gratis

Borrowed from Latin grātiīs. First attested in 1638.


nu

From Old Norse nú, from Proto-Germanic *nu.

Hör du mig nu?

Jag har inte tid just nu

Det är fest på fredag

Det är fest nu på fredag

– Är festen nästa fredag? – Nej, den är nu på fredag.

– Is the party next Friday? [Implies next week, like in English] – No, it is this Friday.

Jag var där i måndags

Jag var där nu i måndags

Used to emphasize a point in time close to the present; this


in

Han gick in

Han gick inne

He was walking around inside (for comparison)

De går in

Han gick in i rummet

Han är inne i rummet


i

From Old Swedish ī, from Old Norse í, from Proto-Germanic *in.

used to signify that an action is done with intensity


vi

From Old Swedish hvi, from Old Norse hví, from Proto-Germanic *hwī (“by what, how”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷey, locative of *kʷís (“who”). Cognate with Old Danish hvi, Danish hvi, Old West Norse hví, Norwegian Nynorsk kvi, Norwegian Bokmål hvi, Old Saxon hwi, hwiu, Old High German hwiu, Middle High German wiu, German wie (“how”), Old English hwȳ, hvī, Middle English why, English why, more distantly with Latin quī (“what, who, which”).

Men när Jesus sågh theras tanckar, sadhe han, Hwj tencken j ondt j idhor hierta?
(pre-1906 spelling) Men när Jesus såg deras tankar, sade han, Hvi tänken I ondt i edor hjerta?

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?


prick

From Middle Low German pricken, from Old Saxon *prikkian, from the verb Proto-Germanic *prikjaną (“to prick”).

vi träffas prick klockan sju

att skjuta prick

De sköt prick på en melon

They used a melon as a target ("They shot with careful aim at a melon")

with careful aim (in order to hit something)


an

Borrowed from Middle Low German an and German an, and less commonly from English on, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), cognate with English on and doublet of Swedish å, Swedish på.

used as a verb particle, similar to German preposition an (“at, in, on, to”)


ba

Asså allt ba spåra' [spårade] direkt

Y'know everything just went crazy the second it started

Ba gört [gör det]!

2019, Veronica Maggio, "Tillfälligheter" (song), Fiender är tråkigt (album)

It's three o'clock so just tell me your name.

pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(colloquial) pronunciation spelling of bara ("just, only")


PR

Abbreviation of poste restante (“poste restante”).


hit

From Old Swedish hit, from *hī+at.
* hī, from Proto-Indo-European *kei- (as in Ancient Greek ἐκεῖ (ekeî))
* at, from Proto-Germanic *at, from Proto-Indo-European *ád (as in Swedish åt)
Composed in a similar way: Icelandic hegat and hingað.

Hon kom hit, så nu är hon här

Hon kom här [for comparison]

She came at this location [odd-sounding]

Jag kom hit igår

springa hit och dit

run to here and to there / run hither and thither [indicating for example chaos or a lack of direction]

to here, hither, (often in practice, in translations) here


back

backwards (often of machines, engines, etc., or in commands)

gå 1000 kr back på en affär

(in "ligga back") to be at a deficit (usually of money)


et cetera

etcetera (alternative)
etc. (alternative)


bra

sv-adv

bra (comparative bättre, superlative bäst)

Since at least 1621, from braf (“good, brave”); from Low German brav; from French brave, borrowed from Italian bravo.

Mår du bra?

Han spelade bra idag

Rattfylla är bra mycket vanligare bland män

Drunk driving is a good deal more common among men

Den där älgen är bra stor!

Filmen var bra kass

bra dålig

substantially bad (literally also "good bad")

a good deal, quite (to quite a large extent or degree)


sent

sent (comparative senare, superlative senast)

senare (comparative)
senast (superlative)

Han ankom sent.

Det var redan sent.


bi

lyckan står den djärve bi


loss

From Low German los (“free, loose”), from Middle Low German lōs, from Old Saxon lōs, from Proto-West Germanic *laus.
See also Danish los and Norwegian loss, Dutch loos. Doublet of lös.

Han drog i den, och till slut kom den loss

He pulled on it, and finally it came loose

Han sparkade loss grenen

Jag är fast i kvicksand och kommer inte loss

I'm stuck in quicksand and can't get out (get unstuck)

De knöt loss båten

to a no longer attached or stuck state (no longer stuck to something, generally); loose, off, untied


e

From Old Norse æ, ei, ey, from Proto-Germanic *aiwi (“forever”), *aiwaz.


still

barnet kan inte sitta still


pass

Hur pass noggrant är testet?

How accurate is the test? (Roughly, "To what degree is the test accurate?")

(in "så pass") (to such a) degree (see såpass)


hem

From Old Norse heim < heimr, from Proto-Germanic *haimaz.

Det är dags att åka hem

Jag vill hem!

I want to go home! [See ska for why there is åka (“go [with a conveyance]”), gå (“walk”), or the like (though "I want home!" also works in English here)]

Ska vi gå hem till dig eller hem till mig, eller var och en hem till sitt? Ska vi göra som dom andra och ägna oss åt varandra, eller ska var och en sköta sitt?

1974, Lasse Tennander, “Ska vi gå hem till dig [Shall We Go to Your Place [home to you]]”, in Allting som ni gör kan jag göra bättre [Anything You Do, I Can Do Better [a cover album]], performed by Magnus Uggla:

Shall we go to your place [home to you] or to my place [home to me], or each one ["each and one" – idiomatic] home to theirs [nominalized – neuter gender is used when there is no concrete referent, like in impersonal constructions and here, as a rule of thumb]? Shall we do like the others and spend time on each other [engage in each other as an activity – doesn't have the connotations of "devote"], or shall each one mind [take care of] theirs [nominalized]?

Vi åkte hem till henne

Vi var hem till henne igår

Ska vi gå hem till dig eller mig?

to someone's home (more generally); to someone's place / house / home, to [name of person]'s, etc.


hart

From Old Swedish hart, from Old Swedish harþer, from Old Norse harðr. Doublet of hård.


aa

a (alternative)
aaa (alternative)
aaaa (alternative)

– Det är gott med pizza. – Aa, de äre.

– Såg du tricket han gjorde? – Aa, helt sjukt!

– Did you see the trick he did? – Yeah, crazy!

– Har du matat kaninerna? – Aa, det har jag.

– Have you fed the rabbits? – Yes, I have.

(colloquial) Expresses agreement or affirmation; yeah, yes


fast

From Old Swedish faster, from Old Norse fastr, from Proto-Germanic *fastuz; see it for cognates and further etymology.

att sitta fast

att sätta fast

fixed, firmly, steadily (synonymous to the adjective)

och hade bedrifvit underslef af fast otrolig omfattning

and had committed embezzlement of an almost unbelievable extent.


ca

circa; Abbreviation of cirka. Alternative form of c:a


la

Clipping of earlier fälle and fuller. Listed in a dictionary from the 1800s, and believed to have existed for longer.

(dialectal, Gothenburg, Västergötland) Synonym of väl


intelligent

intelligent (comparative intelligentare, superlative intelligentast)

intelligentare (comparative)
intelligentast (superlative)


cash

Borrowed from English cash. Attested since 1887.

Jag betalar cash


etc.

Abbreviation of et cetera. Abbreviation of etcetera.


hän

From Old Norse héðan, with influence from Middle Low German hen (“away”), both ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *hiz (“this”).

Han gick hän

He walked away/hence (also a euphemism for died)

Vi åkte hän till Säffle

We went away/hence to Säffle (redundant, somewhat poetic or jocular)

Hän mot nya mål!

(often somewhat solemn) away, hence (and often by implication to somewhere else)

Vart gick han hän?


fan

From Late Old Norse fendinn, perhaps from Old Frisian fandiand, present participle of fandia (“tempt”), from Proto-Germanic *fandōną (“seek, search for, examine”). Cognate with Danish fanden and Norwegian Bokmål faen.

der

Fan vilken bra låt!

Fan vad trist att din katt dog

How bloody sad that your cat died (with a sincere tone)

Det var fan på tiden!

Vem fan är det där?

Fan vad konstigt

(vulgar) A (positive or negative) intensifier.


da

Men kom igen da...!


lite

sv-adv

lite (comparative mindre, superlative minst)

mindre (comparative)
minst (superlative)
litet (alternative archaic)

Contraction of litet, neuter of liten. Compare mycket, with similar formation.

Jag har lite för lite pengar kvar.

I've got slightly too little money left.


just

→ Finnish: just

bara

for when English just means only – a sense Swedish just does not have

Jag kom just hem

just nu

Just det!

Det var just vad jag ville ha!

Det är just det som är problemet

Just på det här området finns det gott om utrymme för förbättringar

In this particular area, there is plenty of room for improvement

skräddarsydda lösningar för just dina behov

tailor-made solutions for your specific needs

Just idag är jag stark

Today in particular I am strong / This particular day I am strong (or just "Today I am strong," putting emphasis on today) [from the Kenta song "Just idag är jag stark"]

(focus) particularly, in particular, specifically (compare similar usage in English "That's just the guy I saw" and the like)


nord

From Old Norse norðr, from Proto-Germanic *nurþrą.


ja

From Old Norse já, from Proto-Germanic *ja.

I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen. Ja, ja, med herrarna i hagen. Ja, med herrarna i hagen. I år har jag något som sparkar i magen. Aj, aj, som sparkar i magen. Aj, som sparkar i magen.

(Can we date this quote?), traditional, “I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen [Last year I went with the men in the pasture]”, in Skillingtryck [Broadside ballads], performed by Hootenanny Singers:

Last year I went with the men in the pasture. Yes, yes, with the men in the pasture. Yes, with the men in the pasture. This year I have something that kicks in my belly. Ow, ow, that kicks in my belly. Ow, that kicks in my belly.


in flagrante delicto

Unadapted borrowing from Medieval Latin in flagrante delicto (literally “while the crime is blazing”), from in + flāgrō (“burn”) + dēlictō, form of dēlictum (“crime, misdeed”).

ubor

Om prinſen konſpirerade, kunde det endaſt wara som medbrottſling till Rouber, Abatucci och de andra anhängarne, ſom ſamlats omkring honom, för att helſa honom, och hwilka grepos in flagrante delicto, under det de frukoſterade wid ſamma bord.

1872 October 26, Östgöta Correspondenten, page 4:

If the prince conspired, it was found only as an accomplice to Rouber, Abatucci, and the other followers who had gathered around him to greet him, and who were arrested in flagrante delicto, while they were breakfasting at the same table.

in flagrante delicto
in flagrante delicto#English

(archaic) in flagrante delicto (in the act of committing a misdeed)

En prest i Chevreuse blef i söndags "in flagrante delicto" ertappad under en förtrolig tête à tête med en 22-årig hustru till en rik klädeshandlare.

1874 August 21, “Utrikes-Nyheter [Foreign News]”, in Dagens Nyheter, page 2:

A priest in Chevreuse was caught "in flagrante delicto" on Sunday during a confidential tête à tête with the 22-year-old wife of a rich clothing merchant.

På vägen ner stöter jag på två parande puktörneblåvingar; in flagrante delicto, hade Linné sagt med förtjusning.

2007 June 10, Göteborgs-Posten, quoted in Korp – the corpus infrastructure of Språkbanken:

On the way down, I come across two mating polyommatus icarus; in flagrante delicto, Linnaeus would had said with delight.

Belgisk polis grep på fredagskvällen 25 personer, de flesta män, ”in flagrante delicto”, eller bokstavligen med byxorna nere, då de höll en illegal lockdownfest ovanpå en bar i Bryssels centrum. De var mitt uppe i ett gruppsexparty.

2020 December 1, Teresa Küchler, “EU-politiker greps på gruppsexfest i Bryssel [EU politicians arrested at group sex party in Brussels]”, in Svenska Dagbladet:

Belgian police on Friday night arrested 25 people, most of them men, "in flagrante delicto", or literally with their pants down, as they held an illegal lockdown party on top of a bar in central Brussels. They were in the middle of a group sex party.

(uncommon) in flagrante delicto (while performing sexual activity)


sedan

From Old Swedish siþan, from Old Norse síðan.
See Norwegian siden. Cognate with Old English siþþan.

