o

Snyggt o prydligt.


men

From Old Swedish men, from Middle Low German men, man (“but, only”), probably from Old Saxon niwan; possibly under the influence of Old Swedish men (“while, during”) (modern Swedish medan, medans, mens). Cognate with modern Low German man.

but; introducing a clause that contrasts with the preceding clause, sentence or common belief.

John har bott i staden i fem år, men aldrig besökt slottet.

John has lived in the city for five years, yet never visited the castle.


om

From Old Norse um, from Proto-Germanic *umbi, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi.
* As a conjunction, um superseded or blended with Old Norse ef and em, taking on their function as well. This is from Proto-Germanic *jabai (“when, if”), whence also English if and German ob.


fast

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

Farsan löper också bra, fast inte lika fort.

Dad also runs well, although not as fast.


sedan

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

Sedan vi sålde bilen cyklar vi överallt.

Since we sold the car, we bike everywhere.

since, from the time that (and often as a consequence of)


ty

From Old Swedish þy, from Old Norse því.

ty riket är ditt

(archaic, poetic, biblical) for (because)


som

From Old Swedish som or sum, in Runic inscriptions also sim, same as Icelandic sem, from Old Norse sem, from Proto-Indo-European *sḗm (“one”), also related to the prefix sam- (“co-, common, together”) and suffix -sam (“-some, -like”). Still in the Poetic Edda, the Icelandic sem is only used as a comparative particle, e.g. Hávamál 23 allt er víl sem var (And his woe is just as it was). With time it has displaced other relative conjunctions (es, er). Its use as a pronoun is of a later date.

Flitig som ett bi.

Hon lät som en häst.

Som du önskar.


å

Korv å mos

(colloquial) Contraction of och (“and”).


medan

From Old Swedish mæþan, mædhan, from Old Norse meðan, from Proto-Germanic *medanō.


mens

Syncopic form of medans, in turn a colloquial form of medan (“while”).

Jag dukar fram frukost mens du duschar.

I’ll arrange breakfast while you take a shower.


och

From Old Swedish ock, ok, from Old Norse ok, unstressed variant of Proto-Germanic *auk (“also”). Cognate with Norwegian and Danish og, Dutch ook, German auch, and English eke. The unusual spelling with the digraph ch may have been to avoid confusion with the now dated ock (“too, also”).

Jag gillar hundar och katter.

and; used to connect two homogeneous (similar) words or phrases

äpplen, apelsiner och päron

and; used to denote the last item of a list

Två och tre är fem.

Jag sitter och läser.

used to connect two finite verbs to denote that the two actions are performed at the same time, often used similarly to the gerund in other languages

Ska vi gå och bada?

to; in order to; used to connect two finite verbs to denote that the first is done in order to be able to do the second

Och det vart afton, och det vart morgon, den andra dagen.

And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

(poetic) introduces a main clause which somehow is bound to a previous clause


var

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


än

From Old Norse an, from earlier *þan, from Proto-Germanic *þan. Cognate with English than.

Han är större än du tror (att han är).

than; in comparisons, states a relationship


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.

Vi måste åka så att vi hinner hem i tid

We have to go so that we make it home in time

Stäng av plattan så att inte maten bränns
Turn off the plate so the food doesn't burn ("så att inte" = "so that not" = "lest," but with a more everyday tone)

Det regnade, så vi satte oss inomhus

Imorgon (så) ska vi äta glass

Om ni kommit tidigare (så) hade ni fått mat

If you had come here earlier, you would've gotten food

Hade det inte regnat så förbaskat (så) hade vi kunnat gå på en promenad

If it hadn't been so darn rainy, we could've gone for a walk

I skogen (så) bodde det en trollkarl

Optionally appears between an initial adverbial and the principal verb of a sentence (where a comma would go in English). Compare English "then" for grammatical intuition (though the "så" doesn't carry any meaning or connotations). Note that due to V2 word order, the principal verb follows the adverbial, giving a different word order from English.


eller

From Old Swedish ælla, ællar, from Old Norse ella, ellar, from Proto-Germanic *aljaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos.

Att vara eller inte vara.

Han sade varken ja eller nej.


då

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

Vi sov då branden började.

Då inget tvivel tycks råda om hans skuld, beslutar jag härmed...

Since there seems to be no doubts about his guilt, I hereby decide...

