återkomma

Återkomma is a Swedish verb meaning to come back again, to recur, or to return to a topic in discussion. It can describe a physical return as well as returning to a matter in conversation. The present tense is återkommer, the preterite is återkom, and the supine used in compound tenses is återkommit. The present participle is återkommande, used both as a verbal form and as an adjective meaning recurring.

Etymology: The verb is formed from åter-, meaning “again” or “back,” and komma, to come. It is part of a family of Germanic-origin verbs built with the same idea of returning or repeating.

Usage: In everyday language, återkomma is used to indicate returning to a subject: Låt mig återkomma till frågan senare (Let me come back to the question later). It can also denote repetition or recurrence: återkommande problem (recurring problems), återkommande besvär (recurrent symptoms). In journalism or formal writing, it may signal that a topic will be addressed again in a subsequent section or installment. The adjective form återkommande is common in scientific, administrative, or medical language to describe phenomena that occur again and again.

Related forms and terms: Återkomst (return or comeback) is a noun that expresses the act or state of returning. Återvända means to return to a place, and återuppta means to resume. These terms share the same prefix åter- and broad usage in Swedish for notions of coming back or resuming.