B1 noun 6 Min. Lesezeit

utredning

the act of investigating

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'utredning' often, but you might see it in simple news headlines or hear it in a doctor's office. Think of it simply as 'a check' or 'a study'. If a doctor says 'Vi måste göra en utredning', they mean they need to do more tests to see why you are sick. It is a noun, and you can use it with the verb 'göra' (do). For example: 'Polisen gör en utredning' (The police are doing an investigation). Just remember it is a long word that means 'looking for answers'.
At the A2 level, you should recognize 'utredning' as a formal word for an investigation. You might encounter it when reading about social issues or health. You should know that it is an 'en' word: 'en utredning', 'utredningen'. You can start to use it in basic sentences about work or health. For instance, 'Jag väntar på en utredning från sjukhuset' (I am waiting for an investigation/test results from the hospital). It is more formal than 'test' and implies a process that takes some time.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'utredning' in various contexts, especially in professional or administrative situations. You should understand that it refers to a systematic process of gathering facts. You should be able to use common verbs like 'påbörja' (start) or 'avsluta' (finish) with it. You might also see compound words like 'brottsutredning' (crime investigation). This is the level where you start to distinguish 'utredning' from 'undersökning'. An 'utredning' is usually longer and more complex.
At the B2 level, 'utredning' becomes a key word for discussing Swedish society and politics. You should know about 'Statens Offentliga Utredningar' (SOU) and how they influence law-making. You should be able to describe the quality of an investigation using adjectives like 'omfattande' (comprehensive), 'bristfällig' (flawed), or 'objektiv' (objective). You should also be able to use the verb 'utreda' (to investigate) fluently. You can discuss the results of an investigation and how they might lead to changes in policy or practice.
At the C1 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'utredning' and its synonyms like 'granskning', 'analys', and 'kartläggning'. You should be able to use it in academic or high-level professional writing. You understand the bureaucratic weight the word carries in Sweden. You can use it to discuss complex legal procedures, such as the difference between a 'förundersökning' and a 'sannolikhetsutredning'. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the formal register and the specific collocations used in legal and governmental Swedish.
At the C2 level, you use 'utredning' with the precision of a native speaker. You understand the historical and cultural context of the Swedish 'utredningsväsende' (the system of public inquiries). You can critique the methodology of an 'utredning' in a professional or academic setting. You are aware of the subtle rhetorical ways the word is used in political discourse to delay action or to build consensus. You can effortlessly switch between 'utredning' and more specialized terms like 'prospektering' or 'revision' depending on the exact technical field.

utredning in 30 Sekunden

  • Utredning is a formal Swedish noun meaning investigation or inquiry, used widely in law, medicine, and government to describe systematic fact-finding processes.
  • It is an 'en' word (en utredning, utredningen) and pluralizes to 'utredningar', often appearing in compound words like 'brottsutredning' or 'läkarutredning'.
  • Commonly paired with verbs like 'göra' (do), 'tillsätta' (appoint), and 'genomföra' (conduct), it implies a thorough and objective analytical effort.
  • Distinguish it from 'undersökning' (a physical check or survey) and 'forskning' (academic research); 'utredning' is specifically about resolving a particular case or issue.

The Swedish word utredning is a cornerstone of Swedish administrative, legal, and medical language. At its core, it refers to the process of investigating, examining, or analyzing a complex situation to reach a conclusion or to clarify facts. The word is derived from the verb utreda, which literally means to 'untangle' or 'clear up' (from reda, meaning order). Imagine a ball of tangled yarn; an utredning is the systematic process of pulling those threads apart until the structure is clear and the truth is revealed.

Legal Context
In the legal sphere, a förundersökning (preliminary investigation) is a specific type of utredning conducted by police or prosecutors to determine if a crime has been committed and who might be responsible.

Polisen har nu avslutat sin utredning om bankrånet och lämnat över ärendet till åklagaren.

Beyond the police station, you will encounter this word frequently in healthcare. When a doctor is unsure of a diagnosis, they will initiate an utredning. This involves a battery of tests, interviews, and observations. For instance, an ADHD-utredning is a very common term in modern Sweden, describing the multi-step process of diagnosing neurodivergence.

Political Context
In Swedish politics, the statlig offentlig utredning (SOU) is a fundamental tool. Before a new law is passed, a committee is often appointed to perform a deep-dive investigation into the subject.

Regeringen har tillsatt en utredning för att se över skattesystemet.

