övertala

Definition & meaning

To persuade or talk someone into doing something, especially when they were initially hesitant or unwilling.

• Jag övertalade henne att följa med. — I persuaded her to come along.

Grammar & Word origin

Övertala is a verb: övertalar (present), övertalade (past), övertalat (supine).

It is formed from över (“over”) and tala (“speak”). It is commonly used with a person followed by att and an infinitive.

Synonyms & antonyms

• förmå ↗ — to get someone to do something; more formal and does not necessarily imply persuasion.
• övertyga ↗ — to convince someone of something; it focuses on changing a belief rather than getting someone to act.
• avråda ↗ — to advise against something; an opposite in the sense of discouraging an action.

Common phrases & collocations

• övertala någon att göra något ↗ — to persuade someone to do something.
• låta sig övertalas ↗ — to allow oneself to be persuaded.