o-

From Old Swedish ō-, from Old Norse ú-, ó-, from Proto-Germanic *un-, from the Proto-Indo-European *n̥- whence also Greek α- (a-) and English un-.

Added to adjectives to yield their opposites; un-

Added to nouns to mean lack or being without


mega-

From Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas, “great, large, mighty”).


anti-

From Ancient Greek ἀντί (antí, “against”).

anti-; against, opposite, protecting against


bi-

by-, next to, near, by the side, aside; same as English by- and German bei-; see also the rare preposition bi

bi-, two, dual; from Latin bis (“twice”)


tele-

tele-; bridging large distances (e.g. telepati, telefon, telepresens)

tele-; pertaining to telecommunications (e.g. televerk, telebolag, teleingenjör)


homo-

Ultimately from Ancient Greek ὁμός (homós, “same”).

homo- + sexuell (“sexual”) → homosexuell (“homosexual”)


homo-

homo- + äktenskap (“marriage”) → homoäktenskap (“same-sex marriage”)

homo- + -fobi (“-phobia”) → homofobi (“homophobia”)

homo- (of or pertaining to homosexuality)


de-

From Latin dē-, from the preposition dē (“of”, “from”), through loan words mainly from French.


an-

From the Old Swedish and- meaning “against/towards”.


e-

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

e- + huru (“how”) → ehuru (“although, however”)

e- + vad (“what”) → evad (“whatever”)

e- + var (“where”) → evar (“wherever”)

e- + ho (“who”) → eho (“whoever”)

prefix that may be used on certain pronouns and adverbs to create "-ever" constructions, most of which are formal or archaic.


e-

From English e-, shortening of electronic.


hyper-

From Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér, “over”).


er-

From German er-, from Old High German ir-, and/or from Middle Low German er-, from Old Saxon ā-, both from Proto-Germanic *uz-.

Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates an emphasizing meaning


paleo-

paleo-; prehistoric, pertaining to paleontology


ur-

aboriginal, primeval, proto-, original (with general connotations of old)

Han är urgammal

Hon är urfånig


pan-

Ultimately from Ancient Greek πᾶν (pân).


eko-

ekolog, ekosystem

ekobrott


be-

same as German be-, often found in German loanwords, primarily verbs and words based on verbs


huvud-

Huvud (“head”) used as a prefix. Compare similar prefixal use with Danish hoved-, Norwegian Bokmål hoved-, Norwegian Nynorsk hovud-, English head (the adjective), German haupt- and Dutch hoofd-.


över-

From Old Swedish yver, from Old Norse yfir.


örlogs-

See örlig (“war”), from Old Norse ørlǫg, from Proto-Germanic *uzlagą. Cognate Dutch oorlog (“war”).


van-

From Old Norse van-, from Proto-Germanic *wanaz (“lacking, deficient”). Cognate with English wan-.


sam-

Inherited from Old Norse sam- (“together, con-”).


fort-

Used in a number of German loan-words, from the German prefix fort-, related to English forth.

forthwith, continued, further; e.g. fortgå, fortplanta, fortsätta, fortvara


toppen

Hon är en toppentjej

She's a great person ("great girl" literally, but the translation matches the tone)


ap-

en apkass film


gen-

From Old Swedish gen (“back; against”), from the Old Norse preposition gegn, from Proto-Germanic *gagin. Cognate of German gegen and English again. Compare with igen (“again”), Danish gen- and Norwegian Bokmål gjen-.


frilufts-

From fri + luft, used in compound words.


veder-

In most cases the same as German preposition wider (“against, versus”).
In some compounds, rather wieder (“again”).
Possibly also weder (“either, neither, whether”).