The word is versatile. It can be a noun for the process itself, or it can refer to the physical document that contains the findings. Whether it is a social services investigation (socialutredning) or a technical inquiry into a plane crash, utredning implies a formal, thorough, and objective search for clarity. It is not just a quick look; it is a deep, structured examination that follows specific protocols.

Using utredning correctly requires understanding its common verb pairings (collocations). The most frequent verb used with utredning is göra (to do) or genomföra (to carry out/conduct). If you are the one starting the process, you might use tillsätta (appoint/set up) or påbörja (start).

Verbal Phrases
Common combinations include 'starta en utredning', 'vänta på svar från utredningen', and 'presentera resultatet av en utredning'.

Läkaren sa att vi måste göra en grundlig utredning för att hitta orsaken till din trötthet.

The word functions as a standard en-noun (en utredning). In the definite form, it becomes utredningen, and the plural is utredningar. When describing the quality of an investigation, Swedes often use adjectives like omfattande (extensive), bristfällig (flawed), or opartisk (impartial).

Många kritiska röster menar att den nuvarande utredningen inte har tagit hänsyn till alla fakta.

You will also see it as the second part of compound words, which is very common in Swedish. For example: mordutredning (murder investigation), haveriutredning (accident investigation), or skolutredning (school inquiry). This allows for very specific communication without needing extra prepositions.

If you turn on the Swedish news (SVT Nyheter or Ekot), you are almost guaranteed to hear the word utredning within the first ten minutes. It is the language of governance and public accountability. When a scandal occurs, the standard response from a politician is: 'Vi ska tillsätta en utredning' (We will appoint an investigation).

The SOU System
The 'Statens Offentliga Utredningar' are published in yellow books and are often referred to simply as 'utredningen' in political debates.

Enligt den senaste statliga utredningen behöver skolan mer resurser för att nå sina mål.

In daily life, you might hear it at the doctor's office. A parent might say, 'Vårt barn genomgår en utredning för dyslexi' (Our child is undergoing an investigation for dyslexia). In professional settings, human resources might conduct an utredning regarding workplace harassment or internal conflicts. It is a word that signals a formal process is taking place, moving away from casual speculation toward evidence-based conclusions.

Polisens utredning pågår fortfarande, så vi kan inte uttala oss om detaljerna än.

English speakers often confuse utredning with other similar words like undersökning (examination/survey) or forskning (research). While they overlap, the nuances are critical for sounding natural in Swedish.

Utredning vs. Undersökning
An 'undersökning' is often a physical checkup (by a doctor) or a statistical survey. An 'utredning' is a broader, multi-step analytical process. You 'undersöker' a patient's throat, but you 'utreder' their chronic illness.

Fel: Vi gör en forskning om vem som stal pengarna. (Research is academic; use 'utredning' for police work).

Another mistake is using the wrong verb. While 'do an investigation' is common in English, in Swedish, genomföra or utföra sounds more professional than just göra, though göra is acceptable in casual speech. Also, watch out for the plural form; it is utredningar, never utredningars or other English-influenced endings.

Depending on the context, you might want to use a more specific word than utredning. Swedish has a rich vocabulary for 'looking into things'.

Granskning
This means 'review' or 'audit'. It is used when someone is checking if rules were followed or if the quality is up to par. Journalists often perform a 'granskning' of powerful people.
Analys
This is used when the focus is on breaking down data or information to understand its components. An 'utredning' often contains several 'analyser'.
Efterforskning
Often used in the plural ('efterforskningar'), this refers to the act of searching for information or missing persons, often in a less formal or more investigative-journalism sense.

Efter en noggrann granskning av räkenskaperna upptäcktes flera felaktigheter.

For medical contexts, undersökning is the most common alternative for a specific checkup, while utredning covers the whole diagnostic journey. In police work, spaning refers to surveillance, which is a part of the overall utredning.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"Härmed tillsätts en utredning för att belysa omständigheterna."

Neutral

"Polisen gör en utredning om stölden."

Informell

"Vi måste göra en liten utredning om vem som tog sista kakan."

Child friendly

"Detektiven gör en utredning för att hitta den försvunna nallen."

Umgangssprache

"Det är värsta utredningen för en skitsak."

Wusstest du?

