underhållas

Underhållas is a Swedish verb used in the passive voice. It denotes that someone or something receives the action of maintaining or entertaining. The verb is the passive form of underhålla, which has two related senses in modern Swedish: to maintain or to entertain. The choice of meaning is usually clear from context and the surrounding nouns, such as a system, infrastructure, or a performance.

Etymology and sense in Swedish reflect a broader Germanic lineage. Underhålla itself comes from under- (a prefix related to “under” or “beneath”) combined with håll(a) (“to hold”). The sense evolved to cover both maintaining a system or service and providing amusement. The noun underhåll complements these ideas, referring to maintenance, sustenance, or entertainment. Related words include underhållning (entertainment) and underhållsarbete (maintenance work).

Grammatical notes and forms: underhållas is the present passive form of underhålla. Key forms include underhålls (present passive), underhålldes (preterite passive), underhållits (past participle used in passive perfect constructions), and the active forms underhåller (present), underhöll (preterite), underhållit (active perfect). The infinitive is underhålla, with imperative form underhåll.

Usage notes: in maintenance contexts, underhållas describes things like equipment, infrastructure, and facilities being kept in good condition, e.g., Bilen underhålls regelbundet (the car is maintained regularly); Gatorna underhålls av kommunen (the streets are maintained by the municipality). In entertainment contexts, underhålla is typically active (the show entertains the audience), while passive constructions are less common but possible in specific idioms.

See also: underhåll (maintenance/entertainment), underhållning (entertainment), underhållsarbete (maintenance work).