Först försökte vi på mitt sätt, sedan på hans.

then, after this (that), afterwards; next in order


hop

From Old Norse hópr. Cognate with English heap.

together (into unity, contact, or accumulation – togetherness)


fucking

sv-adv

fucking (comparative mer fucking, superlative mest fucking)

mer fucking (comparative)
mest fucking (superlative)

Han är så fucking jobbig, mammas död jag vill slakta han!

He's so fucking annoying, I swear on my mother I want to kill him!


rent

rent (comparative renare, superlative renast)

renare (comparative)
renast (superlative)


grunt

gentemot såväl grundt rationalistiska som känslosamt svärmiska religiösa riktningar.

towards both shallowly rationalistic and emotionally fanatical religious tendencies.


alias

Nisse alias Nisse med kniven

alias (not associated with law, but often somewhat jocular formality)


over there

Pseudo-anglicism, derived from over there.

pseudo-loan

Efter att ha hört och läst all kritik […] kändes det ganska underligt, när han började med, att det första, han skulle tala om för dem over there, ”was that an overwhelming majority of the American people is for the League of Nations.”

1919, “Wilson i Metropolitan Opera House. En skildring från det märkliga ögonblicket.”, in Svenska Dagbladet, page 8:

After hearing and reading all the criticism […], it felt rather strange, when he started out by saying that the first thing he would tell them over there, "was that an overwhelming majority of the American people are for the League of Nations."

Du och alla andra jäntor här […] se ut som månlandskap i ansiktet mot den minst observerade over there, vad ni än gör med er.

1942, Marianne Zetterström, “Viola: Direkt från U.S.A.”, in Svenska Dagbladet, page 8:

You and all the other girls here […] look like lunar landscapes in your faces compared to the least observed over there, whatever you do with yourselves.

Tre gånger på 1960-talet skeppades inspelningsbussen, med Torsten vid ratten, över till USA, något som väckte stor uppmärksamhet, inte bara ”over there”.

2017, “Torsten Ordéus”, in Upsala Nya Tidning, archived from the original on 2021-12-28:

The recording bus, with Torsten at the wheel, was shipped to the United States three times in the 1960s, which attracted a lot of attention, not just "over there".


till

From Old Swedish til, from Old Norse til, from Proto-Germanic *til
(compare *tilą (“goal”)).

Jag vill ha en/två till

Jag ska vara här en vecka till

Han skrattade

Han skrattade till

Han hoppade

Han hoppade till

Han somnade

Han somnade till

Han slog honom

Han slog till honom

He gave him a punch [fairly synonymous, but makes it clear that it's a single punch and sounds a bit more intense]

Han syntes

Han syntes till

Expresses that the action of the verb is sudden and brief, when used with certain verbs. The examples below are for illustration and not comprehensive. Fairly productive for verbs where suddenness and short duration make intuitive sense.

ful

fula till

fula till något

laga till en måltid

cook up a meal ["till" skippable, like in English]

snida till en träfigur

carve "up" [in the same sense as for the meal] a wooden figure ["till" skippable]

trä

träa till

"wood up" [make woodier or the like, as an ad-hoc formation, which usually sound colloquial like in English]

Expresses that something is (completely or partially) changed or created through the action of the verb, similar to English up. Sometimes more or less redundant like in English, with a similar difference in tone.

knäppa till jackan

button up one's jacket ["till" skippable, like in English]

täppa till ett hål

stänga till dörren

shut / close [up] the door ["till" skippable – emphasizes the result (that the door becomes shut), similar to "up"]

Grinden står lite öppen. Kan du stänga till den?

The gate is a bit open. Can you close it? ["till" skippable]

Stäng till dörren lite!

Expresses that the action of the verb brings the target of the verb toward (and usually to) a closed state.

bli till

komma till

finnas till

(in some phrasal verbs) in(to) existence

vända andra kinden till (idiom)


av

From Old Norse af, from Proto-Germanic *ab.

af (alternative obsolete)
å (alternative Piteå)

(verb particle) denoting something which stops, ceases, or breaks off

(verb particle) denoting something which is moved from an original place, or originates somewhere

(verb particle) denoting an action of copying, or creation of something similar to an existing template


över

From Old Swedish ivir, yvir, ø̄wer, from Runic Swedish ufiR, from Old Norse yfir, from Proto-Germanic *ubiri, from Proto-Indo-European *upéri, from *upér, from *upo.

öfver (alternative obsolete)
öfwer (alternative obsolete)
oͤfwer (alternative obsolete)

överkurs

advanced course; extra step; overevaluation

Över femhundra kom.

Gå över bron.

Giv över skatten.

Skicka över pengarna.

(hand) over, (send) over, (transfer) over; transfer

Han sköt bollen över.


med

From Old Swedish mæþ, from Old Norse með, from Proto-Germanic *midi.

Och du berätta' att du saknar mig i natt - det gör jag med

And you've told that tonight you're missing me - I'm also doing it


ut

From Old Norse út, from Proto-Germanic *ūt.

Han gick ut

Han gick ute

He was walking around outside (for comparison)

De går ut

Han gick ut ur rummet

Han är ute ur rummet


småningom

/ˈsmɔːnɪŋˌɔm/

First attested in 1587, an adverb with the looks of a dative plural (-om ending), based on små (“small”), possibly based on Old Swedish adverb smam (dative plural of små) after the m shifted into an n; same as Norwegian småningom.
The separation into småning om is very rare, and probably unhistoric. This is not the preposition om, but a dative ending.

Dessa stammar visade stor mottaglighet för den romerska kulturen och utbytte småningom sina egna idiom mot "lingua romana".

These tribes showed great receptiveness for the Roman culture and eventually exchanged their own languages for "lingua romana".

after some time; sooner or later, eventually


utanför

I köpcentret är det varmt men utanför är det kallt.

In the mall it's warm but outside it's cold.

Den avgörande straffen sköts utanför!


nej

From Old Swedish næi, from Old Norse nei, from Proto-Germanic *nai (“never”), *nē (“not”), from Proto-Indo-European *né, *nē, *nēy (negative particle).

Nej, jag har inga pengar med mig.


breve

(colloquial) Pronunciation spelling of bredvid.


anno

Borrowed from Latin annō, ablative of annus.

en bil anno 1989

förutsägelser om framtiden anno 1935

De anlände anno 1678

(often somewhat archaizingly jocular) from the year (of), in the year (of)


dock

From Old Swedish doch, dogh, dog, thoch, thok, tog, from Middle Low German doch, from Old Saxon thōh‚ from Proto-West Germanic *þauh. Replaced native Old Swedish þo, from Old Norse þó.

Om jag än måste dö med dig, så skall jag dock förvisso icke förneka dig.

Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee (Matthew 26:35)

Dock, natt skall icke förbliva där nu ångest råder.

Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation (Isaiah 9:1)

Man river åt sig till höger och förbliver dock hungrig, man tager för sig till vänster och bliver dock ej mätt

And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied (Isaiah 9:20)


it.

Abbreviation of item (“also; as well as; likewise”).


söder

Inherited from Late Old Swedish sø̄dher, sø̄der, from Old Norse syðri (comparative).


mycket

sv-adv

mycket (comparative mer, superlative mest)

Originally neuter singular of mycken, from Old Swedish mykin, mikin, accusative singular of mikil, from Old Norse mikill, from Proto-Germanic *mikilaz (“great, many”), from Proto-Indo-European *meǵh₂- (“big, great”).

der

Jag har mycket att göra idag.

Han behöver mycket pengar.

Det är mycket bra.


mest

From Old Norse mestr, from Proto-Germanic *maist.

Used in construction of the superlative of certain adjectives: most


huller

huller om buller
huller om buller#Swedish


lull

(in "stå lull") to stand without support (of a toddler)


milt

sv-adv

milt (comparative mildare, superlative mildast)

mildare (comparative)
mildast (superlative)


precis

From French précis, from Latin praecīsus (“cut off”), perfect passive participle of praecīdō.

(focus) precisely; Used to provide emphasis


sen

Syncopic form of sedan, from Old Swedish siþan, from Old Norse síðan.

Först gjorde vi si, och sen gjorde vi så

First we did like this, and then we did like that

(somewhat colloquial) Alternative form of sedan


splitter

Borrowed from German Splitter (“splinter”).

bor+

splitter ny


item

Borrowed from Latin item (“just like”), attested since 1628.

Jag blef helt ond och ändå mera E., som är en förklarad hundvän, item hund-advokat, som du väl mins.

1847 July 24, Sophie von Knorring, Bref till hemmet:

I became wholly mad, and even more E., who are a declared dog friend, as well as dog advocate, as you might well remember.


ned

From Old Norse niðr, from Proto-Germanic *niþer, from Proto-Indo-European *niter. Cognates include English nether, Faroese and Icelandic niður, German nieder and Dutch neder.

ner (alternative informal)
neder (alternative)


prompt

Svaret kom prompt

Om du prompt måste göra det så ta det försiktigt

If you necessarily have to do it, be careful


fel

sv-adv

fel (comparative mer fel, superlative mest fel)

mer fel (comparative)
mest fel (superlative)

See Norwegian feil and Danish fejl. Used in Swedish at least since 1527. For the adverb, the now obsolete form felt was the dominant written form until the mid 19th century.

Hon svarade fel på hälften av frågorna

She answered wrong on half of the questions

Planen slog fel

Det gick fel

wrong, wrongly, incorrectly, erroneously


igen

From Old Norse í gegn (“against”), from í (“in, on”) and gegn (“straight, direct”).

Han slängde igen dörren

He slammed the door ("threw shut the door")

Han sparkade igen dörren

to a closed state, up, shut (of for example a door or something getting clogged)


fort

fort (comparative fortare, superlative fortast)

fortare (comparative)
fortast (superlative)

Attested since 1609 according to Nationalencyklopedins Ordbok, from Middle Low German fôrt (“away, further, forward”), which is used adverbially (forts) with the same meaning in Low German. Related to för (“fore”), före (“before”) and forsla (“transport, carry, haul”).


mitt

From Old Swedish mitt, from Old Norse miðr.

Vi befann oss mitt emellan två städer

We were at around the middle point (literally) / right between two cities

De befann sig mitt i kaoset

They were in the middle of (literally) / right in the chaos

Det var mitt i natten

Jag blev slagen mitt i nyllet

I was punched right in ("in the middle of") the face

in the middle (at or around the middle, spatially or more abstractly), (often) right


illa

head

illa (comparative sämre, värre, superlative sämst, värst)

sämre (comparative)
värre (comparative)
sämst (superlative)
värst (superlative)

From Old Swedish īlla, from Old Norse ílla, illa, adverb formation of Old Norse íllr, illr (see Old Swedish īlder).

vara illa skadad

Jag blev mycket illa behandlad av mina kollegor

I was treated very poorly by my colleagues

Det kommer gå illa

Tala illa om någon

Inte illa!

Jag mår illa


mutatis mutandis

Borrowed from Late Latin mūtātīs mūtandīs. First attested in 1863. Although earlier use can be found.

bor+

Opera används här bara som exempel och kan, mutatis mutandis, ersättas med centrallyrik, experimentfilm eller elektronmusik

2018 October 2, Carl Rudbeck, “Rambo eller Rimbaud [Rambo or Rimbaud]”, in Svenska Dagbladet:

Opera is used here only as an example and can, mutatis mutandis, be replaced by core lyric, experimental film or electronic music.

Danilo Wielsky, mutatis mutandis, med ändring af hvad ändras bör, är, den dag som är, bosatt i Sverige, ehuru under ett annat namn, och framlefver, såvidt kändt blifvit, ett stilla och fridsamt lif såsom välbestäld handlande.

1882, Johannes Alfthan, Den förmodade nihilisten, page 62:

Danilo Wielsky, mutatis mutandis, with the change of what should be changed, is, as of today, resident in Sweden, albeit under a different name, and lives, as far as is known, a quiet and peaceful life with well-off behaviour.

Bristande utrymme hindrar oss att vara utförliga angående den förra; men vi bedja läsaren att i någon tidning slå upp hvilken Musikrecension som helst, der det talas om ett lysande föredrag på violinen, en behaglig stråke, en ren och stark ton, en utomordentlig färdighet i de svåraste passager, ett mästerligt staccato m. m. och vi hoppas att allt detta kan gälla om Hr Wexschals talang, äfvensom mutatis mutandis om Hr Petersens färdighet på flöjten.

