vänja

Vänja is a Swedish verb meaning to accustom, habituate, or train someone or oneself to something. It describes the process of gradual adjustment or adaptation rather than a sudden change. The common construction is vänja sig vid, meaning to get used to something, as in hon vänjer sig vid den nya miljön (she is getting used to the new environment). The verb can also take a direct object when someone or something is being accustomed to something: läkaren vänjer patienten vid behandlingen.

Common examples illustrate both senses: barnen vänjer sig vid nattningen (the children are getting used to bedtime); djur vänjer sig snabbt vid nya miljöer (animals quickly adapt to new environments); man vänjer sig vid kyla med tiden (one becomes accustomed to the cold in time).

Etymology and related forms: vänja originates from Old Swedish venja and has cognates in other Nordic languages, such as Danish venne and Norwegian venje, all sharing the sense of forming a habit or sense of familiarity. The related noun vana expresses the product of this process—a habit or custom.

Usage notes: the most common and natural form in everyday Swedish is vänja sig vid, often used with both concrete and abstract objects. In more explicit constructions, vänja någon vid något is used to describe teaching or accustoming someone else to something. The term is neutral and widely applicable, from everyday life to professional contexts.

See also: vana (habit), vana vid, anpassa. Related concepts include acclimatize and habituate in English-language contexts.