Swedish

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Etymology

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From Old Norse þváttr, from Proto-Germanic *þwahtuz, from the root of the verb þvá.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈtvɛtːˌa/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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tvätta (present tvättar, preterite tvättade, supine tvättat, imperative tvätta)

  1. (sometimes with av (off)) to wash, to clean (clean with water (or another solvent, and often soap or detergent) – normally not of washing dishes, see usage notes)
    Han tvättade kläderna
    He washed the clothes
    en tvättmaskin
    a washing machine [Could be seen as deriving from tvätt as well]
    Hon tvättade händerna
    She washed her hands
    tvätta altanen
    wash the deck
    kemtvätta mattan
    dry clean [chem-wash] the carpet
    1. to launder
  2. (sometimes with av (off), reflexive) to wash, to clean (oneself)
    Katter tvättar sig genom att slicka pälsen
    Cats clean themselves by licking their fur
  3. to launder (money)
    tvätta pengar
    launder money

Usage notes

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Tvätta can be used whenever something is cleaned with water (or another solvent), with one exception: Diska is used for washing dishes.

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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See also

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References

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