1833 January 22, “Kaleidoskop”, in Aftonbladet, pages 3–4:

Lack of space prevents us from being at length concerning the former; but we ask the reader to look up in any newspaper any Music Review in which there is talk of a brilliant performance on the violin, a pleasing bow, a pure and strong tone, an extraordinary skill in the most difficult passages, a masterful staccato, etc. and we hope that all this can apply to Mr. Wexschal's talent, also mutatis mutandis to Mr. Petersen's skill on the flute.

mutatis mutandis
mutatis mutandis#English

mutatis mutandis (having changed what needs to be changed)


ute

From Old Swedish ūte, from Old Norse úti.

Jag lät tvätten torka ute

Vi sov ute under stjärnorna

Han är ute ur leken

ute på sjön

ute på fältet

Jag hade fel, men jag var iallafall rätt ute

I was wrong, but I was at least on the right track

(in the phrase rätt ute) on the right track


aldrig

From Old Norse aldri, aldrigi. Cognate with Icelandic aldrei, Norwegian Bokmål aldri, Norwegian Nynorsk aldri and Danish aldrig.

Jag har aldrig sett det förr.

Malin ljuger aldrig.

Aldrig har det varit någon sadel uppå dem, […]

1877, H. Aminson, “Folkvisor § Bergatrollets frieri [verse 2]”, in Bidrag Till Södermanlands Äldre Kulturhistoria, volume 1, Stockholm, page 22:

Never has there been a saddle upon them, […]


alltid

From all + tid, literally "all time". Compare Danish altid, Dutch altijd, Icelandic ætíð, Norwegian Bokmål alltid, Norwegian Nynorsk alltid.

Sigge har alltid varit lång.


bättre

From Old Norse betri, from Proto-Germanic *batizô. Cognate with Sanskrit भद्र (bhadrá).


bäst

From Old Norse beztr, from Proto-Germanic *batistaz.


runt

gå runt

around; in a manner that involves a lot of transportation


ganska

From Middle Low German gans, gansch, from Middle High German ganz, from Old High German ganz, from Proto-West Germanic *gant.

Den här melonen är ganska smaklös

Min bror är ganska lång.

Tå Konungen frögdade sigh i tine kraft; Ach huru ganska glad war han af tine hielp: Tu gaf honom hans hiertans önskan/ och förwägrade honom intet hwad hans mun bad.

The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips.


hellre

Jag stannar hellre hemma (än följer med och shoppar)

I'd rather stay at home (than come along to shop)

comparative degree of gärna: rather (more preferably)


max

Du får max äta tre kakor

You're allowed to eat three cookies, max


var

From Old Norse hvar, from Proto-Germanic *hwar.

hvar (alternative obsolete)
hwar (alternative obsolete)

Var är mina nycklar?

Var var jag?


förbannat

spårvagnen är så förbannat långsam


dit

From Old Swedish þit, from Old Norse þít, according to SAOB likely from þí + at. þí is in turn an old locative, possibly related to Gothic 𐌸𐌴𐌹 (þei), and more distantly to Ancient Greek τεῖ (teî) in τεῖδε (teîde, “thither”). Equivalent to ty + åt.

Jag gick dit, så nu är jag där

Jag gick där [for comparison]

I was walking (around) there / I was walking at that location

Jag har aldrig varit i London, men jag ska dit snart

I've never been to London, but I'm going [to] there soon [see ska for why there is no resa (“travel”), åka (“go”), or the like]

springa hit och dit

run to here and to there / run hither and thither [indicating for example chaos or a lack of direction]

to there, thither, (often in practice, in translations) there

staden dit de flyttade

the city [to] where / to which they moved

Ta mig dit där solen skiner, dit där himlen jämt är blå, dit där sjöarna är klara, dit jag alltid velat gå.

1973, Landslaget, “Tala om vart du ska resa [Tell me where you are traveling [to where you shall (are going to) travel]]”:

Take me [to] where ["to where, where ..." – second "where" from "där"] the sun shines, [to] where [where] the sky is always blue, [to] where [where] the lakes are clear, [to] where I've always wanted ["have wanted" – "have" implied from supine] to go [walk].

(relative) to where, where (expresses movement to a place)


varifrån

Varifrån kom brevet?

from which place; from which direction; from where; wherefrom; whence


vart

From Old Swedish hvart, shortened form of var-åt, "towards where".

Vart är vi på väg?

Where are we going to? (More accurately: Where are we headed?)

to where, to which place, whither, whereto?

Vart är den?


härifrån

Brevet skickades härifrån.

Stick härifrån!


vida

Han är vida känd för sin karateexpertis

He is widely known for his karate expertise


än

From Old Norse enn, from Proto-Germanic *andi, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂entí.

Är du kvar än?

Det är inte midnatt än

Än så är det vinter

Yet it is winter [song lyrics (see the quotations) – would more commonly be expressed as "Det är fortfarande / ännu vinter," though not unnatural-sounding]

Sov, du lilla vide ung. Än så är det vinter. Än så sova [old present tense plural form, now "sover" – the present tense plural used to be identical to the infinitive for all verbs except vara] björk och ljung, ros och hyacinter. Än så är det långt till vår, innan rönn i blomma står. Sov, du lilla vide. Än så är det vinter. Solskensöga ser på dig. Solskensfamn dig vaggar. Snart blir grönt på skogens stig, och var blomma flaggar. Än [(sense 2)] en liten solskensbön: Vide liten blir så grön. Solskensöga ser dig. Solskensfamn dig vaggar.

1869, “Sov du lilla vide ung (Videvisan) [Sleep, [you] little willow young (The Willow Song)]”, Zachris Topelius (lyrics), Alice Tegnér (music):

Sleep, ["you" – could be kept, but doesn't have the tone of "You little rascal" or the like as a vocative – see du] little willow young [poetic – putting the adjective last is equally unusual in Swedish here]. It is still winter [yet it is winter]. Yet [as in "still"] sleep birch and heather, rose and hyacinths. Spring is still a long way off [yet it is a long way to spring], before rowan is [stands] in bloom [normally "står i blom" rather than "står i blomma"]. Sleep, [you] little willow. It is still winter. Sunshine's eye watches you ["sunshine-eye watches you" – poetically terse in Swedish as well]. Sunshine's arms [see famn] rock you [like in a cradle (vagga)]. Soon the forest path will be green [soon it becomes green on the forest's path], and all the flowers fly their flags ["and each flower flags," as in puts out flags, figuratively]. Yet [(sense 2)] one little sunshine prayer [or plea]: Willow little turns so green. Sunshine's eye sees you. Sunshine's arms rock you.

Jag vill än en gång tacka mina kollegor

I would like to thank my colleagues once again

I want to yet one time thank my colleagues ["än(nu) en gång" is a common phrase]

Hur jag än försökte kunde jag inte öppna ögonen

No matter how I tried, I could not open my eyes ["How I yet tried ..." might provide intuition]


ner

A contraction of earlier neder, from Old Norse niðr, from Proto-Germanic *niþer, from Proto-Indo-European *niter.

(somewhat informal) down; in a direction downwards

(somewhat informal) down; off (with various verbs to denote something which is turned off or shut down)


vitt

white; legally, in accordance with (tax) laws and regulations


à la carte

Unadapted borrowing from French à la carte (“on the menu; according to the card”).


i morgon

imorgon (alternative)
i morron (alternative colloquial)
imorron (alternative colloquial)
i morrn (alternative colloquial)
imorrn (alternative colloquial)


igår

From Old Norse í gær, í gjár (“yesterday”) (whence Icelandic í gær and Faroese í gjár). Akin to i + går.


i förrgår

day before yesterday
day before yesterday


i går

From Old Swedish ī gār, from Old Norse í gær, í gjár (“yesterday”) (whence Icelandic í gær and Faroese í gjár).


i övermorgon

I övermorgon antar FN nya globala hållbarhetsmål.

2015 September 23, Gunilla von Hall, “Vauban – en modell för FN:s hållbarhetsmål [Vauban – a model for the UN's sustainability goals.]”, in Svenska Dagbladet:

In two days, the UN will adopt new global sustainability goals.

in, or during, the day after tomorrow; overmorrow


ovan

From Old Swedish ovan, from Old Norse ofan.
Cognate with Danish oven and German oben, as well as with the compound forms Dutch boven and English above.

se bilden ovan


int

(colloquial, Finland, Northern Sweden, Dalecarlia) Pronunciation spelling of inte (“not”).


icke

[ˈî̝k̟ʰːɛ̠̂]

From Old Swedish ækki, ække, ikke, originally the nominative neuter of ængin (“no one, nobody”). Related to Danish ikke, Norwegian Bokmål ikke and Norwegian Nynorsk ikkje.

Jag trodde det skulle finnas glass kvar i frysen, men icke

I thought there would be ice cream left in the freezer, but no (somewhat jocular formality – inte is unidiomatic here)

(slightly formal or dated outside compounds) not; negation of the verb in a sentence.


nog

From Old Norse nóg, nógr, gnógr, from Proto-Germanic *ganōgaz. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₂nóḱe (“he has reached, attained”), perfective of *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”).

der

Har vi nog med mat för picknicken?

Du får aldrig nog, av att ge mig nog. Jag får aldrig nog, när du ger mig nog.

1989, Dag Vag, “Du får aldrig nog [You never get enough]”:

You never get enough, of giving me enough. I never get enough, when you give me enough.

Det har vi nog.


fett

Filmen är fett bra


inte

From Old Swedish ænkti, ænti, ingti, from a late form of the nominative neuter of Old Swedish ængin. For an earlier form, see icke.

Jag förstod inte vad du sa

Myror är inte stora

Hästar är inte växter

– Är inte hästar däggdjur? – Jo, hästar är däggdjur.

– Aren't horses mammals? – Yes, horses are mammals.

– Are not horses mammals? – Yes, horses are mammals.

Jag gillade inte filmen

Gillade du inte filmen?

Jag såg dig inte

Såg du mig inte?

Jag såg inte dig, men jag såg Nisse

I didn't see you [emphasis], but I saw Nisse

Det är inte torsdag idag

Imorgon är det inte fredag, utan lördag

Tomorrow is it not Friday, but Saturday [Är moves before det due to V2 word order – no special behavior related to inte here]

Det regnar inte just nu

Jag hoppas (att) det inte regnar imorgon

I hope (that) it not rains tomorrow [Inte comes before the main verb in subclauses ("(att) det inte regnar imorgon" here – att can be dropped in this case, like that in English)]

Om det inte regnar så kan [or "så skulle vi kunna," for a tone of "could"] vi gå på picknick

If it doesn't rain, we can go on a picnic

If it not rains [så – optionally appears after an initial adverbial] can we go on picnic ["Om det inte regnar" is a subclause, so inte comes before regnar, like above)]

Han kan inte simma

en man som inte kan simma

a man that not can swim ["Som inte kan simma" is a subclause, so inte comes before kan, like above]

Monstren (som) man inte ser är ofta läskigast

The monsters (that) you don't see are often the scariest

The monsters (that) one not see are often scariest ["(Som) man inte ser" is a subclause, so inte comes before ser, like above. In this example, the subclause might be obscured by som / that being skippable in both Swedish and English (due to the subclause being a relative clause where som / that is not the subject).]

Boken (som) du inte (har) läst är bra

The book (that) you haven't read is good

The book (that) you not (have) read [in the supine] is good [This example is like the previous example, with a strictly unrelated additional twist of har being skippable when implied from supine (läst here)]

ej

dated or formal except in certain expressions


lagom

sv-adv

lagom (comparative mer lagom, superlative mest lagom)

mer lagom (comparative)
mest lagom (superlative)

The adjective is attested since 1637, from the plural dative form of lag (“law”), so literally "with the laws". The adverb is attested since 1675.
A common folk etymology states that it comes from laget om, meaning "to the whole team, group, retinue". The idea is that this is from the time of Viking long houses, where everyone would gather and drink mead and eat. In order for the mead not to run out, everyone would take not too little and not too much, so that there would be enough for the whole group.

Soppan är lagom saltad.

Den här lägenheten är precis lagom stor för min dotter.

This apartment is just the right size for my daughter.

(just) right, fitting, neither too much nor too little


ont

Att bli slagen med en hammare gör ont

ha ont om pengar

Det är ont om tid


för

Partly from Old Swedish for, Proto-Germanic *furai. Partly from Old Swedish fyrir, firi, fyre, from Old Norse fyrir, from Proto-Germanic *furi.


så

From Old Norse svá, from Proto-Germanic *swa, *swē.

