skärpa

See also: skarpa

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Swedish skærpa, from Proto-Germanic *skarpaz (literally “cutting”). A derivative of skarp.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²ɧærpa/, [²ɧærːpa]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -²ærpa

Noun

skärpa c

1. sharpness; the cutting ability of an edge
2. sharpness, distinctness in an image

Declension

Declension of skärpa

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	skärpa	skärpas
	definite	skärpan	skärpans
plural	indefinite	skärpor	skärpors
	definite	skärporna	skärpornas

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “cutting ability”): slöhet

Verb

skärpa (present skärper, preterite skärpte, supine skärpt, imperative skärp)

1. (about a cutting blade, or an argument) sharpen; to make sharp
2. tighten; to make stricter

   Säkerhetskontrollen vid flygplatserna har skärpts ytterligare.

   The security checks at the airports have been further tightened.

3. (reflexive) to straighten up (become focused and serious, improve one's behavior, stop messing around)

Conjugation

Conjugation of skärpa (weak)

	Active		Passive
Infinitive	skärpa		skärpas
Supine	skärpt		skärpts
Imperative	skärp		—
Imper. plural1	skärpen		—
	Present	Past	Present	Past
Indicative	skärper	skärpte	skärps, skärpes	skärptes
Ind. plural1	skärpa	skärpte	skärpas	skärptes
Subjunctive2	skärpe	skärpte	skärpes	skärptes
	Participles
Present participle	skärpande
Past participle	skärpt
1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

Synonyms

• (sharpen): vässa

Related terms

• inskärpa
• skarp
• skärpning

References

• skärpa in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• skärpa in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)