värda

Värda is a Swedish adjective meaning "worthy" or "deserving," used to describe a person or thing that merits attention, respect, or consideration. The related noun värde means value or worth. The plural form of the adjective is värda, which is used with plural nouns, for example värda mål or värda insatser.

A key distinction is between värd and värt. Värd (with the plural värda) describes merit or deservingness, as in de är värda vår respekt (they are worthy of our respect). Värt, on the other hand, means "worth" in the sense of value or merit in a more general, non-personal sense, and is used in constructions like det är värt att läsa (it is worth reading). The two words are related etymologically but appear in different grammatical contexts.

Grammatical notes: värd is the base form used for singular masculine or generic reference, while the plural form is värda (for both definite and indefinite contexts). Examples include den värda mannen (the worthy man) and de värda människorna (the worthy people). Verbal phrases with värd emphasize merit, whereas värt supports expressions about worth or usefulness, often followed by an infinitive, as in det är värt att överväga.

Etymology: värd is descended from Old Swedish and is cognate with words in other Germanic languages meaning value or worth, such as German wert and English worth. It relates to the noun värde, which denotes value or worth.

See also: värde, värdskap.