snatta

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Swedish snatta. Nordic word of unclear origin, possibly related to snudda (touch lightly). Likely unrelated to English snatch (grab).

Verb

snatta (present snattar, preterite snattade, supine snattat, imperative snatta)

1. to shoplift

   Han snattade varje helg

   He shoplifted every weekend

2. to steal (something of relatively low value), to pilfer or commit petty theft

   Han snattade pennor och toalettpapper på jobbet

   He stole pencils and toilet paper from work

Conjugation

Conjugation of snatta (weak)

	Active		Passive
Infinitive	snatta		snattas
Supine	snattat		snattats
Imperative	snatta		—
Imper. plural1	snatten		—
	Present	Past	Present	Past
Indicative	snattar	snattade	snattas	snattades
Ind. plural1	snatta	snattade	snattas	snattades
Subjunctive2	snatte	snattade	snattes	snattades
	Participles
Present participle	snattande
Past participle	snattad
1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

Related terms

• snatteri (“shoplifting, petty theft”)
• snattare (“shoplifter”)

See also

• nalla (“pinch, filch”)

References

• snatta in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• snatta in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• snatta in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• snatta in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)
• snatta in Knut Fredrik Söderwall, Ordbok öfver svenska medeltids-språket, del 2:1: M-T

Anagrams

• ansatt