undvika

Undvika is a Swedish verb meaning "to avoid" or "to evade." It is a transitive verb and is used with a direct object when something is to be avoided, or with a clause introduced by att to indicate avoiding an action. The word is common in everyday language as well as in formal writing and can describe avoiding risks, mistakes, questions, or unwanted situations.

Conjugation and forms: Infinitive undvika; present undviker; past undvek; supine undvikit; perfekt participle undvikit; present participle undvikande. Imperative form is undvik. The verb is irregular in the past tense (undvek) and forms the perfect and pluperfect with have/had plus undvikit (e.g., har undvikit, hade undvikit). The present participle undvikande can function as an adjective or in compound expressions (undvikande beteende, en undvikande strategi).

Usage notes: Undvika is typically used with a direct object, as in Jag försöker undvika sötsaker (I try to avoid sweets), or with a clause introduced by att, as in Hon undvek att svara (She avoided answering). It appears in both plain spoken language and more formal registers, including journalism, policy, and legal language. Similar verbs include undgå and hålla sig borta från, which can convey subtler nuances of evasion or staying away from something rather than active avoidance of a risk or action.

See also: undgå, hålla sig borta från, undvikande. Examples illustrate how the verb integrates with objects and subordinate clauses to express avoidance across contexts.