utvalda

Utvalda is a Swedish term used as an adjective or a noun phrase meaning “selected” or “the chosen ones.” It most often appears in plural form, as in utvalda kandidater (the selected candidates) or de utvalda (the chosen ones). In singular form, different endings are used depending on grammatical gender: utvald (en utvald kandidat) for common gender, and utvalt (ett utvalt exempel) for neuter singular.

Originating from the verb utvälja, which means “to select out,” utvalda combines the prefix ut- with the verb välja (to choose) and forms the past participle that agrees in gender and number. As an adjective, utvalda describes a subset that has been chosen from a larger group; as a noun phrase, it can refer collectively to the people or items that have been selected.

Usage and nuance: utvalda is common in formal, administrative, or evaluative contexts, such as elections, appointments, awards, or program admissions. It can also carry a religious or literary sense in which “the chosen ones” or “the elect” is implied, depending on the surrounding text. The term is versatile and widely understood in Swedish, with the exact form adjusted for singular or plural and for gender.

Related forms include utvald (singular, common gender or predicative form), utvalt (neuter singular), and the related verb utvälja. In English translations, utvalda is usually rendered as “the selected” or “the chosen ones,” or simply “the elect” in specific religious contexts.