Vedermöda, vederlägga och vedergälla är vedertagna ord som kan verka vederkvickande vid vederbörlig användning. Vedervärdig och vederstygglig är i ymnigt bruk, vilket knappast längre kan sägas om vederfara, vedervåga och vedermäle.


av-

off, from, down (see adjective, adverb av, German ab-, Danish af-)


medel-

See the noun medel. Originally an adjective, now extinct, lives on as a prefix.


för-

From Old Norse for-, fyr-, fir-, Proto-Germanic *fra-, from Proto-Indo-European *pro- (“before, in front of”).

der

förort

förfader

förhud

förhistoria

förindustriell

fördom

förbeställa

fore-, pre-, before; related to German vor-, emphasis on 1st syllable, see also före-

en-, up, be-, an intensifier; related to German ver-, emphasis on 2nd syllable


tve-

From Old Norse tve-, tví-, from Proto-Germanic *twi-, *twī-.


styv-

From Old Swedish stiūp-, stiūf-, from the Old Norse stjúp-, from Proto-Germanic *steupa- (“orphaned, step-”).

step-; in family relations, represents incompleteness, sharing just one parent


svär-

From Old Swedish svær, from Old Norse *svær, from Proto-Germanic *swehuraz, from Proto-Indo-European *swéḱuros (“father-in-law”).

-in-law; related through marriage, derives from svåger


justitie-

justice, pertaining to law and law enforcement; compounds formed with justis


ärke-

ärke- + biskop (“bishop”) → ärkebiskop (“archbishop”)

arch-; describing seniority or superiority


gyneko-

gynaeco-, gyneco-; pertaining to woman and things female


fysio-

physio-; pertaining to nature, medicine and the human body


kata-

From Ancient Greek κατά (katá, “downwards”).


arkeo-

archaeo-, archeo-; old, ancient, corresponding to Swedish adjective forn-


kosmo-

cosmo-; pertaining to space and the universe


psyko-

psycho-; pertaining to the mind and mental processes


lexiko-

lexico-; pertaining to words, speech, dictionaries and encyclopedias


ful-

fulöl

(colloquial) of low or lesser quality (due to simpler or cheaper preparation or the like)

fulparkera


general-

general- + direktör → generaldirektör

head, main (holding the highest position in a hierarchy)

general- + repetition (“rehearsal”) → generalrepetition (“dress rehearsal”)

general- + församling (“assembly”) → generalförsamling (“general assembly”)

general- + strejk (“strike”) → generalstrejk (“general strike”)


om-

om- + ring (“ring”) → omringa (“surround”)

om- + slingra (“slither”) → omslingra (“entwine”)

om- + skära (“cut”) → omskära (“circumcise (of which it is a calque)”)

om- + tala (“speak”) → omtalad (“talked about”)

om- + klassificera (“classify”) → omklassificera (“reclassify”)


engångs-

disposable, single-use, throwaway; that is used only once (and not refilled)

unique, onetime, one-time; that only happens once


ny-

nynazism (“neo-Nazism”)

nygrekiska (“Modern Greek”)

tvättad (“washed”) → nytvättad (“just washed, newly washed”)

målad (“painted”) → nymålad (“just painted, newly painted”)


riks-

Nyheten spreds som en löpeld över landet och i dag är han rikskänd.

2019 December 26, Diba Dehnad, “Gaffeltruckchefens tjuvknep blev en riksnyhet”, in SVT Nyheter [SVT News]:

The news spread like wildfire across the country, and today he is nationally known.

national, relating to the to whole country

Vilket jävla rikspucko det är asså!

Han är rikskass!
He is (riks)bad!

(colloquial) intensifying prefix, always negative


p-

P-piller och p-ringar är exempel på preventivmedel för kvinnor

Contraceptive pills and V-Rings are examples of contraceptives for women

contraceptive (preventing pregnancy – short for preventiv (“preventive”))

De hyrde en p-rulle


stock-

Cognate of Danish stok-, Norwegian stokk-, German stock-.


olympia-

Derived from Latin Olympia or Ancient Greek Ὀλυμπία (Olumpía).

olympia- + stadion (“stadium”) → olympiastadion (“Olympic stadium”)


knall-

The word knalleffekt comes from the usage of fireworks and loud bangs (knall) in theatrical plays to astound the audience. The words knallhård, originally referring to stale bread, comes from "hard as a knalle (“hardtack”)". Later usage as a generic amplifier, for example when describing colors, is with reference to these.

knall- + blå (“blue”) → knallblå (“very blue”)


gör-

From an older noun gorr, går (“dirt, mud, animal intestine content etc.”), with western Swedish vowel fronting /ɔ/ > /œː/ (sometimes represented in dialectal writing with a circumflex ⟨ô⟩). From Old Norse gor, from Proto-Germanic *gurą (“half-digested stomach contents; feces; manure”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰer- (“hot; warm”). Related to English gore.

