to loosen one’s grip), and släppa en låt or släppa nyheter (to release a song or to release news).

Etymology and related forms: Släppa originates from the Old Norse verb sleppa, and is cognate with Danish sleppe and Norwegian slippe. It describes the general act of letting something loose or making something available. The verb is used transitively with a direct object in most cases. The present tense form is släpper, the past tense is släppte, and the supine or past participle is släppt. The perfect forms use har släppt or har släpptes, for example.

Grammar and usage notes: Släppa is a regular verb in the present tense but has its own unique inflection pattern: infinitive släppa, present släpper, past släppte, supine släppt. The imperative singular is släpp. In everyday language, it appears across domains from physical actions to media and culture, e.g., releasing a book, a film, a song, or information, as well as in idiomatic expressions such as släppa taget (to release one’s grip).

Distinctions: Släpper should not be confused with slippa, which means to be spared from having to do something or to avoid an obligation. Släppa and slippa are related in meaning but serve different grammatical and semantic roles.

See also: släppa fri, släppa in, släppa ut, release (in music and media).