sänk

Sänk is the imperative form of the Swedish verb sänka, meaning to lower, sink, or reduce. It is used to issue a direct command to someone to lower something or to reduce a value or level. The form sänk is used with a second-person subject and can address a single person or a group depending on context. In writing, it is typically spelled with the umlauted vowel ä.

Etymology and related forms: The verb sänka belongs to the Swedish-Germanic language family and has cognates in related languages, such as Norwegian and Danish (senke/sänka). The imperative sänk is one of the short, irregular-looking forms that appear in everyday Swedish for giving immediate instructions.

Usage considerations: Sänk is commonly seen in practical instructions, such as Sänk volymen (lower the volume) or Sänk farten (reduce your speed), though more formal or precise phrasing may be preferred in certain contexts. Like other imperatives, sänk does not carry a tense by itself and relies on context to convey timing or urgency. In signage or direct speech, it functions as a concise command to act.

Notes on form and pronunciation: The imperative takes the form sänk, with the vowel marked by an umlaut to indicate the specific Swedish pronunciation. While the word can appear in isolation in spoken language, it is most often found paired with a direct object that specifies what should be lowered or reduced.

See also: sänka, volym, hastighet.