underlätta

Underlätta is a Swedish verb meaning to make something easier or to facilitate. It is transitive and commonly used with an object, often in constructions like att underlätta för någon, meaning to make things easier for someone. In English, it is most often translated as “to facilitate” or “to ease.”

Etymology and forms: the word combines under- (a prefix meaning beneath or across, here extending to “reduce burdens”) with lätt(a) (to ease or lighten). The verb’s present tense form is underlättar, with past tense underlättade and supine underlättat. The imperative is underlätta.

Usage and nuance: underlätta is typically employed to describe policies, processes, or tools that remove obstacles or reduce workload. It is common in administrative, educational, business, and policy contexts. A phrase such as underlätta för företag, studenter eller invånare is frequently used to indicate whom or what is being eased.

Examples: "Statliga stödsystem underlättar företagsstart." "Digitala verktyg underlättar undervisningen." "Reformer kan underlätta ansökningsprocessen för studenter." In some contexts, synonyms include förenkla (to simplify), medan underlätta emphasizes reducing barriers and making efforts more manageable.

See also and related terms: common related verbs are förenkla and göra enklare. The term is widely used in formal and bureaucratic Swedish, as well as in everyday language when describing measures that reduce complexity or burden.