utmaning

Utmaning is a Swedish noun meaning a difficult task or situation that tests someone’s abilities, resources, or resolve. It can refer to a concrete objective, a demanding activity, or a broader set of difficulties in areas such as work, technology, economics, or society. The word is derived from the verb utmana, “to challenge,” and is formed with the nominalizing suffix -ing. Related terms include utmanande (adjective: challenging), utmana (to challenge), and the plural utmaningar (challenges).

Usage in Swedish is widespread in daily language as well as in professional and public discourse. A person may speak of a personal or professional utmaning, or governments and organizations may refer to societal or market utmaningar. Common collocations include stora utmaningar (big challenges), nya utmaningar (new challenges), and att ta sig an en utmaning or att anta en utmaning (to take on a challenge). The term often emphasizes growth, effort, and the potential for improvement through facing difficulties.

Notes on terminology and context: utmaning is a standard Swedish word and is primarily used in Swedish texts. In Norwegian and Danish, similar concepts are typically expressed with utfordring or udfordring. The word utmaning is thus mainly Swedish-specific, though understood in other Scandinavian contexts. In addition to utmaning, other related concepts include prövning (trial) and problem (problem), depending on nuance and formality.