(dated) since, as; by background of the case being that


tills

Contraction of Old Swedish til þäs. Equivalent to till dess.

Man går ditåt, man tycker sig vara helt nära och ser dock intet annat än den ljungbevuxna sandmon och stam vid stam av de furor, den bär, tills på ett käppkasts avstånd den motsatta stranden börjar röja topparna av sina björkar.

1875, Zacharias Topelius, “Finska ödemarker”, in Boken om vårt land:

One goes there, one feels very close and yet see nothing but the heather-covered heath and trunk after trunk of the pines it carries, until at a distance the opposite beach begins to shed the crowns of its birches.

Brister hastigt en för vindens pust
strax en ny i färgglans brinner;
så det fortgår under lek och lust,
tills den sista ock bortrinner.

92 jägare på 11.000 hektar skulle enligt planen ha fällt 32 älgar det här jaktåret inom Trönö viltvårdsområde. Men då endast nio älgar hade fällts på tre dagar jakt togs beslutet att avbryta älgjakten tills vidare.

2019, Olle Olsson, “Avbryter jakten – finns inga älgar att jaga”, in Svensk Jakt:

92 hunters on 11,000 hectares were supposed to have killed 32 moose this ear in the Trönö game area. But when only nine moose had been killed in three days of hunting, the decision was made to cancel the moose hunt until further notice.


varken

varken X eller Y


att

From Old Swedish at, æt, ad, adh. Probably derived from Old Norse þat (“that”).

Jag tycker att det är en intressant bok.

I think (that) it's an interesting book.


eftersom

[²ˈɛ̞fːt̪əˌʂɔm]

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

surf

Men eftersom du ändå är hans farmor, tycker jag nog, att du har rätt i det.

1926, Hjalmar Bergman, Farmor och Vår Herre:

But still since you are his grandmother, I do think that you have a point.


utan

Huset är inte rött utan blått


innan

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


både

From Old Swedish bāþe, from Old Norse báðir (“both”), from Proto-Germanic *bai, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoh₁. Cognate with English both.

Ta med både den lilla och den stora.

Bring both the little one and the big one.


samt

ko och tjur, höna och tupp samt tacka och bagge

cow and bull, hen and cock, plus ewe and ram


dels

Den består dels av nervceller, och dels av stödjande celler som kallas gliaceller.

It consists in part of nerve cells, and in part of supporting cells which are called glial cells.

Vårt företag erbjuder dels enkla och robusta nivåvakter, dels mer noggranna givare för mätning och registrering.

Our company offers both simple and robust level detectors, and also more accurate detectors for measuring and registration.

part, partly, in part (part this, part that), both ... and


genom att

Ljuset åstadkoms genom att elektrisk ström flyter genom en tunn tråd och denna upphettas till stark glödning.

Light is produced by electric current flowing through a thin wire causing the latter to glow.

(approximately) by; using the means of; by means of


för att

Jag gjorde det för att jag kunde

För att jag säger det!


därför att

– Varför kan jag inte få en glass nu? – Därför att vi alldeles strax ska äta middag.
– Why can't I have an ice cream now? – Because (for the reason that) we're just about to have dinner.

De skjuter på oss därför att de tror vi är onda andar

They're shooting at us because (for the reason that) they think we're evil spirits

for the reason that ...; because, since, as


varför

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

Jag vann en miljon, varför jag sedan köpte ett nytt hus.

I won one million, why I later on bought a house.


om och endast om

if and only if (implies and is implied by)


l.

[Om ordet skälmer] opålitlig l. skrupelfri l. svekfull l. skurkaktig person, […]

[About the term scoundrel] unreliable or unscrupulous or deceitful or villainous individual, […]

(lexicography) Abbreviation of eller (“or”).


ock

From Old Swedish ok, from Old Norse auk.


ehuru

(dated, formal) albeit, although, though


såsom

ske din vilja, såsom i himmelen, så ock på jorden

Thy will be done, on earth, as [it is] in heaven. (Lord's Prayer)

Såsom drottning ville hon tilltalas med "Ers Höghet"

As queen, she wanted to be addressed with "Your Highness"

Han älskade att stoppa goda saker i munnen, såsom pizza och hamburgare

He loved putting tasty things in his mouth, such as pizza and hamburgers


allenast

jag skulle kunna öfvertalas till att bifalla din förmodan, allenast jag först vore fullkomligt öfvertygad om min själs odödlighet

I could be persuaded to accept your assumption, if only I first were entirely convinced of the immortality of my soul


liksom

[¹l̪ɪkːs̪ɔm]

From Old Swedish lika som. By surface analysis, lika + som.

