önska

Önska is a Swedish verb meaning to wish or to desire something. It is commonly used in everyday language as well as in formal or courteous speech. The related noun form is önskan, meaning a wish or desire, and plural önskningar.

Etymology and relatives: The word originates in the North Germanic language family, with cognates in Danish ønske and Norwegian ønske. It is related to the English word wish and shares historical roots in expressing a desired state or outcome. The verb önska appears in medieval Swedish and has the standard Swedish verb forms.

Grammar and usage: Önska is a transitive verb, typically taking a direct object or a subordinate clause introduced by att. Present tense is önskar, past tense is önskade, and supine is önskat. The imperative form is önska, the present participle önskande, and the past participle önskat. Examples: "Jag önskar dig lycka" (I wish you happiness), "Jag önskar att du kommer i tid" (I wish that you arrive on time). In formal or hospitable contexts one may say "Vi önskar er en trevlig resa" (We wish you a pleasant trip).

Noun usage and phrases: As a noun, önskan refers to a specific wish or desire, as in "en stark önskan" or "uppfylla en önskan." The phrase "en önskan om" introduces the thing desired, and it is common to speak of fulfilling or realizing such a wish, e.g., "uppfylla en önskan" or "göra ens önskan verklig."

See also: wish, desire, completeness of well-wishing phrases, common Swedish greetings.