tvätta

Tvätta is a Swedish verb meaning to wash. It refers to cleaning something with water or another liquid and can be applied to clothes, dishes, body, or surfaces. In everyday language it is used for domestic chores, but the term also appears in industrial contexts and in figurative phrases such as tvätta bort smutsen, meaning to wash away dirt or remove traces.

Grammatical notes: Tvätta är a regular verb in Swedish. The present tense is tvättar, the past tense is tvättade, and the supine form is tvättat, which is used in perfect tenses and as a past participle. The past participle used as an adjective is tvättad. The present participle is tvättande. The infinitive form is att tvätta.

Common usage and phrases: The verb supports a range of phrasal verbs and fixed expressions. For example, tvätta upp means to wash up, tvätta av means to wipe off or rinse clean, and tvätta bort can be used figuratively as well as literally. There are numerous practical contexts, from household cleaning to industrial washing processes.

Related terms and tools: The noun tvätt means washing or laundry. Related compound words include tvättmedel (detergent), tvättmaskin (washing machine), tvättstuga (laundry room), tvättkorg or tvättkorgar (laundry basket), and tvättlina or tvättline (clothesline). These terms are commonly encountered in households, workplaces, and consumer labeling.

See also: Laundry and cleaning terminology in Swedish. For learners, basic usage examples with everyday objects help illustrate conjugation and common collocations.