spelar

Spelar is the present-tense form of the Swedish verb spela, meaning to play. It is used for playing a game or sport, playing a musical instrument, or acting in a role. The form spel ar is the standard third-person singular present tense in Swedish and is used for all persons in the present: jag spelar, du spelar, han/hon spelar, vi spelar, ni spelar, de spelar.

Etymology and cognates: Spela comes from the Germanic language family, with cognates in other Scandinavian languages and Dutch, such as Danish spille, Norwegian spille, and Dutch spelen, all meaning to play or perform.

Conjugation and forms: The verb spela has the infinitive spela, present tense spelar, past tense spelade, and supine spelat. The imperative is spela. In ordinary sentences, the present tense form spelar is used for ongoing or general playing: jag spelar, vi spelar.

Usage notes: Spelar is used across a range of contexts, including music (spelar piano, spelar gitarr), sports and games (spelar fotboll, spelar schack), and theater or film (spelar en roll). When referring to playing a game, the object is typically a game or activity, as in vi spelar kort or de spelar datorspel. The phrase spela en roll means to perform a role or act.

See also: Spel, which refers to a game or play generally; spella-related phrases in Swedish include spela musik, spela ett instrument, spela sport, and spela en roll.