avlägsna
avlägsna en 30 secondes
- Avlägsna means to remove or eliminate something in a formal or precise way, often used in medical, legal, or technical contexts.
- It can be used reflexively as 'avlägsna sig' to mean 'to leave' or 'to distance oneself' from a place or idea.
- Commonly paired with the preposition 'från' (from), it is a Group 1 verb conjugated as avlägsnar, avlägsnade, avlägsnat.
- While 'ta bort' is for daily use, 'avlägsna' is the professional choice for extraction, displacement, or formal departure.
The Swedish verb avlägsna is a versatile and sophisticated term primarily used to describe the act of removing something, making something go away, or creating distance between two points or entities. While in English you might simply say 'remove' or 'take away', avlägsna carries a more formal, precise, and sometimes clinical or official undertone. It is the kind of word you encounter in medical journals, legal documents, technical manuals, and high-level literature. Understanding avlägsna requires recognizing its dual nature: it can be used transitively (removing an object) or reflexively (removing oneself from a situation).
- Physical Removal
- This is the most common usage, referring to the literal extraction or displacement of a physical object. For example, a surgeon might avlägsna a gallstone, or a cleaner might avlägsna a stubborn stain from a carpet. It implies a deliberate and often careful process of extraction.
Vänligen avlägsna alla personliga tillhörigheter från skrivbordet innan arbetsdagen är slut.
- Reflexive Distancing
- When used with the reflexive pronoun 'sig' (avlägsna sig), the verb means to move away, depart, or withdraw from a location or a group. This is often used in police reports or formal narratives to describe someone leaving a scene. It sounds much more formal than 'gå' (go) or 'lämna' (leave).
Gärningsmannen sågs avlägsna sig från platsen i en mörk personbil.
- Abstract Elimination
- Beyond the physical, avlägsna is used to describe the removal of abstract concepts like doubts, obstacles, or threats. If a leader manages to avlägsna all competition, they have eliminated their rivals. It suggests a thorough clearing of the path.
Vi måste avlägsna alla tvivel om projektets lönsamhet innan vi investerar mer pengar.
Polisen var tvungen att avlägsna demonstranterna som blockerade ingången till stadshuset.
Genom att avlägsna gamla filer kan du frigöra betydande lagringsutrymme på din hårddisk.
In summary, avlägsna is a C1-level word because it requires an understanding of register and nuance. While a child might say 'ta bort busen' (take away the bad guy), a news anchor would say 'polisen har avlägsnat ett hot' (the police have removed a threat). It elevates your Swedish from functional to professional and precise.
Using avlägsna correctly involves mastering its conjugation and understanding its object-oriented nature. As a weak verb (Group 1), it follows a predictable pattern: avlägsna, avlägsnar, avlägsnade, avlägsnat. However, the real challenge for English speakers is knowing when to use it as a transitive verb versus a reflexive verb, and which prepositions often accompany it.
- The Transitive Form (Action on an Object)
- When you are removing something external, you use the transitive form. The structure is usually [Subject] + [avlägsnar] + [Object] + [from where]. The preposition 'från' (from) is almost always the partner of 'avlägsna'.
Du bör avlägsna skyddsplasten från skärmen innan du använder telefonen.
- The Reflexive Form (Moving Away)
- When the subject is the one leaving or distancing themselves, you must include 'sig' (or 'mig', 'dig', etc.). This is common in formal descriptions of movement. It implies a purposeful departure.
Gästerna började sakta avlägsna sig när musiken tystnade.
- Passive Construction
- In official reports, the passive form 'avlägsnas' is very frequent. It describes what happens to an object or person without focusing on who did it. This is standard for rules and regulations.
Bilar som är felparkerade kommer att avlägsnas på ägarens bekostnad.
Hinder på vägen måste avlägsnas omedelbart för att säkra trafiksäkerheten.
Kan du hjälpa mig att avlägsna den här gamla tapeten från väggen?
