värdenas

Värdenas is the genitive plural form of the Swedish noun värde, meaning value or worth. In ordinary and scholarly Swedish, värden refers to multiple values, and adding the possessive plural suffix -as yields värdenas, which translates roughly to the values’ or of the values. The form is used when discussing what a group, institution, or system holds to be important or guiding.

Grammar and usage: Värdenas appears in noun phrases that attribute something to the values a group shares. For example, värdenas betydelse means the significance of the values, and värdenas sammanhållning refers to the cohesion of the values. The genitive plural form contrasts with värdens (the value’s, singular possessive) and with värdet (the value, definite singular). In sentences, värdenas functions as a dependent noun within a larger clause or as part of a prepositional phrase, often alongside adjectives or verbs that describe the relationship to the values.

Contexts: In philosophy and ethics, värdenas grundvalar or värdenas prioritet describe fundamental values and their prioritization. In sociology and political science, discussions about värdenas förändring or värdenas konsistens explore how shared values evolve or remain stable. In cultural studies, researchers may examine värdenas överföring between generations or institutions, or how values are transmitted and adapted in practice.

Limitations: Värdenas is a grammatical form rather than a standalone concept. Its precise interpretation depends on context, and translations or glosses are helpful for non-Swedish readers. The term is most meaningful within discussions of values, norms, and their role in social life.