Är det inte så?

en så kallad skruvboll

Kolla hur jag hoppar och hoppa (så) som jag gör

Look at how I jump and jump like me ("jump (in such a way) as I do" – the så is redundant)

Så, maten är klar!

so, alright (to indicate that something is finished)

Jag trodde inte den var så stor.

Den är så stor att den inte får plats.

inte så bra

ganska/rätt (så) stor

ganska/rätt (så) liten

An optional filler, after for example rätt and ganska – compare "not so" in English.

Om man köper pizza så blir man glad

Det regnade, så han blev blöt

Så det kan inte varit han som gjorde det

Kaninen är så söt!

Så roligt!

Så trevligt att ni kunde komma!

Så stor han har blivit!

Så tråkigt!

Så synd!

Om jag så får en miljon så gör jag det inte

Even if I ("If I so") get a million bucks, I'm not doing it

så vitt jag vet

Se först åt vänster, så åt höger.

First look to the left, then to the right.


när

From Old Norse nær, from Proto-Germanic *nēhwiz, comparative of *nēhw. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”).

der

När börjar filmen?

När jag skulle gå hem,...

(in some expressions, or archaic or archaizing) Synonym of nära (“close”)


allt

Det har blivit allt svårare att hitta god kebabsås i Säffle

It has become increasingly difficult to find good kebab sauce in Säffle

Han är allt bra tokig, den där trollkarlen


bara

From Old Swedish bara, from Old Norse *bara (“barely, only”), from *barr, from Proto-Germanic *bazaz (“bare”). Compare Icelandic bara.

Jag ska bara läsa den här sidan också.

Vi har bara en bil.


ofta

sv-adv

ofta (comparative oftare, superlative oftast)

oftare (comparative)
oftast (superlative)

From Old Norse oft, from Proto-Germanic *ufta.

Kommer du hit ofta?


där

From Old Norse þar, from Proto-Germanic *þar.

der (alternative obsolete)
ther (alternative obsolete)

Din bok ligger där på bordet.

Under ytan finns stora och små. Under ytan finns det skratt och gråt. Det finns mycket där som händer som vi inte kan förstå, men vi hittar alltid svaren där i botten av oss själva.

1994, Uno Svenningsson, “Under ytan [Beneath the Surface]”, in Uno:

Beneath the surface, there are big and small. Beneath the surface, there is laughter and tears [crying]. There is a lot there that happens that we cannot understand, but we always find the answers, there at the bottom of ourselves.


också

Corresponding to och / ock + så, from Old Swedish ok svā, from Old Norse ok and svá. Compare Danish også.

Fä dör, fränder dör, en dag dör också du. Ett vet jag som aldrig dör, domen över den döde.

2016, Lars Lönnroth, transl., Den poetiska Eddan, Atlantis, →ISBN, Den höges tal (Hávamál) §77, page 71:

Cattle die, kinsmen die, one day you'll die as well. One thing I know that never dies, the judgment of the dead.


efter

efter (comparative mer efter, superlative mest efter)

mer efter (comparative)
mest efter (superlative)


inne

From Old Swedish inne, from Old Norse inni.

Han är inne i huset

Inne i grottan lever en björn

Han är inne på klubben

He's inside the club (på is often used for a building one is normally inside for a particular reason, where the emphasis is less on the building itself)

Ska vi äta inne eller ute?


vika

From Old Swedish vīka, from Old Norse víkja, víkva (to fold, turn, head in a direction), from Proto-Germanic *wīkwaną. Cognate to Swedish vicka (wiggle).
The adverb in the phrase ge vika comes from Low German wike/weke gewen, where the noun wike means concession, escape. Compare German weichen.

inh

De föll fem meter när golvet gav vika

They fell five meters when the floor gave way

De gav vika för barnens tjat

They gave in to their children's nagging

Han blev tvungen att ge vika för deras vilja

Muren började ge vika för murbräckan

The wall was starting to give way to the battering ram

(in the expression: ge vika) to give way, to give in, to fold (under pressure)


okej

Provet gick okej.


här

From Old Norse hér, from Proto-Germanic *hē₂r.

Här är den


då

From Old Swedish þā, from Old Norse þá, from Proto-Germanic *þan (“then”).

da (alternative adverb pronunciation-spelling)

Den där, då?


platt

sv-adv

platt (comparative plattare, superlative plattast)

plattare (comparative)
plattast (superlative)

det är platt intet

that is absolutely nothing, that is nothing at all


å andra sidan

From å + annan + sida, literally, "on the other side".


gott

gott (comparative godare, superlative godast)

godare (comparative)
godast (superlative)

Det här smakar verkligen gott.


allvarligt

allvarligt (comparative allvarligare, superlative allvarligast)

allvarligare (comparative)
allvarligast (superlative)


nå

Compare German na, Finnish no, Russian ну (nu), and their cognates.

Är den nå bra?

(colloquial) any (at all, to any extent)


ost

Kotka ligger ost om Helsingfors.


väl

From Old Norse vel, from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Common Germanic word. Cognate with Danish vel, Dutch wel, English well, Faroese væl, German wohl, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila), Icelandic vel, Norwegian Bokmål vel, Norwegian Nynorsk vel.

Han spelar piano väl

väl fungerande infrastruktur

Jag känner honom väl

Skaka väl

Han spelar lite väl mycket piano

He plays a bit too much piano (or, in tone, "He goes a little hard on the piano" / "He could cut down on the piano playing a bit")

Chilisåsen är lite väl stark

The chili sauce is a bit too hot (or, in tone, "The chili sauce is a wee bit hot" / "We went a little heavy on the heat" / "It wouldn't hurt if the chili sauce was a bit milder")

The chili sauce is a little well strong (idiomatic for hot spiciness)

too (overly – from "well" as in "to a significant degree" (like in "well known"), with an implication of excessiveness)

Väl framme upptäckte vi att butiken var stängd

Once there, we discovered that the shop was closed

Han är lite lat, men när han väl kommer igång så får han mycket gjort

He's a bit lazy, but once he gets going, he gets a lot done

Filmen är inte välproducerad, men väl mycket underhållande

The movie is not well produced, but very entertaining on the other hand


väl

Du har väl städat rummet?

Du har städat rummet, väl?

You've cleaned your room, right? (a different, uncommon way to phrase it that might provide intuition – see the usage notes)

Du kommer väl på festen?

Du älskar mig väl?

Men det är väl mig du älskar?

But it is me you love (as opposed to someone else), isn't it?

Så dålig var väl inte filmen?

(in questions) Used to ask for confirmation or agreement (in a somewhat stern or pleading way).

Jaja, den var väl okej

"Väl"? Den var ju jättebra!

"I guess"? It was super good! (with ju expressing that this is "fact" and should be common understanding)

Han har inte kommit än, men han har väl kört vilse som vanligt

He hasn't arrived yet, but he's probably gotten ("driven") lost as usual

(outside questions) Expresses reservation: "I guess," "probably," etc.

Det här kan väl ändå inte vara rätt väg

Surely this can't be the right way (to somewhere) [Works as a translation since "This can't be the right way" is still a more definite statement, and is a pretty good match for tone as well]


ej

From Old Norse eigi. Cognate with Icelandic ei. Not related to Finnish ei.

Tro det eller ej.

(Jag) Vet ej.

Gäller ej.

(often formal or poetic outside certain expressions) not


stint

se någon stint i ögonen


mindre

From Old Norse minni, from Proto-Germanic *minnizô.


t.ex.

for example, e.g.; Abbreviation of till exempel.


tyst

tyst (comparative tystare, superlative tystast)

tystare (comparative)
tystast (superlative)

From Old Swedish þyster, from Proto-Germanic *þusiþaz. Cognate with Sanskrit तूष्णीम् (tūṣṇī́m, “silent”) and Russian тихий (tíxij, “quiet”).


snabbt

snabbt (comparative snabbare, superlative snabbast)

snabbare (comparative)
snabbast (superlative)


bak

From Old Swedish baker, from Old Norse bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką. Related to English back.


svårt

svårt (comparative svårare, superlative svårast)

svårare (comparative)
svårast (superlative)

en svårt skadad häst


noga

From Old Swedish nōgha, from Middle Low German nouwe (“narrow”). Compare German genau.

Tänk igenom det noga.

Studera bilden noga i en minut, och räkna sedan upp vilka föremål som fanns i bilden.

Study the picture closely for a minute, and after that, list which objects were present in the image.

carefully; done in such a way that it ends up very accurate or very close to what was intended


lä

From Old Norse hlé, from Proto-Germanic *hlewą.


fisk

From Old Swedish fisker, from Old Norse fiskr, from Proto-Germanic *fiskaz (“fish”), from Proto-Indo-European *peysk- (“fish”).

– Det börjar brännas.
 – Fågel, fisk eller mittemellan?

– It's getting hot.
 – High, low or in-between?

(games) low placed (of a hidden hidden object)


fågel

From Old Swedish fughl, foghl, from Old Norse fogl, from Proto-Germanic *fuglaz. Cognate with English fowl and German Vogel. In the mid 19th century, the spelling fogel was common, but SAOL 6 (1889) lists the spelling as fågel only.

sv:lista över fågelarter observerade i Sverige (taxonomisk)


obra

obra (comparative mer obra, superlative mest obra)

mer obra (comparative)
mest obra (superlative)

Det gick obra. Vi har en förhandlingsmotpart som bara säger att det inte finns pengar, säger Frank.

2008 October 29, “Umeå: Volvo varslar ytterligare 150”, in SVT Nyheter Västerbotten, retrieved 2022-04-09:

It went poorly. We have a negotiating counterparty who just says there is no money, Frank says.

(colloquial, nonstandard) poorly, not well


hur

Shortened form of huru, from Old Swedish hwaru, from neuter dative of Proto-Germanic *hwar

Hur är det bra för oss?


egentligen

Det heter egentligen inte så

It's not actually (in truth, according to some authority or the like) called that

Barr och löv är egentligen samma sak

Needles and leaves are actually (in truth, contrary to what one might think) the same thing

Jag ville egentligen gå på bio, men om du hellre stannar hemma så gör jag det med

I actually (in truth, contrary to what you might have thought or the plans we decided on or the like) wanted to go to the movies, but if you prefer to stay at home, I’ll do so too

Egentligen måste ni bifoga en G7-blankett också, men låt gå för den här gången

Strictly speaking [in actual reality], you must include a G7 form as well, but I'll accept it this time

actually, really, in truth, "in actual reality" (in truth, contrary to a previous claim or what one might think or the like)


morse

From Old Swedish morghons. From morgon + -s (“adverbial suffix”). Compare the development of afse (from afton).

adverbial genitive form of morgon; a past morning


ens

Var du ens född då?

even (negatively comparatively as in not even..., did you even [bother to]...)


helst

Han vill gärna ha en grön kanin, men hellre en gul kanin, och helst en blå kanin

He would be happy to own a green rabbit, but would prefer a yellow rabbit, and most of all he would like a blue rabbit

superlative degree of gärna (“happily”): most of all (most preferably)

gärna

– Dricka frätande syra är onyttigt. – Jo, det bör man helst inte göra.

– Drinking corrosive acid is unhealthy. – Yeah, it's best not to do so. ("Yeah, that ought one preferably not do")


kanske

[²kʰaŋːˌɧ𝆑ʷɛ]

From kan (“can, may”) + ske (“happen, occur”), less commonly used similar constructions include kanhända, måhända and danish måske. Compare Elfdalian kanstji, Norwegian kanskje, Icelandic kannski and Faroese kanska.


eftersom

[²ˈɛ̞fːt̪əˌʂɔm]

From Old Swedish æptir sum. By surface analysis, efter (“after”) + som (“like”).

surf

Det beror helt på hur saker och ting ändras eftersom.

It all depends on how everything changes over time.


mol

mol allena

(in some expressions and compounds) completely


mera

From Old Norse meiri, from Proto-Germanic *maizô.


utan

Jag känner honom utan och innan

I know him inside out (literally, "outside and inside")


helt

entirely, absolutely, wholly, completely


neder

From Old Swedish niþer, nedher, from Old Norse niðr, from Proto-Germanic *niþer, from Proto-Indo-European *niter.


sist

Han var sist hem.


redan

Jag har redan gjort det

Är ni redan här? Det var tidigt.


borta

From Old Norse brottu, burtu. By surface analysis, bort + -a.

långt borta

Plånboken är borta. Jag kan inte hitta den.