Älgen var stor liksom grannens skjul

The moose was big like [like as] the neighbor's shed [bit more literary or old-fashioned sounding compared to "stor som grannens skjul" (big as the neighbor's shed)]

Ty du skall bryta sönder deras bördors ok och deras skuldrors gissel och deras plågares stav, likasom i Midjans tid.

For you shall break the yokes of their burdens and the scourge of their shoulders and the rod of their tormentor, as/like [like as] in the day of Midian. (Isaiah 9:4)

Jag har sett filmsnuttar på YouTube, liksom bilder publicerade i turkiska tidningar

I have seen film clips on YouTube, as well as pictures published in Turkish newspapers


blott

From Middle Low German blôt, from Old Saxon *blōt, from Proto-Germanic *blautaz. Doublet of blöt. Compare German bloß, Dutch bloot, Danish blot.

Blott du mig ger ett enda litet ord, är jag din.

If only you give me one little word, I'll be yours. (song lyrics)


såväl

Det Nisse sysslar med är olagligt såväl som omoraliskt

What Nisse is doing is illegal as well as immoral

På festivalen finns karuseller såväl som prova på-aktiviteter och mycket annat [som är] roligt

At the festival, there are carousels as well as try-out activities and lots of other fun things to do [and a lot of other things [that are] fun (or, "other stuff [that is] fun," which is closer to the intuition, with a singular)]

Bulnader uppstodo på spåmännen såväl som på alla andra egyptier (archaic language)

Boils appeared on the magicians as well as on all the other Egyptians (Exodus 9:11)

(with som (“as”)) as well (as) (and also and equally)

Såväl gamla som unga mår bra av daglig motion

Both old and young benefit from [feel good from] daily exercise / Old as well as young benefit from daily exercise

(with som (“as”)) both ... and (equally)


förrän

förr + än (“yet”). Cognate with Danish førend.

Du får inte gå förrän du gjort klart allt arbete.

You can not go until you have finished all work.

The sun itself sees not till heaven clears.

Sjelf solen syns ej, förrän himlen klaras. (translation by Carl Rupert Nyblom)

If music be the food of love, play on; / Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, / The appetite may sicken, and so die.

Om kärlek näres af musik, så fortfar / Och hör ej upp förrän af frosseri / Begäret sjuknar in och sedan dör. (translation by Hagberg)

Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, opening lines


emellertid

i + medel + tid, at least since 1530: i midhell tidh, same as Danish imidlertid, Norwegian imidlertid, Middle Low German middeler tit, similar to English meanwhile. Already in the 1580s, the use started to shift from time (= meanwhile) to cause (= however).

(archaic) meanwhile, during the same time


antingen

Antingen går du, eller så ringer jag polisen

Either you leave, or I'll call the police


lr

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of eller (“or”).


huruväl

huru + väl, used since 1650, cognate with Danish hvorvel.


hvarken

Obsolete spelling of varken (“neither”).


om än

Han har en väldigt bra idé, om än en konstig en.

He has a very good idea, albeit a strange one.


till dess

From Old Swedish til þäs, that is: till (“to”) + dess (genitive of den, det (“that”)). In Old Norse and earlier Swedish the preposition till took the genitive, and this is why dess is used. Compare till bords, till sjöss, till fots. The synonymous preposition tills is a contraction of this.

Tu skalt äta tit brödh j tins anletes swett / til tess tu warder åter til iord igen / ther tu aff taghen äst / ty tu äst iord / och til iord skal tu warda.
(pre-1906 spelling) Du skalt äta ditt bröd i dins anletes svett, till dess du varder åter till jord igen, der du af tagen äst; ty du äst jord, och till jord skall du varda

1541, Gustav Vasa Bible, Genesis (Första Mosebok), 3:19

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.


förty

From Old Norse fyrir því (at), from fyrir (“för”) + því (“ty”), dative singular of þat. Compare also English forthy (“therefore”) (obsolete), Danish fordi and Norwegian fordi.


endera

From en (“one”) + -dera, from Old Swedish þēra (“their”), genitive plural of þæn (“it”). Compare modern Swedish deras (“their”) and Icelandic þeirra (“their”).

endera ... eller ...


såvitt

så (“so”) + vitt (“widely”). Compare German soweit.