In advanced Swedish, avlägsna is also used in the context of distancing oneself from an opinion or a group's ideology. 'Han avlägsnade sig från partiets officiella linje' (He distanced himself from the party's official line). This metaphorical use is a hallmark of C1/C2 proficiency.
To understand avlägsna, you need to look at the professional and public spheres of Swedish life. It is not a word you would typically use while chatting with a friend over coffee about moving a cup of sugar—in that case, you'd use 'flytta'. Instead, avlägsna appears when authority, science, or precision is involved.
- Law Enforcement and Security
- You will hear this constantly in police news or TV shows like 'Tunnelbanan' (The Subway). When a person is acting rowdy, the security guards don't just 'kick them out'; they 'avlägsnar' them. It is a legal term describing the forced removal of a person from a premises.
Ordningsvakten fick avlägsna den berusade mannen från perrongen.
- Medical and Biological Contexts
- In a hospital setting, 'avlägsna' is the standard term for surgery or cleaning. Doctors avlägsnar tumors, appendixes, or stitches. In skincare, products are marketed to avlägsna impurities or dead skin cells.
Kirurgen lyckades avlägsna hela tumören utan komplikationer.
- Technical Instructions
- When assembling IKEA furniture or fixing a computer, the manual will use avlägsna to tell you to take off a part or a screw. It sounds more instructional and professional than 'ta bort'.
Avlägsna skruven på baksidan för att öppna batteriluckan.
För att installera den nya komponenten måste du först avlägsna den gamla drivrutinen.
Man bör avlägsna ogräs regelbundet för att trädgården ska hålla sig fin.
In summary, whether you are listening to a news report about a political leader being 'avlägsnad från sin post' (removed from their post) or reading a recipe that tells you to 'avlägsna kärnorna från äpplet' (remove the seeds from the apple), you are encountering a word that signals clarity, authority, and formal Swedish communication.
Even at a C1 level, learners often stumble when using avlägsna because of its formal weight and specific grammatical requirements. The most frequent errors involve register mismatches, missing reflexive pronouns, and confusion with similar-looking words like 'avlägsen'.
- Register Overkill
- Using avlägsna in a very casual setting can sound strange. If you're at dinner and ask someone to 'avlägsna' the salt from the table, it sounds like you're performing a scientific experiment. Stick to 'flytta' or 'ta bort' for everyday chores.
Fel: Kan du avlägsna smulorna från min tröja? (Too formal for a friend).
Rätt: Kan du borsta bort smulorna?
- The Missing 'Sig'
- When you want to say someone left a place, you cannot just say 'Han avlägsnade'. You must say 'Han avlägsnade sig'. Without the reflexive pronoun, the listener is left wondering what he removed.
Fel: Han avlägsnade snabbt från festen.
Rätt: Han avlägsnade sig snabbt från festen.
- Confusing with 'Radera'
- In the digital world, 'avlägsna' means uninstalling a program or removing a hardware component. To delete a word in a sentence or a file on a computer, 'radera' or 'ta bort' is more appropriate. Using 'avlägsna' for a typo sounds unnatural.
Fel: Jag måste avlägsna det här ordet i texten.
Rätt: Jag måste radera det här ordet.
Fel: Vi ska avlägsna oss till stranden.
Rätt: Vi ska bege oss till stranden.
Fel: Man kan avlägsna sina kläder.
Rätt: Man kan ta av sig sina kläder.
Finally, remember that avlägsna implies a certain degree of permanence or significance. If you're just picking up a pen from the floor, don't use it. If you're removing a hazardous chemical, avlägsna is your best friend.
Swedish has many ways to express 'taking away' or 'removing'. Knowing which one to pick depends on what you are removing and why. Avlägsna sits at the top of the formality scale, but here are its closest neighbors.
- Ta bort (The All-Rounder)
- This is the everyday version of 'avlägsna'. You use it for everything from taking away a plate to deleting an email. It is safe, neutral, and universally understood.