Han verkade så borta

out of it, gone, not aware of what's going on (of a person)


etter

From Old Norse eitr, from Proto-Germanic *aitrą, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyd-.


huru

From Old Swedish hwaru, from a dative form of Old Norse hvar (“where”), see also var, Icelandic hvernug, Danish hvor.


&c.

A use of the ligature & to stand for the et in etc..

Först och främſt kallar han ſig ſjelf: N. N.; detta är något kuriöſt, ty denna abbreviation betyder i det wanliga ſkriftſpråket om perſoner: nomen eller nomina neſcio eller neſcimus, och kan ſåledes blott nyttjas af en ſcribent om en annan, t. ex. i formulärer, på utanſkrifter af bref &c., men icke om ſigſielf; […]

1846 August 7, “Ett slutord i ſtriden om Prins Carls Inſtitut. [A concluding remark in the dispute concerning Prince Carl's Institution.]”, in Stockholms Dagblad, page 1:

First and foremost, he calls himself: N. N.; this is somewhat curious, for this abbreviation in the common written language signifies in regard to persons: nomen or nomina nescio or nescimus, and can therefore only be used by a writer about another, e.g., in forms, on the outside of letters, &c., but not about oneself; […]


rätt

sv-adv

rätt (comparative rättare, superlative rättast)

rättare (comparative)
rättast (superlative)

From Old Norse réttr, from Proto-Germanic *rehtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵtós. Doublet of rät.

Det går rätt bra faktiskt.


hur som helst

Men det hade hur som helst inte fungerat, så vi går vidare

But it wouldn't have worked anyway, so let's move on

Hur som helst, nu måste jag åka hem

in any case, anyway, anyhow (often to mark the end of a line of reasoning or the like)

Ingen vet vad som kommer hända. Det kan gå hur som helst.

No one knows what's going to happen. It could go any which way.

Bitarna kan kombineras hur som helst

De verkar ha släppt in folk på basen lite hur som helst

They seem to have let people into the base willy-nilly

Obehöriga får inte röra sig hur som helst på området

Unauthorized persons are not allowed to move freely around the area


fram

From Old Norse fram, from Proto-Germanic *fram.

De gick fram genom skogen

They walked forward [forth] through the forest [redundant in Swedish as well, but not as unidiomatic]

Hären marscherade fram

Han tog fram en flaska vin

He took out [took forth] a bottle of wine

De hoppade fram ur skuggarna

They jumped out of [leapt forth/forward out of] the shadows

Till slut kom sanningen fram

Anna-Lisa rodnade djupt när hon ensam gick fram.

1907, Laura Fitinghoff, Barnen från Frostmofjället:

Anna-Lisa blushed deeply when she all alone went forward.

Fortsätt rakt fram i två kilometer

Continue straight ahead [straight forth/forward] for two kilometers

Vägen delar sig längre fram

The road forks up ahead [splits itself further forth/forward]

Glöm inte att ställa fram klockan en timme imorgon

Don't forget to set the time one hour ahead tomorrow [set forth the clock one hour tomorrow]

Jag kommer återkomma till det längre fram i presentationen

I will come back to that later on [further ahead/forth] in the presentation

Det är inget vi planerar i nuläget. Men vem vet, kanske längre fram?

That is not something we are planning at the moment. But who knows, maybe later on?

(later) on, (further) on, etc. (when applied to time or progress or the like)

Vi kom fram vid femtiden

När kommer ni fram?

Det tog fem timmar att åka fram och tillbaka

It took five hours to get there and back

Efter att ha gått genom skogen kom de fram till huset

After walking through the forest, they arrived at the house

Jag har kommit fram, så nu är jag framme

I have arrived, so now I am here (at the destination)

Hann du fram (i tid)?

Vädret förblir varmt ända fram till helgen

The weather will stay warm (all the way) until the weekend [all the way forth to the weekend]

Laget nådde inte riktigt fram

The team didn't quite make it [didn't quite reach the goal]

komma fram till något

arrive at a conclusion ["arrive at something" – intuitively more of a fixed expression to native speakers]

(figurative) Also of time and more abstractly.

to a destination, there
Also of time and more abstractly.

Byxorna har fickor fram och bak

The trousers have pockets in the front and in the back / The trousers have pockets front and back


idel

From Middle Low German idel (“empty, pure, vain”). Compare English idle (“empty, vacant”), German eidel (“empty, vain”).

der

Det var idel nederlag


innan

From Old Swedish innan, from Old Norse innan, from Proto-Norse ᛁᚾᚨᚾᚨ (inana), from Proto-Germanic *innanē.

Jag hade varit där kvällen innan

innanlår

innandöme

innanmäte

(in some expressions and compounds) on the inside, inner


upp

From Old Norse upp, from Proto-Germanic *upp.

Han klättrade upp för stegen, så nu är han uppe på taket

He climbed up the ladder, so now he's up on the roof


glatt

sv-adv

glatt (comparative gladare, superlative gladast)

gladare (comparative)
gladast (superlative)

Du är så söt, så oskuldsfull. Försöker stå men du ramlar omkull. Jag rycker till [expresses suddenness], du fnittrar glatt. Med stora ögon brister du ut i ett skratt, i ett skratt.

1992, Benny Astor, Figge Boström, “Gunga [Swing]”performed by Apopocalyps:

You are so cute, so innocent. Try to stand but you fall over. I flinch, you giggle happily. With wide eyes you break out into a laugh, into a laugh.


dags

Nu är det dags.

Hur dags avgår mitt flyg?

Är det dags att komma nu?

Is this the time to arrive? (often sarcastic, mocking)

Dags att tänka på refrängen.

så dags


även

From Middle Low German even, effen, from Old Saxon evan, from Proto-West Germanic *ebn, from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz, cognate with English even, Dutch even. Compare Danish effen. See also jämn.

Björnar är djur. Björn är även ett vanligt förnamn.

Bears are animals. Björn / Bear is also [with a tone of "additionally"] a common first name. ["Björn är också ett vanligt förnamn" also works]


ändå

From än + då. Compare Norwegian Nynorsk endå, Norwegian Bokmål enda, Danish endda, Icelandic enda.

Det hjälper inte att du tjatar, du får ändå inte godis innan maten

Your nagging doesn't help, you still won't get any candy before dinner

Han är stark men ändå smidig

Berit är stark, men Margit är ändå starkare

Berit is strong, but Margit is even/still stronger

Berit är stark, men Margit är starkare ändå

Berit is strong, but Margit is stronger still

still, yet (to a further degree – postpositioned with stress on "då")

Jag tror inte jag kommer ändå, sorry!

I don't think I'll come after all, sorry!

Han kom ändå alltså? Det var oväntat!

He showed up after all, huh? That was unexpected!

after all, as opposed to what's mentioned earlier, or what's expected

Jag sa att han inte fick komma, men han dök upp ändå

I told him he couldn't come, but he showed up anyway

Frisyren ändå! Jäkligt snygg.

though (as a way of calling (positive) attention to someone or something)


da capo al fine

From Italian da capo al fine (literally “from the beginning to the end”).


tillsammans

From Old Swedish til saman, til samans, from Middle Low German tosamene. Cognate with Danish tilsammen, Norwegian Bokmål til sammen, tilsammen, German zusammen, Saterland Frisian tousommen, Middle English tosamen, Dutch tezamen and Luxembourgish zesummen.

Vi är tillsammans.

Han är tillsammans med henne.


heller

Inherited from Old Swedish hælder, from Old Norse heldr.

Jag kan inte knäppa med fingrarna, och det kan inte Lisa heller

I can't snap my fingers, and neither can Lisa ("and that can not Lisa either")

Jag klarade inte av att lyfta den tyngsta stenen, men det gjorde ingen av medtävlarna heller

I didn't manage to lift the heaviest stone, but none of my co-competitors did either

Nisse hade inte heller sett hunden, så jag frågade Berit, men inte heller hon hade sett den!

Nisse hadn't seen the dog either, so I asked Berit, but she hadn't seen it either! ("but not either / neither she had seen it" – adds a bit more emphasis compared to "men hon hade inte sett den heller")

Britt var inte på festen, och inte heller Bernt var där

Britt wasn't at the party, and Bernt wasn't there either

Hon var inte den starkaste, och inte heller den snabbaste

She was not the strongest, neither the fastest

Man ska inte överdriva problemen, men heller inte underskatta dom

You shouldn't exaggerate the problems, but neither should you underestimate them

Klart han inte lånar ut pengar till en känd bedragare. Han är väl inte dum heller.

Of course he's not gonna lend money to a known swindler. I mean, he's not stupid.

– Wow! Vilket snyggt skott! – Jo, man är väl ingen amatör heller!

– Wow! What a nice shot! – Yeah, you're not dealing with no amateur, you know! (similar in tone – bit jocular- and cheeky-sounding)

(colloquial) Emphasizes a negative expression.


direkt

sv-adv

direkt (comparative direktare, superlative direktast)

direktare (comparative)
direktast (superlative)

flyga direkt från Köpenhamn till New York

fly directly from Copenhagen to New york

Vänta inte! Gör det direkt.

Maten var inte direkt översaltad

The food wasn't exactly oversalted (had too little salt)

(idiomatic, in "inte direkt") not exactly (really not)


ibland

From Old Norse í bland með, compare with Norwegian Bokmål ibland and Norwegian Nynorsk ibland


först

From Old Swedish fyrster, from Old Norse fyrstr, from Proto-Germanic *furistaz.

Han kom först i loppet.

Först vid lunch, fick han höra om olyckan.

Only at lunch, did he learn about the accident.


i dag

[ɪˈd̪ɒ̜ː(ɡ)]


minst

minst (comparative minstare, superlative minstast)

minstare (comparative)
minstast (superlative)

I Tyskland har det varit minst 20 grader varmt sex dygn i rad.

2021 March 1, “Vår i Sverige [Spring in Sweden]”, in 8 Sidor [8 Pages]:

In Germany, it was at least 20°C for six days in a row.


plötsligt

plötsligt (comparative plötsligare, superlative plötsligast)

plötsligare (comparative)
plötsligast (superlative)


hemma

hälsa dem där hemma


bums

Borrowed from Low German bums, imitative of a thud.

Det måste göras bums!

(colloquial) at once, immediately; without delay


fortepiano

(music) fortepiano, forte piano (loudly then immediately softly (as a direction))


något

From Old Norse nǫkkurr, contracted from ne veit ek hverr (“I don't know which one”). Cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk nokon.

Jag är något av en besserwisser

Publiken var något större än förväntat, kanske på grund av det fina vädret

The crowd was somewhat larger than expected, perhaps due to the good weather


itt

(Ostrobothnia, colloquial) Dialectical form of the word inte


bitti

Contraction of bittida, itself borrowed from Low German bi tide ("by time"). Compare English betides (“early in the day”), Dutch bijtijds (“well in advance”), West Frisian betiid (“early in the day”).


bort

From Old Norse burt, brott, braut (“road, cleared path”). See bryta (“to break”) for more.

De seglade bort mot horisonten

Jag får inte bort fläcken

Bort med dig!


lätt

lätt (comparative lättare, superlative lättast)

lättare (comparative)
lättast (superlative)

From Old Swedish lǣtter, from Old Norse léttr, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ-.

Jag förberedde mig lätt inför tävlingen.

Vi klädde oss lätt, då det var varmt.


någonting

From någon (“any, anyone”) + ting (“thing”). Note that ting is a neuter noun, and någon is thus the old neuter plural form. Compare någonsin.

Jag har inte gjort henne någonting.


lika

as, equally, in the same way, of the same degree


ju

From Old Swedish iū, io. Compare Danish jo, Norwegian Nynorsk jo, German ja (adverb) / je (conjunction).

Bussen går ju klockan tre.

The bus of course leaves at three o'clock / But the bus leaves at three o'clock (with an expectation that the second party in the conversation is aware of the fact)

Det var ju inte så bra att vi missade bussen. Nu hinner vi inte med flyget.

It wasn't great that we missed the bus, of course. Now we will miss the flight.

Varför gjorde du det inte? Du lovade ju!

Why didn't you do it? You promised (as you know)!

– Filmen var bra. – Det var den ju inte alls!

– The movie was good. – No it wasn't (and this should be our common understanding, as a fact – the ju adds a bit of an argumentative tone, similar to the "No")!

