böra

Nias

Etymology

Borrowed from Malay beras, ultimately from Proto-Austronesian *bəʀas.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɤra/

Noun

böra

1. rice (husked raw grain)

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Swedish böra (Old Norse byrja), from Proto-Germanic *gaburjaną.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²bøːra/,
• Rhymes: -²øːra

Verb

böra (present bör, preterite borde, supine bort, imperative bör)

1. should, ought to

   Hon bör sitta i båten.

   She should be sitting in the boat.

   Det borde fungera.

   That should work.

   Du borde verkligen utnyttja möjligheten att förlänga avtalet.

   You should really use the opportunity to extend the agreement.

Usage notes

Böra indicates a recommendation or probability, or obligation perceived from the point of the speaker. This differs from måste which signifies an absolute requirement or even force. The difference between present tense bör and past tense borde is not so much of tense, but of the strength of the request. Borde is less strong and perceived as more polite, and is more like making a suggestion that the subject is free to ignore. In the case of statements of reality such as "Det borde fungera", borde indicates more uncertainty than bör; the speaker is not sure if it will work, but believes it will.

Conjugation

Related terms

• vederböra

Further reading

• böra in Svensk ordbok.

Anagrams

• bröa