The root word 'reda' is also found in 'redo' (ready). So, an 'utredning' is literally making a situation 'ready' to be understood.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈʉːtˌreːdnɪŋ/
US /ˈuːtˌreɪdnɪŋ/
Primary stress on the first syllable 'ut', secondary stress on 'red'.
Reimt sich auf
ledning bredning beredning handledning inledning anledning avledning utbredning
Häufige Fehler
  • Pronouncing the 'u' like the English 'u' in 'cut'. It should be more like 'oo'.
  • Missing the 'd' sound in the middle.
  • Pronouncing 'ning' as 'ning-ge' with a hard 'g'.
  • Putting stress on the last syllable.
  • Mixing up the 'e' sound with an 'i' sound.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Common in newspapers, but can be part of long, complex sentences.

Schreiben 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific verb collocations to sound natural.

Sprechen 3/5

The pronunciation of 'u' and 'ning' needs practice.

Hören 3/5

Easily recognizable once you know the 'ut-' prefix.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

reda undersöka polis läkare rapport

Als Nächstes lernen

betänkande remiss åtgärd slutsats bevis

Fortgeschritten

förundersökningsprotokoll haverikommission rättsmedicinsk

Wichtige Grammatik

Noun formation with -ning

Utreda -> Utredning, Ledare -> Ledning

Compound word formation

Mord + Utredning = Mordutredning

Definite form of en-words

En utredning -> Utredningen

Pluralization of -ning nouns

Utredning -> Utredningar

Genitive case

Utredningens resultat

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Polisen gör en utredning.

The police are doing an investigation.

Simple Subject + Verb + Object structure.

2

Vad är en utredning?

What is an investigation?

Question form with 'Vad'.

3

Utredningen är klar.

The investigation is finished.

Definite singular form 'utredningen'.

4

Jag läser en utredning.

I am reading an investigation (report).

Present tense verb 'läser'.

5

Det är en lång utredning.

It is a long investigation.

Adjective 'lång' modifying the noun.

6

Vi behöver en utredning.

We need an investigation.

Verb 'behöver' (need).

7

Hon gör en utredning nu.

She is doing an investigation now.

Adverb 'nu' indicating present action.

8

Här är polisens utredning.

Here is the police's investigation.

Genitive form 'polisens'.

1

Sjukhuset startar en utredning om felet.

The hospital is starting an investigation into the error.

Compound prepositional phrase 'om felet'.

2

Väntar du på svar från din utredning?

Are you waiting for answers from your investigation?

Question with 'Väntar på'.

3

Det finns många utredningar om skolan.

There are many investigations about the school.

Plural form 'utredningar'.

4

Utredningen tar tre månader.

The investigation takes three months.

Verb 'tar' meaning 'takes time'.

5

Vem ansvarar för denna utredning?

Who is responsible for this investigation?

Verb 'ansvarar för' (responsible for).

6

De skriver en rapport efter utredningen.

They are writing a report after the investigation.

Preposition 'efter' (after).

7

Jag förstår inte utredningen.

I don't understand the investigation.

Negative 'inte' with definite noun.

8

Kan vi se utredningen?

Can we see the investigation (report)?

Modal verb 'kan'.

1

Polisen har inlett en förundersökning och en teknisk utredning.

The police have initiated a preliminary investigation and a technical inquiry.

Present perfect 'har inlett'.

2

Resultatet av utredningen presenteras nästa vecka.

The result of the investigation will be presented next week.

Passive voice 'presenteras'.

3

Vi måste genomföra en grundlig utredning av olyckan.

We must conduct a thorough investigation of the accident.

Adjective 'grundlig' (thorough).

4

Barnet ska genomgå en pedagogisk utredning.

The child will undergo a pedagogical assessment.

Verb 'genomgå' (undergo).

5

Utredningen visar att det inte fanns några brister.

The investigation shows that there were no deficiencies.

Verb 'visar' (shows) introducing a clause.

6

Är utredningen objektiv och opartisk?

Is the investigation objective and impartial?

Use of formal adjectives.

7

De har tillsatt en kommitté för utredningen.

They have appointed a committee for the investigation.

Verb 'tillsatt' (appointed).

8

Utredningen har kostat mycket pengar.

The investigation has cost a lot of money.

Present perfect 'har kostat'.

1

Den statliga utredningen föreslår nya lagar mot korruption.

The state inquiry proposes new laws against corruption.

Verb 'föreslår' (proposes).

2

Utredningen är bristfällig och behöver göras om.

The investigation is flawed and needs to be redone.