- Eliminera (The Strategic Choice)
- Similar to 'eliminate' in English, this is used when you want to completely get rid of a problem, a risk, or a competitor. It sounds more final and aggressive than 'avlägsna'.
Vi måste eliminera alla felkällor i experimentet.
- Radera (The Digital Choice)
- Use this specifically for data, text, or memories. It means 'to erase'. You 'raderar' a file, but you 'avlägsnar' a physical hard drive.
Hon ville radera alla minnen av honom.
- Skaffa bort / Göra sig av med
- These mean 'to get rid of' something you no longer want or need, like old furniture or a bad habit. It is more about disposal than just removal.
Jag måste göra mig av med den här gamla soffan.
Företaget beslutade att avlägsna den gamla logotypen från alla dokument.
Kan du avlägsna locket på burken?
Choosing the right synonym will make you sound much more like a native speaker. Use avlägsna when you want to sound precise, clinical, or official.
Exemples par niveau
Avlägsna plasten från lådan.
Remove the plastic from the box.
Imperative form of the verb.
Du måste avlägsna smuts.
You must remove dirt.
Infinitive after 'måste'.
Kan du avlägsna glaset?
Can you remove the glass?
Question with 'kan'.
Jag avlägsnar etiketten.
I am removing the label.
Present tense.
Hon avlägsnade fläcken.
She removed the stain.
Past tense.
Avlägsna skon från mattan.
Remove the shoe from the rug.
Imperative.
Vi avlägsnar skräp.
We are removing trash.
Present tense plural.
Avlägsna locket nu.
Remove the lid now.
Simple command.
Läkaren avlägsnade plåstret försiktigt.
The doctor removed the bandage carefully.
Past tense with adverb 'försiktigt'.
Du bör avlägsna batterierna.
You should remove the batteries.
Infinitive after 'bör'.
Vänligen avlägsna era skor.
Please remove your shoes.
Formal imperative with 'vänligen'.
Han avlägsnade sig från rummet.
He removed himself (left) from the room.
Reflexive past tense.
De avlägsnar snö från taket.
They are removing snow from the roof.
Present tense.
Kan vi avlägsna den här väggen?
Can we remove this wall?
Infinitive in a question.
Jag har avlägsnat alla filer.
I have removed all files.
Present perfect.
Bilen måste avlägsnas direkt.
The car must be removed immediately.
Passive infinitive.
Polisen var tvungen att avlägsna demonstranterna.
The police had to remove the protesters.
Past tense with auxiliary 'var tvungen'.
Man kan enkelt avlägsna fläckar med vinäger.
You can easily remove stains with vinegar.
Adverbial phrase 'med vinäger'.
Hon avlägsnade sig diskret från festen.
She removed herself (left) discreetly from the party.
Reflexive with adverb 'diskret'.
Innan målning måste du avlägsna gammal färg.
Before painting, you must remove old paint.
Subordinate clause start.
Kirurgen ska avlägsna blindtarmen imorgon.
The surgeon will remove the appendix tomorrow.
Future with 'ska'.
Det är viktigt att avlägsna allt ogräs.
It is important to remove all weeds.
Infinitive clause.
De har avlägsnat de farliga kemikalierna.
They have removed the dangerous chemicals.
Present perfect.
Vakten avlägsnade mannen från biblioteket.
The guard removed the man from the library.
Transitive past tense.
Regeringen vill avlägsna handelshinder mellan länderna.
The government wants to remove trade barriers between the countries.
Abstract use of the verb.
Vi måste avlägsna alla tvivel kring hans oskuld.
We must remove all doubts about his innocence.
Metaphorical removal.
Gärningsmannen avlägsnade sig i en röd bil.
The perpetrator left (removed himself) in a red car.
Reflexive use in a formal context.
Felparkerade fordon avlägsnas omedelbart.
Wrongly parked vehicles are removed immediately.
Passive present tense.
Det är svårt att avlägsna lukten av rök.
