varenda

Varenda is a Swedish determiner meaning “every single” or “each and every.” It is used to add strong emphasis to the noun it precedes, typically before a singular noun within a noun phrase. For example, varenda dag means “every day” and varenda person means “every person.” In usage, varenda often conveys a heightened sense of universality compared with the more neutral varje.

Etymology and register are modestly debated, but varenda is generally treated as a formed intensifier built on the root var- (“each”) with the suffix -enda. Its precise historical development is not uniform in modern references, but it remains recognizable in contemporary Swedish.

In practice, varenda is placed directly before the noun: varenda gång, varenda plats, varenda liten detalj. It is common in spoken and written Swedish, especially in contexts aiming for emphasis, rhetoric, or literary tone. It tends to be less common in casual everyday speech, where varje is more typical.

Varenda contrasts with varje in nuance rather than core meaning. While both express universality, varenda signals stronger, more exhaustive emphasis and can feel formal or literary. It is not generally used with plural nouns, where varjevant or other constructions would be more appropriate.

See also: varje, varje gång.