Adjective 'bristfällig' (flawed).

3

Det råder stor oenighet kring utredningens slutsatser.

There is great disagreement regarding the investigation's conclusions.

Genitive 'utredningens' + 'slutsatser'.

4

Remissinstanserna har nu fått läsa utredningen.

The consultative bodies have now been allowed to read the inquiry.

Term 'remissinstanserna' (consultative bodies).

5

Utredningen omfattar flera tusen sidor.

The investigation covers several thousand pages.

Verb 'omfattar' (comprises/covers).

6

Vi avvaktar utredningens slutbetänkande.

We are awaiting the investigation's final report.

Formal term 'slutbetänkande'.

7

Socialtjänsten har gjort en utredning om barnets hemförhållanden.

Social services have conducted an investigation into the child's home conditions.

Compound 'hemförhållanden'.

8

Utredningen har dragit ut på tiden på grund av resursbrist.

The investigation has dragged on due to a lack of resources.

Idiom 'dragit ut på tiden'.

1

En parlamentarisk utredning har tillsatts för att granska regeringens agerande.

A parliamentary inquiry has been appointed to scrutinize the government's actions.

Passive present perfect 'har tillsatts'.

2

Det är av yttersta vikt att utredningen bedrivs med hög integritet.

It is of the utmost importance that the investigation is conducted with high integrity.

Passive 'bedrivs' (conducted).

3

Utredningen belyser de strukturella problemen inom organisationen.

The investigation highlights the structural problems within the organization.

Verb 'belyser' (illuminates/highlights).

4

Kritiken mot utredningen var svidande i media.

The criticism of the investigation was scathing in the media.

Adjective 'svidande' (stinging/scathing).

5

Utredningen vilar på en bräcklig vetenskaplig grund.

The investigation rests on a fragile scientific foundation.

Metaphorical use of 'vilar på'.

6

Man har begärt en kompletterande utredning i ärendet.

A supplementary investigation has been requested in the matter.

Adjective 'kompletterande' (supplementary).

7

Utredningen har identifierat betydande riskfaktorer.

The investigation has identified significant risk factors.

Verb 'identifierat' (identified).

8

Efter en noggrann utredning fastställdes dödsorsaken.

After a careful investigation, the cause of death was established.

Verb 'fastställdes' (was established).

1

Utredningens direktiv var snävt hållna för att undvika politiskt känsliga frågor.

The investigation's directives were narrowly framed to avoid politically sensitive issues.

Term 'direktiv' (terms of reference).

2

Haverikommissionens utredning lämnar inget utrymme för tvivel.

The Accident Investigation Authority's inquiry leaves no room for doubt.

Idiom 'lämnar inget utrymme för tvivel'.

3

Denna utredning utgör fundamentet för den kommande lagstiftningen.

This investigation forms the foundation for the upcoming legislation.

Verb 'utgör' (constitutes/forms).

4

Sakkunniga i utredningen har reserverat sig mot slutsatserna.

Experts in the inquiry have formally dissented from the conclusions.

Formal verb 'reserverat sig' (formally dissented).

5

Utredningen präglas av en genomgående brist på empiriska data.

The investigation is characterized by a consistent lack of empirical data.

Verb 'präglas av' (characterized by).

6

Man kan ifrågasätta utredningens legitimitet givet dess sammansättning.

One can question the investigation's legitimacy given its composition.

Noun 'legitimitet' (legitimacy).

7

Utredningen har lyckats nysta upp ett komplext nätverk av skatteflykt.

The investigation has managed to unravel a complex network of tax evasion.

Metaphorical verb 'nysta upp' (unravel).

8

Trots utredningens omfattning kvarstår flera obesvarade frågor.

Despite the scope of the investigation, several unanswered questions remain.

Conjunction 'trots' (despite).

Häufige Kollokationen

tillsätta en utredning
genomföra en utredning
grundlig utredning
pågående utredning
lägga ner en utredning
bristfällig utredning
medicinsk utredning
teknisk utredning
presentera en utredning
begära en utredning

Häufige Phrasen

Under utredning

Utredning pågår

Enligt utredningen

Svara på utredningen

Resultatet av utredningen

En opartisk utredning

Vänta på utredning

Utredningens syfte

Inleda en utredning

Slutföra en utredning

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Nysta upp en utredning"

To unravel a complex investigation, like untangling thread.

