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nounverb

en visa

show

att låta någon se något eller peka ut något för någon annan

Definition & meaning

Visa has several meanings in Swedish:

  1. To show, display, or demonstrate — the most common meaning as a verb.
    Hon visade mig vägen means “She showed me the way.”

  2. To indicate or express something, such as a feeling, quality, or result.
    Han visade tålamod means “He showed patience.”

  3. To guide or take someone around a place.
    De visade oss runt means “They showed us around.”

  4. A song, especially a traditional or folk-style song.
    En visa means “a song” or “a ballad.”

As a noun meaning an official travel permit, Swedish normally uses visum , not visa.

Grammar & Word origin

As a verb, visa is the infinitive and imperative form. Its forms are visar , visade , and visat .

As a noun meaning “song,” it is a common-gender noun: en visa. Its plural is visor .

The verb comes from Old Swedish and is related to the idea of making something known or clear. The noun for “song” has a separate history and is related to older Germanic words for a verse or melody.

Synonyms & antonyms

For the verb meaning “show,” possible synonyms include:

  • demonstrera — “demonstrate”; often suggests showing how something works or proving a point.
  • påvisa — “show” or “establish”; often more formal and focused on evidence.
  • förevisa — “display” or “present for inspection”; more formal.
  • uttrycka — “express”; fits when showing a feeling or attitude, rather than displaying an object.

There is no single direct antonym for all senses of visa. Depending on context, opposites include dölja (“hide” or “conceal”) and undanhålla (“withhold”).

For the noun meaning “song,” there is no natural antonym.

Common phrases & collocations

  • visa vägen — show the way
  • visa intresse — show interest
  • visa hänsyn — show consideration
  • visa runt — show someone around
  • en folkvisa — a folk song
  • en visa går — a song is sung; literally, “a song goes”

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Examples

Kan du visa mig vägen?verb

Can you show me the way?

Han visade stolt upp sina nya skor.verb

He proudly showed off his new shoes.

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