der

Jag hoppas att Jens kan utvecklas i en ny miljö för han har väldigt mycket i sig och kan bli en gôrbra hockeyspelare[…]

2005 August 30, Thomas Cederfelt, quoting Sebastian Karlsson, “Jensa fick gå – Sebastian kom [Jensa had to go – Sebastian came]”, in Göteborgs-Posten, retrieved 2020-10-05:

I hope that Jens can improve in a new environment, because he has a lot in him and can become a really good hockey player[…]

Mycket fin natur och görmånga trevliga människor.

2011 June 20, “Teddy Paunkoski: Kortedala torg är kult”, in Göteborgs-Posten, retrieved 2020-10-05:

Very pretty nature and really a lot of nice people.

Idag tipsar jag om görbra inredningsbutiker i Göteborg centrum som alla borde besöka nån gång.

2017 September 19, “Göteborg tips: 6 inredningsbutiker alla borde besöka [Gothenburg tips: 6 shops for interior design that everyone should visit]”, in Göteborgs-Posten, retrieved 2020-10-05:

Today I give advice on really good shops for interior design in central Gothenburg that everyone should visit sometime.

(dialectal, western Sweden) intensifying prefix; very, really


jätte-

From jätte (“giant”). Compare Norwegian Bokmål kjempe-, Norwegian Nynorsk kjempe-, Danish kæmpe-, Dutch reuze- and German riesen-, all deriving from their respective word for ”giant”.

ett jätteäpple

jätte- + stor (“big”) → jättestor (“enormous”)

jätte- + liten (“small”) → jätteliten (“tiny”)

Hon sprang ett jättelopp och vann enkelt!

(colloquial, intensifier) very, super-, monster


sten-

very, exceedingly, profoundly (intensifier, in some words)


små-

små- + barn (“child”) → småbarn (“small child(ren)”)

små- + kaka (“cookie”) → småkaka (“small cookie, biscuit”)

små- + sur (“angry”) → småsur (“slightly angry, miffed”)

små- + prata (“talk”) → småprata (“chat”)

små- + springa (“run”) → småspringa (“half-run”)

små- + äta (“eat”) → småäta (“snack (on things between meals)”)

(with verbs) casually, distractedly, (sometimes) with low(er) intensity


bak-

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

back-, at the back, behind, emphasis on 1st syllable


lant-

From land, more often in the definite form landet (“the country(side)”).


gammel-

gammel- + media → gammelmedia (“old media”)

gammel- + mormor (“maternal grandmother”) → gammelmormor (“great-grandmother”)


mass-

From French masse, from Ancient Greek μᾶζα (mâza, “bread”).

massmedia

masskommunikation

mass, denoting a large quantity affected


schweizer-

From German schweizer (“Swiss”). Compare Danish schweizer-, svejtser-, Norwegian Bokmål sveitser- and Norwegian Nynorsk sveitser-, all from German.


forst-

(chiefly Finland) pertaining to forests or forestry


pytte-

From pytt (small boy), compare putte with the same meaning. As for the prefixal usage, compare jätte-.

pytte- + liten (“small”) → pytteliten (“teeny, weeny”)

pytte- + mun (“mouth”) → pyttemun (“tiny mouth”)


as-

Unknown. By surface analysis, as (“carcass”) or as (“one of the Æsir”). The common prefix for Æsir gods is asa- however (see asagud and asatro).

Vi hade askul på vattenlandet

Hästen sprang assnabbt

Vi har astråkigt


ill-

From Old Swedish ill- (“evil”). Attested since end of the 13th century. Related to illa.

ill- + vilja (“will”) → illvilja (“ill-will”)

ill- + grön (“green”) → illgrön (“very green”)

ill- + tjut (“shriek; howl”) → illtjut (“loud shriek”)


kriminal-

Borrowed from Latin criminalis (“criminal”), attested since 1610.


vattu-

An archaic form of vatten (“water”) still used in certain compounds, from vatten + -u-.


bonna-

From bonne, a south Swedish dialectal form of bonde (“farmer”), interfixed with -a-.

