vägra

Vägra is a Swedish verb meaning to refuse, decline, or resist doing something. It describes a deliberate decision not to accept an offer, not to comply with a request, or not to participate in an obligation. In everyday speech the term covers a wide range of refusals, from casual dismissals to principled non-compliance in medical, legal, or political contexts.

Conjugation and usage: the infinitive is "att vägra." In the present tense it is "vägrar": jag vägrar, du vägrar, han/hon vägrar. The simple past is "vägrade," and the past participle or supine is "vägrat," used in perfect tenses such as "har vägrat" or "hade vägrat." The present participle is "vägrande" and can function as an adjective or in continuous constructions. Vägra is usually followed by an "att"-clause to specify what is refused, for example "hon vägrar att säga ja" or "de vägrar att följa instruktionerna." It can also be used with a direct object in some contexts, though this is less common.

Nuance and related terms: vägra conveys a clear, purposeful rejection rather than mere hesitation. The noun form is "vägran," meaning a refusal or act of declining. Etymology traces to native Swedish roots with cognates in other Germanic languages, reflecting a long-standing semantic field around rejection and non-compliance.