Vad fan, ytterdörren står öppen

What the hell, the front door is open (think two people coming home)

Vad fan, ytterdörren står ju öppen

What the hell, the front door is open (and this is (or will very soon be) our common understanding, as a fact, as you can also see that it is open – the ju just acts as an emphasizer here)

Indicates an expectation of shared understanding, or that what is said is an obvious fact – "as you well know," "of course."

Ju större, desto bättre.


pyton

Cf. Norwegian Nynorsk pyton used in same way.

Det luktar pyton här!

(colloquial) very disgusting (esp. about smells)


nere

nere (comparative mer nere, superlative mest nere)

mer nere (comparative)
mest nere (superlative)

(comparative längre, superlative längst) down, below, downstairs, at the far end of

(colloquial) down, sad, depressed (of humans)

tjänsten ligger nere

Webbsajten kommer att vara nere imorgon bitti. Den planerade nertiden är två timmar. Sajten tas/stängs ner klockan 8.

The website will be down tomorrow morning. The planned downtime is two hours. The site is taken/shut down at 8 o'clock.

(not comparable) down, offline, not available (of computers and online services)


långt

långt (comparative längre, superlative längst)

längre (comparative)
längst (superlative)


inuti

Jag undrar hur en tennisboll ser ut inuti

I wonder what a tennis ball looks like on the inside


i morgon bitti

in or during tomorrow morning; early tomorrow


desto

Vi äter inte mycket, men dricker desto mer.

We don't eat much, but drink all the more.

Ju mer, desto bättre

the, all the (with a comparative)
Forms a parallel comparative with ju.


sämre

Uncertain. From Old Swedish sämbre, from Proto-Germanic *sēmizô. Possibly a derivative of *sēmi- (“half”) or Old English sámr (“swarthy, darkish”). Cognate with Old English sæmra.


sällan

head

sällan (comparative mer sällan, superlative mest sällan)

mer sällan (comparative)
mest sällan (superlative)

From Old Swedish siäldan, säldan, siällan, from Old Norse sjaldan, Proto-Germanic *seldanē.

Jag dricker sällan kaffe.


tekniskt

sv-adv

tekniskt (comparative mer tekniskt, superlative mest tekniskt)

mer tekniskt (comparative)
mest tekniskt (superlative)

technically; in a technical or technological manner


alls

From Old Swedish alz, influenced by Low German alles.


allena

all- + ena Cognate with English alone (“alone”), Scots alane (“alone”), Saterland Frisian alleene (“alone”), West Frisian allinne (“alone”), Dutch alleen (“alone”), Low German alleen (“alone”), German allein (“alone”), Danish alene (“alone”). More at all, en.


tvärtom

From tvärt (“sharply”) + om (“about, around”). Perhaps from notion of a quick about-turn.

af

Säger man åt honom att göra något så gör han tvärtom

If you tell him to do something, he'll do the opposite

Du gillar inte katter, men jag tycker tvärtom de är jättetrevliga

You don't like cats, but I, on the contrary, think they're super nice


värre

From Old Norse verri, from Proto-Germanic *wirsizô.

Det var konstigt värre


antagligen

antaglig (“probable”) + -en (adverbial suffix). Compare Danish and Norwegian Bokmål antagelig, whence also Norwegian Nynorsk antakeleg.

suffix

Jag skulle antagligen förlora

– Det var nog måsen som åt upp massäcken. – Jo, antagligen.

– It was probably the gull that ate our packed lunch. – Yeah, probably.


nyss

From ny (“new”) + -s (“adverbial suffix”).


var som helst

Han kan ha lagt glasögonen var som helst

– Var ska jag lägga den? – Lägg den var som helst.

– Where should I put it? – Put it wherever.


privat

sv-adv

privat (comparative mer privat, superlative mest privat)

mer privat (comparative)
mest privat (superlative)

Vi tar det här privat så hon inte läcker det till offentligheten.

We take this privately so she doesn't leak it to the public.


dessutom

Han hade mycket att göra på jobbet och började dessutom bli förkyld

He had a lot to do at work and started getting ill on top of that.

besides, moreover, furthermore, in addition


inför

Carl läste upp sin dikt inför hela klassen.

Han föll på knä inför konungen

in front of, before; while having the attention of

Jag har inte tränat så mycket inför loppet.

I haven't practiced very much (in preparation) for the race.


çok

(slang, intensifier) Alternative form of cok (“very”)


e.d.

Abbreviation of eller dylikt (“or other similar items, terms”).


m.m.

I ordboken finns substantiv, verb, adjektiv m.m.

In the dictionary there are nouns, verbs, adjectives etc.

and more, etc.; abbreviation of med mera.


serri

Asså, det är serri den sjukaste film jag sett

It's seriously the most messed-up movie I've seen

(slang) clipping of seriöst (“seriously”)


summa summarum

From Latin summa (“sum”) summārum (“of sums”).

Dricka 18
utom besväret 944 Dr
Ärter åt folket 6
Drickspengar 42
förmodeligen kostade veden 8
Summa Sumarum 1000 Daler

1793, Märta Helena Reenstierna, “Bilagor, Kostnader [Appendix, Costs]”, in Årstadagboken [The Årsta Diary], volume I, published 1946, page 483:

Drinks 18
apart from the trouble 944 daler
Peas for the people 6
Tips 42
Presumably, the firewood cost 8
Sum total 1000 daler

Exempel: Trängde sig någon före dig i mikrokön? Krokben! Vill den pratglade grannen snacka igen medan du är sen till jobbet? ”Håll käften!”. Fick du ingen tap tillbaka på Grindr? Häng ut honom på Dumpen. Summa summarum: Var lite oskön. Eller rättare sagt: Stå på dig! Det kan vara svårt att se skillnaden ifall du är en i ASB: Anonyma Snällbögar.

2023 August 30, Andreas Siotis, “Jag orkar inte längre vara Supersnälla Silverbögen [I can’t handle being the Super Nice Silver Gay anymore]”, in Lundagård:

Example: Did someone cut in front of you in the microwave queue? Trip them! Is the overly chatty neighbour trying to talk to you again while you’re late for work? “Shut up!” Didn’t get a tap back on Grindr? Name and shame them online. In short: Be a bit unpleasant. Or rather: Stand up for yourself! It can be hard to tell the difference if you’re in ANGs: Anonymous Nice Gays.

Det spelas en full allsvensk omgång under fredagskvällen där Östersund har en tuff bortamatch framför sig i Scaniarinken medan Vimmerby lirar ett småländskt derby mot Tingsryd. Gästerna har således en tuff bortaresa framför sig och tidigare i veckan drog både Anderberg och Kalle Johansson på sig skador. Att ÖIK i skrivande stund är poänglösa (sex raka torsk) på resande skridsko vägs även in i ekvationen. Summa summarum lockar hemmasidan mest i det här bottenmötet.

2024 October 18, Filip Brodd, “Brynäs imponerar och kan rensa återigen [Brynäs impresses and can clear again]”, in Aftonbladet:

A full round of Allsvenskan games is being played on Friday evening, with Östersund facing a tough away match at Scaniarinken, while Vimmerby plays a Småland derby against Tingsryd. The visitors thus have a challenging away trip ahead, and earlier this week, both Anderberg and Kalle Johansson sustained injuries. The fact that ÖIK is currently without points (six straight losses) on the road is also factored into the equation. All in all, the home side is the most appealing in this bottom-of-the-table clash.


väldigt

väldigt (comparative väldigare, superlative väldigast)

väldigare (comparative)
väldigast (superlative)

Vi blev väldigt hungriga

Väldigt många har kontaktat oss

Den ser väldigt tung ut

Hon kände sig väldigt liten


främst

From fram (“forth”). Intuitively "forthest/forwardest," as in most forward.

Det här är främst en politisk fråga

Bland Säffles racerförare sätter jag honom främst

Among Säffle's racing drivers, I put him first

I den bakre klungan av löpare ligger Nisse främst

In the rear group of runners, Nisse is in front ("lies Nisse the most forward")

at the front; foremost, first (in position or rank)


hitåt

Vargen springer hitåt

The wolf is running towards here / this way


ljuvligt

ljuvligt (comparative ljuvligare, superlative ljuvligast)

ljuvligare (comparative)
ljuvligast (superlative)


härligt

härligt (comparative härligare, superlative härligast)

härligare (comparative)
härligast (superlative)


sött

From Old Norse sœtr, from Proto-Germanic *swōtuz, from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₂dus. Compare Icelandic sætur (“sweet”) and its neuter form sætt.


underbart

underbart (comparative underbarare, superlative underbarast)

underbarare (comparative)
underbarast (superlative)


vackert

vackert (comparative vackrare, superlative vackrast)

vackrare (comparative)
vackrast (superlative)

(somewhat dated, not comparable) carefully; with great caution and care

(dated, not comparable) sweet (chiefly as a response to positive news)


tillbaka

From Old Swedish til baka, from til (“to”) + baka, genitive plural of baker (“back”), equivalent to till + baks, according to SAOB online the alternative forms with -s are however not hence this fact, but rather from the genitive singular. Cognate with Icelandic til baka, Danish tilbage, Norwegian Bokmål tilbake and Norwegian Nynorsk tilbake.

tillbaks (alternative informal)
tebaka (alternative)
tebaks (alternative)

Har du fått tillbaka din plånbok än?

Han slog mig och jag slog tillbaka.

back, in return; (to a previous condition or place)


kvickt

kvickt (comparative kvickare, superlative kvickast)

kvickare (comparative)
kvickast (superlative)

poignantly; as in, a poignantly given reply


djupt

djupt (comparative djupare, superlative djupast)

djupare (comparative)
djupast (superlative)


opp

Pop opp i topp, det är toppen i år. Pop, pop, pop opp i topp, pop. Pop opp i topp, så att pulsarna slår. Pop opp i topp, pop.

1965, Thore Skogman, “Pop opp i topp [Pop (up) to the top]”performed by Thore Skogman and Lill-Babs:

Pop up to the top, it's great this year. Pop, pop, pop up to the top, pop. Pop up to the top, so that the pulses beat. Pop up to the top, pop.

(dated or dialectal) Alternative form of upp


uppåt

Det var uppåt tusen personer i demonstrationståget.

There were upwards a thousand people in the march.

upwards; denoting an upper bound of a size or of a number


isär

From i + sär, which itself is derived from Old Norse sér. Cognate with Danish især, Norwegian Nynorsk især.

slita isär

ta isär något


uppe

Han klättrade upp, så nu är han uppe på taket

He climbed up, so now he's up on the roof

Efter att solen gått upp så är den uppe

After the sun has risen ("gone up"), it is up

(adverb of place) up (in a more elevated position relative to the speaker or another object of comparison)

Är han uppe än?


därför

From Old Swedish þær for, equivalent to där + för. Compare English therefore, Danish derfor, German dafür.

therföre (alternative)
derföre (alternative)
därföre (alternative)
derför (alternative)


öster

From Old Swedish ø̄ster, from Old Norse austr, from Proto-Germanic *austrą.


österut

eastwards, east (towards or in the east)


väst

From Old Norse vestr, from Proto-Germanic *westrą.


väster

From Old Swedish væster, from Old Norse vestr, from Proto-Germanic *westrą.


västerut

westwards, west (towards or in the west)


själv

själv (comparative mer själv, superlative mest själv)

mer själv (comparative)
mest själv (superlative)
själf (alternative obsolete)
sjelf (alternative obsolete)

From Old Norse sjalfr, from Proto-Germanic *selbaz, from Proto-Indo-European *selbʰ- (“one's own”), from *s(w)e- (“separate, apart”).

der

Hon var själv

Hon jobbade själv

alone, by herself, by himself, by itself, by myself, by oneself, by yourself


samtidigt

at the same time, simultaneously, concurrently


galant

Det där fixade du galant

Det gick galant


fortfarande

Konungens bevågenhet var fortfarande oförminskad.

The king's good will was still undiminished.

still; up to a time, as in the preceding time


ännu

Jag har inte sett honom ännu. / Jag har ännu inte sett honom.

Jag gillar min bil, men den här är ännu bättre!

I like my car, but this one here is even better!

Detektiven hittade ännu ett möjligt motiv för mordet.

The detective found yet another possible motive for the murder.

yet another; in addition; still another point to a list

Det finns hopp ännu!


allaredan

vad göras skall är allaredan gjort


förhoppningsvis

Förhoppningsvis får vi glass till middag

Hopefully, we'll have ice cream for dinner


typ

Det var typ så

Jag vill äta typ tjugo ägg

Typ som den där snubben vi såg igår

Ja, typ!

