Återstår

Återstår is a Swedish verb form meaning to remain, to be left, or to be left to be done. It is most commonly used in impersonal constructions to indicate what is still available or what still needs to be done. In everyday usage, you will hear phrases like "Det återstår två dagar" (There are two days left) or "Det återstår att fatta ett beslut" (There remains a decision to be made).

Grammatically, återstår is the third-person singular present of the verb återstå. The related forms include återstod (past tense), återstå (infinitive), and återstående (present participle used as an adjective, meaning remaining). A common fixed expression is "Det återstår att..." followed by an infinitive verb, which formalizes the notion that something still must be done.

Etymology traces återstår to the prefix åter- meaning "again" or "back" and the verb stå meaning "to stand." Over time, the sense evolved from a literal notion of standing again to the figurative sense of something that remains or is left over. The word is neutral in tone and widely used across spoken and written Swedish, including administrative, legal, and literary contexts.

Usage notes: återstår is often used with quantities, time, tasks, or responsibilities. It can refer to physical leftovers or to obligations yet to be fulfilled. It is distinct from synonyms like finnas kvar (to exist, to be left) or vara kvar (to remain), though they can be interchangeable in some contexts. The related adjective återstående is used to describe items that are still present or pending.

See also: återstående, återstå, finnas kvar, vara kvar.