översvämma

Översvämma is a Swedish verb meaning "to flood" or "to inundate". It is used both in literal contexts—describing water overflowing banks or inundating an area—and figuratively, for example to describe being overwhelmed by large quantities of messages, requests or items.

Grammatically the verb appears as översvämma (infinitive), översvämmer (present), översvämmade (past), and översvämmat (supine). The past participle form översvämmad is used adjectivally. It can be used transitively (att översvämma något) or intransitively/passively (något översvämmas). Common related nouns include översvämning (a flood) and översvämningsrisk (flood risk).

Etymologically the word is composed of the prefix över ("over") and the verb svämma ("to brim, overflow"), with roots in older North Germanic language stages. The term is frequent in meteorological, hydrological and environmental contexts, where it denotes events affecting infrastructure, agriculture and settlements, and features in reporting on extreme weather and climate-related hazards.

Examples of use: "Floden översvämmade byn efter skyfallet" (The river flooded the village after the downpour), and figuratively "Mejlinkorgen översvämmas av förfrågningar" (The inbox is inundated with inquiries). In technical and policy texts, översvämma links to discussions of flood prevention, drainage and land planning.