Det var typ jättevarmt igår

It was like super hot yesterday (it was kinda like that)

– Hur varmt är det ute? – Typ 20 grader.

– How warm is it outside? – Around 20 degrees.


av och an

Han bara gick av och an...

Han vankade av och an...


nyligen

sv-adv

nyligen (comparative mer nyligen, superlative mest nyligen)

mer nyligen (comparative)
mest nyligen (superlative)

2021 9 April, "Hovexpert: 'En epok går i graven'", in Aftonbladet

And more recently, the princely couple of Harry and Meghan's accusations of racism have shaken Buckingham Palace to its core.

Och mer nyligen har prinsparet Harry och Meghans anklagelser om rasism skakat Buckingham Palace i dess grundvalar.


alltså

Borrowed from Low German also. Compare allt and så. Cognate to Norwegian Bokmål altså and Norwegian Nynorsk altso.

Han var skadad, alltså kan han inte ha gjort det

He was injured, so he can't have done it

Jag tänker, alltså finns jag

Jag har en golden retriever, alltså en hund

I have a golden retriever. A dog, that is to say.

Har du snackat med honom? Han du sa att du skulle snacka med igår alltså.

Have you talked to him? The guy you said you were going to talk to yesterday, that is / I mean.

that is, that is to say, (by being synonymous with that is in some cases) in other words, I mean

Den där älgen är bra stor alltså!

Vilket team vi är alltså!

Alltså, vi borde städa garaget

(I mean,) we (really) should clean the garage

A filler, often with a somewhat intensifying effect.


norr

From nord (influenced by norra), from Old Norse norðr, from Proto-Germanic *nurþrą.


syd

Loaned from Low German, German, or Dutch.


markant

markant (comparative markantare, superlative markantast)

markantare (comparative)
markantast (superlative)

Borrowed from French marquant, the present participle of marquer.


gärna

gärna (comparative hellre, superlative helst)

hellre (comparative)
helst (superlative)

From Old Norse gjarna, from Proto-Germanic *gernô (“willingly, gladly”), the adverbial form of *gernaz (“willing”).

der

– Vill du klappa kaninen? – Ja, gärna!

– Do you want to pet the rabbit? – Yes, please! (Yes, I would gladly pet the rabbit!)

Hon äter gärna glass

Han svarar gärna på frågor

Ska det regna hela tiden kan man lika gärna stanna hemma

If it's going to rain all the time, you might as well stay home (then you are as happy to stay home)

Köp gärna lite mjölk när du är på affären

It would be great if you could buy some milk when you're at the store (note that the gärna here refers to the attitude of the speaker rather than the addressee)

Det var en gång en liten fågel. Ja, en fågel. Han bodde på landet, och Roger hette han. Han ville gärna leka med sina vänner, med sina vänner, men det fick inte han. Men denna historia slutar sorgligt, för Roger blev skjuten, skjuten i magen av gamle jägar'n [jägaren] Pär. Han ville hem och äta, äta en fågel med lite potäter, men Roger hann iväg.

2007, Laser Inc, “Det var en gång en fågel [Once upon a time, there was a bird]”:

Once upon a time, there was a little bird. Yes, a bird. He lived in the countryside, and Roger was his name. He wanted to play with his friends ["He wanted gladly to play with his friends," in the sense of, "He wanted, with keenness / desire, to play with his friends" – the translation skips the gärna as it doesn't make much difference to the meaning], with his friends, but [that – to play with his friends] he didn't get to. But this story ends sadly, because Roger was shot, shot in the stomach by old hunter Pär ["den gamle jägaren Pär" matches "the old hunter Pär" – skipping "den" makes "jägaren Pär" sound lexicalized]. He wanted to go home and eat, eat a bird with some potatoes, but Roger got away [in time].

gladly, happily, with keenness, (when synonymous with "gladly") willingly/readily

Hans fester spårar gärna ur

Försöker man balansera en penna på spetsen så ser man att den gärna faller omkull

If one tries to balance a pencil on its tip one sees that it easily falls over

often, easily (likely figurative from something "gladly" happening)


annorlunda

sv-adv

annorlunda (comparative mer annorlunda, superlative mest annorlunda)

mer annorlunda (comparative)
mest annorlunda (superlative)

From Old Swedish annorlund, annerlunda, anner lundh or annan + -lunda


ikväll

Ikväll äter vi hos Malin

this evening
tonight (when it refers to the evening)


i kväll

From i (“in”) + kväll (“evening”). Similar to Norwegian Nynorsk i kveld.

I kväll äter vi hos Malin


knappast

Det är knappast hans fel

It's hardly his fault (intuitively, "No way it's his fault")

(now uncommon) barely, scarcely (almost not)


länge

länge (comparative längre, superlative längst)

längre (comparative)
längst (superlative)

(for) a long time, during a long time, long


förut

Jag har aldrig gjort detta förut.


förut

för + ut, from the noun för (“bow of a ship”)

(nautical) bowwards, in the direction forward (towards or past the bow)


cirkus

Ultimately from Latin circus.
(adverb): Same as Norwegian Nynorsk sirkus.


flytande

flytande (comparative mer flytande, superlative mest flytande)

mer flytande (comparative)
mest flytande (superlative)

Present participle of flyta ("flow" or "float")

Han pratar engelska flytande.


in flagrante

in flagrante (comparative in flagranteare, superlative in flagranteast)

in flagranteare (comparative)
in flagranteast (superlative)

– Vår taktik är att försöka ta dem under själva akten. Förra året lyckades vi också lagföra några med byxorna nere, om jag så får säga.
[–] Avslöjade "in flagrante" - på bar gärning, alltså?
– Just precis! Bekräftar Kjell Timmerholm.

2015 April 16, Tomas Groop, “Sexuella tjänster säljs allt mer på internet [Sexual services are increasingly sold on the internet]”, in SR P4 Gävleborg (local news):

– Our tactic is to try to catch them during the act itself. Last year we also managed to prosecute some with their pants down, if I may say so.
[–] Exposed "in flagrante" - in the act, that is?
– Exactly! Confirms Kjell Timmerholm.

in flagrante delicto
in flagrante delicto#Swedish


babord

From bak (“back, behind”) + bord (“bord, side of ship”), i.e. the side you turned your back to when steering the vessel as the steering oar was on starboard side. Calque of Dutch bakboord. First attested in 1691.


kring

From Old Norse kringr, originally "turn or go about in circles," from Proto-Germanic *kringaz.


till salu

Finns det några läderbyxor till salu?


riktigt

sv-adv

riktigt (comparative riktigare, superlative riktigast)

riktigare (comparative)
riktigast (superlative)

Teckningen blev riktigt bra.

Det är riktigt gjort.


verkligen

/væɾklɪˈɡɛ̌n/

[væɾklɪˈɛ̌n]

Den här hamburgaren är verkligen jättegod

Behövs den där verkligen?

Det här är verkligen en skandal

– Det där gick inte så bra. – Nej, verkligen inte!

– That didn't go so well. – No, it really didn't!

Du borde verkligen utnyttja möjligheten att förlänga avtalet.

You really should use the opportunity to extend the agreement.


underfund

Jag har inte riktigt kommit underfund med hur man startar den här maskinen

I have not really understood how to start this machine.


professionellt

professionellt (comparative professionellare, superlative professionellast)

professionellare (comparative)
professionellast (superlative)

professionally; adverb form of professionell


fjärran

From Old Swedish fiærran, equivalent to Old Norse fjarran.

fjärran från civilisationen

Det vore mig fjärran att svika dom så

Far be it from me to let them down like that ["it would be far from me," figuratively, with literary phrasing]

far away, far (often with exotic connotations)


bl.a.

i.a., inter alia, among other things; Abbreviation of bland annat.

among others (other people); Abbreviation of bland andra.


dvs.

i.e., that is; abbreviation of det vill säga


eg.

(lexicography) Abbreviation of egentligen (“really, actually”).


e.Kr.

AD (indicating years after Christ); Abbreviation of efter Kristus.


e.l.

Abbreviation of eller liknande (“or other similar items, terms”).


sabla

Adjective attested since 1889. A combination of the expletives satan (“Satan”) and djävla (“devil”) and associated with sabel (“sabre”). The literal meaning of the verb is attested since 1610 and the figurative meaning since 1957.

Det var en sabla otur att jag kom för sent.


ända

Han sprang ända hem.


stolt

From Old Swedish stolter (“majestic, beautiful, fine, proud”), from Old Norse stoltr, from Proto-Germanic *stultaz.
See also Danish stolt, Middle Low German stolt, Middle High German and present German stolz.

der

högmodig

proud, arrogant; proud in a more intrinsically negative sense


litet

sv-adv

litet (comparative mindre, superlative minst)

mindre (comparative)
minst (superlative)


nedan

From Old Norse neðan (“below, beneath”), from Proto-Germanic *niþanē (“below, beneath”).


högst

En högst tveksam idé.

superlative degree of högt: most; highly, to a very high degree

Stömavbrottet kan högst ha varat fem minuter.

The blackout cannot have lasted for more than five minutes.


genomskinligt

sv-adv

genomskinligt (comparative genomskinligare, superlative genomskinligast)

genomskinligare (comparative)
genomskinligast (superlative)

in a clear manner, in a manner that makes it possible for others to understand what is happening


på förhand

Compare Danish and Norwegian på forhånd, Dutch op voorhand.

Tack på förhand!


eget

eget (comparative egnare, superlative egnast)

egnare (comparative)
egnast (superlative)

inom den krets, der hans skaldegåfva yttrar sig egnast och sjelfständigast.

within the circle, where his poetic talent is displayed most personally and independently.

personally, individualistically, uniquely, oddly, peculiarly


troligen

trolig (“probable”) + -en (adverbial suffix)


ungefär

Mannen är ungefär fyrtio år gammal.

Han kände sig ungefär som en häst som sparkat sönder sina skaklar och som nu kunde få skena i väg så långt han ville utan fruktan för piskan och tygeln.

He felt something like a horse that had kicked its shackles to pieces, and that now could bolt as far as he pleased without fear of whip or reins.


från och med nu

från och med (“starting from”) + nu (“now”)

af

Från och med nu är det jag som bestämmer


för att

för (“for”) + att (“to (infinitive marker)”)

Jag gick till affären för att köpa bröd

I went to the store to (in order to) buy bread

Tryck på knappen för att starta maskinen

För att starta maskinen, tryck på knappen


varför

A compound of var (“what”) + för, from Old Swedish hvar fore. Compare Norwegian and Danish hvorfor, English wherefore, Dutch waarvoor, German wofür.

hvarföre (alternative)
hvarför (alternative)
varföre (alternative)

Varför är du här?

De frågade mig varför jag inte var i skolan.


ditåt

Giraffen springer ditåt

The giraffe is running that way / in that direction

– Du tänker alltså bli rockstjärna? – Ja, nånting ditåt.

– So you're planning to be a rock star? – Yeah, something like that.

(figuratively) like that ("towards that")


först och främst

först (“first”) + och (“and”) + främst (“foremost”)

first of all, first and foremost (most importantly)


medurs

clockwise (movement in a circular fashion in the same direction as the hands of an analogue clock)


dåligt

head

dåligt (comparative sämre, värre, superlative sämst, värst)

sämre (comparative)
värre (comparative)
sämst (superlative)
värst (superlative)

Det går dåligt.


sämst

Cognate with Old English sæmest, further etymology uncertain.


värst

From Old Norse verstr, from Proto-Germanic *wirsistaz.


överallt

Used at least since 1722, borrowed from Middle Low German, compare with German überall, Danish overalt, Afrikaans oral and Dutch overal.

Det växte svamp överallt i skogen.

Mushrooms grew everywhere in the forest.

Med vår nya bil åker vi överallt.


bredvid

inte den i mitten, utan de bredvid

not the one in the middle, but the ones next to it

huset bredvid

beside (next to someone or something implied from context)


ostrategiskt

sv-adv

ostrategiskt (comparative mer ostrategiskt, superlative mest ostrategiskt)

mer ostrategiskt (comparative)
mest ostrategiskt (superlative)


åtminstone

From Old Swedish at minsto, + the feminine dative singular definite suffix definite -unni/-onne. Equivalent to åt + dative form of modern minsta.

Det finns åtminstone fem godissorter på affären.

There are at least five sorts of candy at the supermarket.

Att tanka idag går på åtminstone 500 kronor.