(colloquial) relating to farmers or farming

bonnig

associated with (stereotyped views of) the countryside and countryfolk


vrål-

Hon är vrålsnygg


liv-

From liv (“body”), likely inspired by similar usage of German Leib.

liv- + läkare (“physician”) → livläkare (“court physician”)

liv- + rustkammare (“armoury”) → livrustkammare (“royal armoury”)

pertaining to a princely or royal person

liv- + rätt (“dish”) → livrätt (“favorite dish”)


skit-

Maten är skitgod

Filmen är skitkass

(colloquial, somewhat vulgar, intensifier) very, super-


svin-

Ristin: Det finns ju ingen snö. / Aila: Du tänker så negativt. Om man inte har snö... då tar man olja! Det här kommer att glida svinbra!

2024, Snödrömmar, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Aila (Hedvig Åhrén):

Ristin: But there's no snow. / Aila: You think so negatively. If you don't have snow... then you use oil! This is going to glide really well!

Deras nya album är svinbra!

Det kändes svindåligt


propp-

(intensifier) very (to the point of being plugged up, figuratively)

proppmätt

stuffed (very full after eating, unable to eat more)


cp-

(in for example "cp-skada") cerebral palsy

Jag har riktig cp-ångest för vad jag gjorde igår

I regret what I did yesterday so fucking much

Jag har cp-mycket att göra på jobbet

Det här är cp-gott

Nu krånglar min cp-dator igen

(slang, possibly offensive) Acts as an intensifier before adjectives and adverbs, and means very bad or retard(ed) before nouns.


vres-

Possibly back-formation from vresig or vresa. Arguably inherited from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną or *wraiþaz.


förstahands-

förstahands- + information → förstahandsinformation (“first-hand information”)


andrahands-

andrahands- + information → andrahandsinformation (“second-hand information”)


urtids-

urtidsmänniska

urtidsdjur

primeval, prehistoric, belonging to the oldest times


lönn-

From Old Norse laun (“secrecy, concealment”), from Proto-Germanic *laugnaz (“hidden”).


piss-

Filmen var pissdålig

(colloquial, vulgar) A usually negative intensifier.


bauta-

Back-formation from bautasten (“menhir”). Attested since 1985. Likely popularized through the Asterix comics.

back-formation

Vi såg en riktig bautaälg idag

Vi såg en bautahäftig film idag


tjuv-

(without permission and) secretly/covertly


rea-

Clipping of reaktionsmotor (“reaction engine”).


efterkrigs-

post-war, postbellum (of the period following a war, often World War II or World War I)


snor-

Bilen är snordyr


fin-

finpizza

finhackad lök

finely (in(to) relatively small particles or pieces)


flergångs-

flergångs- (indefinite nominative singular)

that can be used several times, reusable


smäck-

Cognate of the prefix in Danish smækfed. Likely cognate of English smack (“a slap”).

smäck- + fet (“fat”) → smäckfet (“very fat”)

very (in particular in reference to volumes)


mång-

many (constituting a large number of the thing that follows)


döds-

dödsolycka

dödsstöt

dödsknark

dödskurva

deadly curve / Dead Man's Curve (accident-prone curve in a road)

fatal, death, deadly (causing or involving death)

dödstrött

– Äta myror? – Det är världens käk. Kittlar dödsskönt i kistan.
– Eat ants? – It's the greatest grub. Tickles real ["dead"] good in your belly ["coffin" – slang]. [from the Swedish dub of the 1967 Disney Jungle Book movie – well-known and often referenced piece of dialogue from appearing in an annual Christmas special]

(colloquial) An intensifier; dead, extremely, super


tok-

toksnygg

Spelet är tokläskigt

(colloquial, intensifier) crazy (extremely)

Vi fick tokspringa för att komma fram i tid

We had to run like crazy to get there in time

(colloquial, intensifier) like crazy (with great intensity)


överljuds-

supersonic (faster than the speed of sound)


brak-

(colloquial, intensifier) great or imposing


fjärr-

From fjärran. Compare Norwegian Nynorsk fjern-.

en fjärrkontroll

en fjärrskådare

fjärrtrafik

having to do with a (far) removed location (or occurring over a (long) distance, thinking about it differently); remote, long-distance, tele-, etc.