undervisa

Undervisa is a Swedish verb meaning to teach or educate someone, typically in a subject or skill. It denotes formal instruction delivered by a teacher or instructor and is used in schools, universities, and other training contexts. The object is usually a learner or group of learners, as in “Läraren undervisar eleverna i matematik.”

The term is derived from under- plus visa, reflecting the sense of guiding someone by showing knowledge. It is cognate with the German unterweisen and has a long-standing place in modern Swedish, retaining a clear educational sense distinct from casual informing.

Conjugation and voice: Infinitive undervisa; present undervisar; past undervisade; supine undervisat. Passive constructions include present passive undervisas (Eleverna undervisas av läraren) and past passive undervisades (Eleverna undervisades av läraren). In active perfect, one says “har undervisat”; in passive perfect one says “har undervisats.” These forms allow both direct instruction and described instructional processes.

Usage and nuance: Undervisa is commonly used in formal and semi-formal educational settings, including schools, universities, and professional training. It emphasizes the act of imparting structured knowledge or skills. Alternatives include “lära ut” (to teach out) and “utbilda” (to educate). The noun form is undervisning (instruction), while undervisad or undervisats may appear as participles in descriptive contexts.

Related terms include undervisning, utbildning, and lärare (teacher). Undervisa provides the standard Swedish verb for describing the act of teaching within established educational frameworks.