Det tog tid att nysta upp hela utredningen.

Metaphorical

"Gå till botten med något"

To get to the bottom of something (often used when starting an utredning).

Vi måste gå till botten med detta i vår utredning.

Neutral

"Vända på varje sten"

To leave no stone unturned during an investigation.

I vår utredning ska vi vända på varje sten.

Neutral

"Lägga korten på bordet"

To lay the cards on the table (often the goal of an utredning).

Utredningen tvingade företaget att lägga korten på bordet.

Informal

"Koka ner till"

To boil down to (summarizing the result of an utredning).

Utredningen kokar ner till en fråga om pengar.

Informal

"Se mellan fingrarna"

To turn a blind eye (the opposite of what an utredning should do).

Man kan inte se mellan fingrarna i en sådan här utredning.

Neutral

"Hålla i trådarna"

To hold the strings (being the one leading the utredning).

Det är hon som håller i trådarna i utredningen.

Neutral

"Svart på vitt"

In black and white (having the proof from an utredning).

Nu har vi det svart på vitt i utredningen.

Neutral

"Dra i handbromsen"

To pull the handbrake (stopping an utredning prematurely).

Chefen drog i handbromsen för hela utredningen.

Informal

"Ligga i luften"

To be in the air (a suspicion before an utredning starts).

En utredning har legat i luften länge.

Informal

Satzmuster

A1

Polisen gör en [noun].

Polisen gör en utredning.

A2

Jag väntar på [noun].

Jag väntar på utredningen.

B1

Vi ska [verb] en [adjective] utredning.

Vi ska göra en grundlig utredning.

B2

Utredningen visar att [clause].

Utredningen visar att han var oskyldig.

C1

Det har tillsatts en utredning för att [verb].

Det har tillsatts en utredning för att granska banken.

C2

Utredningens slutsatser är föremål för [noun].

Utredningens slutsatser är föremål för debatt.

B1

Resultatet av [noun] presenteras.

Resultatet av utredningen presenteras idag.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you are pulling a thread OUT of a mess to make it READY. UT + REDA = UTREDNING.

Visuelle Assoziation

A detective with a magnifying glass standing over a giant tangled knot of ropes, slowly pulling one straight.

Word Web

Police Doctor Report Facts Truth Process Paperwork Analysis

Herausforderung

Try to use 'utredning' in a sentence about a missing sock or a mysterious noise in your house.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Swedish verb 'utreda', which combines 'ut' (out) and 'reda' (to put in order, to prepare). It has roots in Old Norse 'reiða'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To untangle, to put in order, or to prepare something for use.

North Germanic / Indo-European.

Kultureller Kontext

Be sensitive when using 'utredning' in social services contexts, as it can be a stressful word for families involved with 'Socialtjänsten'.

In English, we often use 'investigation' for police and 'inquiry' for government. 'Utredning' covers both.

Statens Offentliga Utredningar (SOU) - the famous 'Yellow Books'. The Millennium Series (Stieg Larsson) often features complex 'utredningar'. The murder of Olof Palme led to the largest 'utredning' in Swedish history.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Legal

  • Polisens utredning
  • Brottsutredning
  • Inleda förundersökning
  • Bevismaterial

Medical

  • Medicinsk utredning
  • ADHD-utredning
  • Diagnostisk utredning
  • Sjukdomsförlopp

Political

  • Statlig utredning
  • SOU
  • Tillsätta en kommitté
  • Utredningsdirektiv

Workplace

  • Internutredning
  • Arbetsmiljöutredning
  • Personalärende
  • Granskning

Technical

  • Haveriutredning
  • Teknisk analys
  • Felkälla
  • Säkerhetsutredning

Gesprächseinstiege

"Har du hört något om polisens utredning kring rånet?"

"Jag väntar på att min medicinska utredning ska bli klar."

"Vad tycker du om den nya statliga utredningen om skolan?"

"Tror du att utredningen kommer att leda till några förändringar?"

"Hur går det med utredningen av det tekniska felet på kontoret?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Skriv om en gång när du var tvungen att göra en egen utredning för att lösa ett problem.

Reflektera över varför det är viktigt med opartiska utredningar i ett samhälle.

Beskriv processen för en utredning som du har läst om i nyheterna nyligen.

Om du fick tillsätta en statlig utredning om valfritt ämne, vad skulle det vara och varför?

Hur känns det att vänta på resultatet av en viktig utredning?

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