(usually in negated constructions) provided that


ifall

Ta med regnkläder ifall det börjar regna

Bring rainwear in case it starts to rain

Ifall det börjar regna så åker vi hem

If/In case it starts to rain, we'll go home

om

when replaceable by 'if' in English, like in the second example

Jag vet inte ifall han tog med ölen

I don't know whether he brought the beer


æn

Den ſegers pris ſom man med möda vinner
För hieltens ſyn mer värde finner,
Æn den man utan motﬅând fâr.

1776, Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna, Ceremonial vid Drotning Christinas Torner-Spel den 9 Mars, 1650, page III:

The prize of victory which one with toil earneth, in the hero's sight findeth greater value, than that one without resistance getteth.


närhelst

när (“when(ever)”) + helst (“most preferably”)

af

Kom närhelst du vill!


alltmedan

all the while, whilst (at the same time as)


alltsedan

Alltsedan massakern har det spökat på slottet

Ever since the massacre, the castle has been haunted


såvida

Vi tänker ta en båttur imorgon, såvida det inte regnar

We're going to take a boat trip tomorrow, provided that it doesn't rain

Såvida inget oförutsett inträffar så kommer vi fram imorgon

Provided that nothing unexpected occurs, we'll arrive tomorrow


allteftersom

Allteftersom åren gick tilltog cynismen


utifall

Ta med regnkläder utifall att det börjar regna

Utifall det börjar regna så åker vi hem


så att

Han måste dö så att andra kan leva

Han stängde dörren så att katten inte skulle kunna springa ut

He closed the door so that the cat wouldn't be able to run out


försåvitt

Related to Norwegian and Danish for så vidt


ſåſom

Conj. ſpringa, ſprungit, ſprang: De ſom äro irregularia anmärkas, ſåſom kunna, kunnat, kunde, och bör detta anmärkande ſträckas til alla de böjningar, i hvad tempus det vara må, ſom afvika från den allmänna reglen.

1787, Johan Henric Kellgren, Underrättelse om det, som bör iagttagas af de hvilka åtagit sig at arbeta på den Svenska Ordaboken, page 2:

Conjugation run, ran, ran: Those that are irregularia are noted, such as can, could, couth, and this remark should be extended to all the inflections, in whatever tense it may be, that deviate from the general rule.

Obsolete typography of såsom (“as, like, so, such as”).


deelß

Hafwer altså thetta mitt ringa Wärck vnder bägges E. N.^(derß) Nampn aff Trycket welat låta vthgåå, deelß min skyldiga vnderdåniga Tienst at afläggia, deels at Comœdien medh E. Nᵈᵉʳˢ bekåstnadt är afftryckt, deelß och, såsom förnämbligest är, E. N.ᵈᵉʳˢ hugneliga Heders-Dagh, medh innerligh Lyckönskan Hedher och Prydnadt at Celebrera.

1649, Jacobus Petri Chronander, Bele-Snack, Eller Een Ny Comœdia, pages 4–5:

Have therefore this small work of mine under the name of both Your Graces wanted to be omitted from the print, partly my obliged submissive service to render, partly that the comedy is printed at Your Grace's expense, partly and, as is most eminently, Yours Grace's humble Day of Honor, with heartfelt congratulation honor and adornment to celebrate.

Archaic form of dels (“part, partly, in part”).


alltsen

(colloquial) Alternative form of alltsedan


o̲

Origin unknown. Possibly:
* To visually enhance o (“and”) to clarify its separation from surrounding letters and words. Confer with English w/, Spanish c/, and Danish m/.
* An abbreviation of och (“and”).
* A continued evolution of & or o., similar to how @ developed from à.
The Language Council of Sweden believes that the first explanation, to visually enhance o (“and”), is most likely the correct one. But also acknowledges that the second explanation, an abbreviation of och (“and”), may have played a part.

ref

Språkrådet: Varifrån kommer o med streck under?

mjölk, ägg, socker o̲ äpplen

Advokatfirma Björkman o̲ Lind
Law Firm Björkman & Lind