It is difficult to remove the smell of smoke.
Infinitive phrase.
Han avlägsnade skyddet från maskinen.
He removed the guard from the machine.
Technical context.
Måste vi avlägsna hela golvet?
Do we have to remove the whole floor?
Infinitive in a question.
De avlägsnade sig från den politiska debatten.
They distanced themselves from the political debate.
Reflexive abstract use.
Författaren lyckas avlägsna alla onödiga adjektiv.
The author manages to remove all unnecessary adjectives.
Literary context.
Vi måste avlägsna risken för framtida läckage.
We must remove the risk of future leaks.
Formal risk management.
Han avlägsnade sig alltmer från sina barndomsvänner.
He distanced himself more and more from his childhood friends.
Reflexive metaphorical use.
Genom att avlägsna socker från kosten mådde han bättre.
By removing sugar from his diet, he felt better.
Gerund-like structure with 'genom att'.
Polisen avlägsnade personen med stöd av ordningslagen.
The police removed the person based on the Public Order Act.
Legal context.
Det är nödvändigt att avlägsna korrupta tjänstemän.
It is necessary to remove corrupt officials.
Political/Official context.
Solen började avlägsna sig bakom horisonten.
The sun began to withdraw (set) behind the horizon.
Poetic/Literary reflexive use.
De avlägsnade alla spår av sitt besök.
They removed all traces of their visit.
Transitive usage with 'spår'.
Filosofen försökte avlägsna slöjan av okunnighet.
The philosopher tried to remove the veil of ignorance.
Highly metaphorical/academic.
Man bör avlägsna sig från subjektiva tolkningar i en analys.
One should distance oneself from subjective interpretations in an analysis.
Academic reflexive use.
Beslutet att avlägsna statyn orsakade stor debatt.
The decision to remove the statue caused great debate.
Noun phrase followed by infinitive.
Han har lyckats avlägsna sig från världsliga bekymmer.
He has managed to distance himself from worldly concerns.
Philosophical reflexive.
Tekniken används för att avlägsna koldioxid ur atmosfären.
The technology is used to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Scientific passive context.
Diktatorn såg till att avlägsna alla sina motståndare.
The dictator made sure to eliminate all his opponents.
Political elimination.
Det är svårt att avlägsna den djupt rotade fördomen.
It is difficult to remove the deeply rooted prejudice.
Sociological context.
Hon avlägsnade sig från sällskapet utan ett ord.
She withdrew from the company without a word.
Sophisticated narrative reflexive.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Collocations courantes
Summary
The verb 'avlägsna' is a high-register synonym for 'remove'. Use it for professional, medical, or official contexts, and remember to use 'sig' when the subject is the one moving away. Example: 'Läkaren avlägsnade stygnen' (The doctor removed the stitches).
- Avlägsna means to remove or eliminate something in a formal or precise way, often used in medical, legal, or technical contexts.
- It can be used reflexively as 'avlägsna sig' to mean 'to leave' or 'to distance oneself' from a place or idea.
- Commonly paired with the preposition 'från' (from), it is a Group 1 verb conjugated as avlägsnar, avlägsnade, avlägsnat.
- While 'ta bort' is for daily use, 'avlägsna' is the professional choice for extraction, displacement, or formal departure.
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aktiv
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aktuell
B2Actuel, présent. 'Le sujet est très actuel' (Ämnet är mycket aktuellt). 'Il est d'actualité avec son nouveau film' (Han är aktuell med sin nya film).
allmän
B1Relatif à tout le monde ou à tout un ensemble ; général ou public.
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anbefalla
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anbringa
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ändå
B1Néanmoins, pourtant, quand même. Il est utilisé pour indiquer qu'une action a eu lieu ou qu'une situation est vraie malgré une condition ou une attente précédente.
ändamål
B2But ou finalité pour laquelle quelque chose est fait.
andra
A1Deuxième (ordinal) ou autres (pluriel).
ändra
A2to make or become different