skilja

Swedish word: skilja

Definition / Explanation: The verb "skilja" in Swedish means "to separate," "to distinguish," or "to differentiate." It can be used in several contexts, such as physically separating things, recognizing differences between objects or concepts, or referring to divorcing in the context of relationships.

Common uses:

• To separate or divide something physically (e.g., "skilja papper" – to separate papers).
• To distinguish or tell apart between things or people (e.g., "skilja mellan rätt och fel" – to distinguish between right and wrong).
• To get a divorce (e.g., "De ska skilja sig" – They are going to divorce).

Synonyms:

• dela – to divide or share (more about sharing or dividing into parts)
• separera – to separate (can be more formal or scientific)
• differentiera – to differentiate (often used in more technical or intellectual contexts)

Differences between synonyms:

• "Skilja" is versatile and used both in general language and specific contexts for separating or distinguishing.
• "Dela" implies sharing or splitting rather than distinguishing between different things.
• "Separera" is more formal, often used for physical or technical separations.
• "Differentiera" mostly refers to intellectual differentiation or technical distinctions.

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Example sentences:

• Det är svårt att skilja på de två tvillingarna.
  It is difficult to distinguish between the two twins.
• Vi måste skilja de olika ämnena i rapporten.
  We need to separate the different subjects in the report.
• De bestämde sig för att skilja sig efter tio års äktenskap.
  They decided to divorce after ten years of marriage.