To refuel these days is at least 500 kronor.


lite grann

litegrann (alternative)
lite grand (alternative)
litet grand (alternative)

Compare Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk litegrann, and also Russenorsk лита грань немножко (lita graň ňemnoško)

cog

лита грань немножко


vars

From an older interrogative adverb hvarest (“whereto, whither”), see varest, from Old Swedish hvaris.

Kollegor och vänner blir helt plötsligt även de omedvetna hetsare genom frågor som: 'Jaha, å vars ska ni åka på semestern i år?'

2018, “Gräset är inte alltid grönare”, in Norrbottens-Kuriren:

Colleagues and friends all of a sudden also unconsciously become stress causes through questions such as: 'Well, where are you going on holiday this year?'


resp.

På händer och fötter bar jag handskar resp. skor

On hands and feet I wore gloves and shoes, respectively.


påfallande

De var påfallande lika


ögonaböj

Ditt rum ska städas. Och det ögonaböj!

Your room is to be cleaned. And that's immediately!

(colloquial) immediately, at once (often when telling someone to do something)


rakt

Boken som flyger rakt in i hjärtat

The book that flies straight into your heart


snudd på

...och tiden är... snudd på nytt världsrekord, bara tre hundradelar ifrån.

...and the time is... almost a new world record, only three hundreds of a second above it.

Den nya romanen är snudd på det bästa jag läst på hela året.

The new novel is almost the best I read in all year.

"almost but not quite", (almost) as close as it can be without actually being; practically speaking, basically


uppenbarligen

uppenbar (“apparent”) + -lig (adjectival suffix) + -en (adverbial suffix)


alltför

Den är alltför dyr


ihop

i (“in”) + hop (“heap [in the sense of unity, contact, or accumulation – togetherness – intuitively]”)

af

heap 􂀿in the sense of unity, contact, or accumulation – togetherness – intuitively􂁀


förr

From Old Swedish fyr, from Old Norse fyrr, from Proto-Germanic *furiz, comparative of Proto-Germanic *furi, *furai.

Det var bättre förr

It was better before (things used to be better)

Förr i tiden var det inte lätt

before (at an earlier time); in the past

Ju förr desto bättre

Förr eller senare händer det.

Förr offrar han sin högra hand.


någonstans

Jag glömde mina glasögon någonstans

Han planerar åka någonstans där det är varmt

He plans to go somewhere where it is warm

Inget blod hittades någonstans

somewhere, anywhere; in, at or to any place


faktiskt

Du kanske inte tror mig, men det där är faktiskt en sorts uggla

You may not believe me, but that's actually a type of owl

– Den där snubben är cool. – Ja, faktiskt!

Du påstår att jag är skyldig, men jag är faktiskt oskyldig!

You claim that I'm guilty, but I'm actually innocent! (the "faktiskt" emphasizes the claim, somewhat similarly to English)


hittills

Han har hittills aldrig kommit försent.

Lagets nya tränare har hittills sett sitt lag vinna allt.

The team's new trainer has so far seen her team win everything.

so far, heretofore, until now, until this point in time; yet


någonsin

From någon (“any, anyone”) + sinn (“time, occasion”). Note that sinn is a neuter noun, and någon is thus the old neuter plural form. Compare någonting.

com

Har du någonsin sett något liknande?

Jag har aldrig någonsin ätit så gott.


äntligen

/ˈɛŋkˌlɪ(ɡ)ɛn/

From Middle Low German endeliken, from ende, near-equivalent to ändlig (“finite”) + -en (adverbial suffix). Cognate with Danish endelig, Norwegian Bokmål endelig, Norwegian Nynorsk endeleg, German endlich, Dutch eindelijk and English endly.


å det grövsta

(dated) Very much; heavily. Literally on the thickest/coarsest. Used in expressions about an action being erroneous or bad.


på bar gärning

på (“on”) + bar (“bare”) + gärning (“act”)

af

De blev tagna på bar gärning

in flagrante delicto
in flagrante delicto

red-handed, in flagrante delicto, in the act of committing a misdeed


med fingrarna i syltburken

sv-adv

med fingrarna i syltburken (not comparable)

Literally, "with [one's] fingers in the jamjar".


inte en kotte

inte (“not”) + en (“a”) + kotte (“conifer cone”)

af

(emphatic, idiomatic) absolutely no one, not a (living) soul


högt

sv-adv

högt (comparative högre, superlative högst)


tyvärr

Contraction of ty värr 'the worse', from Old Swedish thy vær, from Old Norse því verr. Compare Danish desværre, Norwegian Bokmål dessverre and Norwegian Nynorsk diverre, and Icelandic því miður. See Icelandic því and Proto-Germanic *wirsizô (“worse”) for more on the components.

Så går färden till din död som tyvärr blir andras bröd!

So goes the journey to your death, which unfortunately becomes other people's bread!


under kniven

(idiomatic) under the knife; having surgery

(idiomatic) under the gun; under great pressure to perform


evar

1668, Georg Stiernhielm, Hercules line 23, in Musæ Suethizantes. Taken from Samlade skrifter av Georg Stiernhielm, 1973, J. Nordström and B. Olsson, Svenska Vitterhetssamfundet.
Ehwar hon gick, drog hon å sig hwars-mans ögon och ålijt

Wherever she went, she drew towards herself each man's gaze and beholding.


p.s.s.

(initialism: short for på samma sätt) in the same way


p.m.s.

(initialism: short for på motsvarande sätt) in a corresponding (but similar) manner


så småningom

1791, Carl Michael Bellman, Fredmans sånger, N:o 21

We'll walk away eventually from the noise and tumult of Bacchus

Så lunka vi så småningom från Bacchi buller och tumult,


med vänliga hälsningar

Compare Norwegian Bokmål med vennlig hilsen, Danish med venlig hilsen.

Meddela mig så fort som möjligt.
Med vänliga hälsningar,
Staffan

Let me know as soon as possible.
Best regards,
Staffan

A conventional friendly formula for ending an e-mail or letter, best regards, kind regards


vagt

vagt (comparative vagare, superlative vagast)

vagare (comparative)
vagast (superlative)


i morse

From Old Swedish i morghons. From morgon + -s (“adverbial suffix”). Compare the development of i afse (from afton). Cognate to Danish i morges.


längesen

länge sedan (alternative)
länge sen (alternative)
längesedan (alternative)


längesedan

länge sedan (alternative common)
länge sen (alternative)
längesen (alternative common)


apropå

(usually preceded by helt (“completely”)) apropos of nothing (unexpectedly at random)


som av en händelse

Literally, "as if by chance/happenstance."


ögonblickligen

immediately, at once; without any delay whatsoever


moturs

counterclockwise, anticlockwise (in the opposite direction to the hands of an analogue clock)


icke desto mindre

nevertheless (in spite of what preceded)


i fjor

From the Old Norse prepositional phrase í fjǫrð. See fjor for more.


i fjol

From Old Norse fjǫrð, from Proto-Germanic *ferudi (“last year”), from Proto-Indo-European *peruti (“last year”, literally “on the other side of a year”). The development from rð > l (originally /ɽ/) is characteristic of the traditional dialects of central and northern Sweden, compare e.g. vålnad, hin håle.

inh

I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen. Ja, ja, med herrarna i hagen. Ja, med herrarna i hagen. I år har jag något som sparkar i magen. Aj, aj, som sparkar i magen. Aj, som sparkar i magen.

(Can we date this quote?), traditional, “I fjol så gick jag med herrarna i hagen [Last year I went with the men in the pasture]”, in Skillingtryck [Broadside ballads], performed by Hootenanny Singers:

Last year I went with the men in the pasture. Yes, yes, with the men in the pasture. Yes, with the men in the pasture. This year I have something that kicks in my belly. Ow, ow, that kicks in my belly. Ow, that kicks in my belly.


respektive

From Medieval Latin respectīvus (“concerning”), from respectus + -īvus.

der

Stockholm och Göteborg har två respektive ett bibliotek.

Stockholm and Gothenburg have two and one libraries, respectively.


till dags dato

Jag har — till dags dato — aldrig sett någon som kunnat lösa det problemet utan hjälp

I have — to date — never seen anyone who was able to solve that problem without help

(idiomatic) up to the date (or day) of today; to date, so far


sexigt

sv-adv

sexigt (comparative sexigare, superlative sexigast)

sexigare (comparative)
sexigast (superlative)


orealistiskt

orealistiskt (comparative mer orealistiskt, superlative mest orealistiskt)

mer orealistiskt (comparative)
mest orealistiskt (superlative)


orimligt

orimligt (comparative orimligare, superlative orimligast)

orimligt (comparative mer orimligt, superlative mest orimligt)

orimligt (canonical)
orimligare (comparative)
orimligast (superlative)
mer orimligt (comparative)
mest orimligt (superlative)

De fick orimligt kort tid på sig för förberedelser.

They were given an unreasonably small amount of time for preparations.


sakligt

sakligt (comparative sakligare, superlative sakligast)

sakligare (comparative)
sakligast (superlative)

objectively, impartially, unbiasedly, fairly


varav

From Old Swedish hvar aff or var (“where”) + av (“of”).

Jag mötte tre sniglar, varav två var gröna

I met three snails, of which two were green


där borta

Gå rakt fram, mot gubbe där borta.

Go straight up to those old men over there.

Efter att ha bott där borta i fem år ville barnen inte tillbaka till Europa.

After living in North America for five years, the kids didn't want to return to Europe.

(colloquial) in North America or, less commonly, in another place far away from Sweden


på tok

Jag insåg direkt att någonting var på tok

I immediately realized that something was wrong

used with the verb vara (be): wrong, out of place

Han dricker på tok för mycket

used as an adverb to show excessiveness: way, far

Jag ville överraska henne men det gick helt på tok

I wanted to surprise her but things went completely wrong

used with the verb gå (go): shows that although with good intentions, an action has a bad result: out of hand, wrong, backfire


skavfötters

skaföttes (alternative)
skafötters (alternative)

in reversed positions, head to toe; in a lying position of two people where each person's feet are juxtaposed to the other person's head


himla

Det är så himla bra!

(informal) awfully, terribly, very (as an intensifier)


cirka

c:a (alternative contraction)
ca (alternative contraction)


tydligen

tydlig (“apparent”) + -en (adverbial suffix)


åter

From Old Swedish āter, from Old Norse aptr, from Proto-Germanic *aftrą.

När kommer du åter?

When are you coming back? (somewhat old-fashioned phrasing)


alldeles

Jag mår alldeles utmärkt, tackar som frågar.

Min alldeles egna häst.

Jag betalar alldeles för hög ränta.


stört

* The adjective and verb (long ö) come from the verb störa (“to disturb”).
* The adverb (short ö) comes from the verb störta (“to fall and crash”).

Det är stört omöjligt

Kom på stört!

(as a prefix in some words) very, utterly


under tiden

meanwhile, in the meantime; during the time (that something is happening).


vidare

gå vidare

vi går vidare

Efter en kort paus på en rastplats körde vi vidare mot Säffle

After a short break at a rest area, we drove on toward Säffle

När brevbäraren lämnat brevet gick han vidare

Once the mailman had delivered the letter, he moved on

Vandringssägnen har förändrats allteftersom den förts vidare

The urban legend has changed as it has been passed on

Idag ska vi läsa vidare i kapitel tre

Today we will continue reading ("read on in") chapter three

Tänker du läsa vidare efter gymnasiet?

Are you planning to continue studying ("read/study on") after high school?

Metodens potential behöver undersökas vidare

The potential of the method needs to be further investigated

se vidare nedan

att kila vidare

to scurry along (also a colloquial euphemism for dying)

Mot oändligheten och vidare!

Towards [the] infinity and beyond ("on," implied from infinity)! (Buzz Lightyear's catchphrase in Swedish)

on, further, along (continuing along, concretely or abstractly)

Vi ogillar förslaget och anser vidare att allt är bra som det är

We dislike the proposal and furthermore consider that everything is fine as it is

"Vi hade inget annat val än att bryta mot lagen", heter det vidare

"We had no choice but to break the law," it is furthermore said/claimed ("called")

Jag tyckte inte filmen var vidare bra

Som boxare är han stark men inte vidare snabb

As a boxer, he is strong but not very fast

Att inte bjuda in henne är inte vidare snällt

(in negated expressions with an adjective) not very


hart när

Det är hart när omöjligt att knäcka koden.

It's almost impossible to crack the code.