Interview Questions for Swedish

A direct translation of “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” into Swedish isn’t perfectly idiomatic, as direct translations often miss the nuances of language. However, a close and natural-sounding translation would be:

Den snabba bruna räven hoppar över den lata hunden.

Here’s a breakdown: Den (the definite article, nominative singular, common gender), snabba (quick), bruna (brown), räven (fox – note that ‘räv’ is common gender), hoppar (jumps), över (over), den (the definite article, nominative singular, common gender), lata (lazy), hunden (dog).

Swedish has two grammatical genders: common gender (utrum) and neuter gender (neutrum). This affects the articles, adjectives, and pronouns that agree with the noun. It’s not based on the sex of the object, rather on inherent grammatical categorization.

Think of it this way: common gender nouns include most things – animals, people, some abstract concepts. Neuter gender nouns often refer to inanimate objects or abstract concepts. This isn’t always consistent; some words might feel counterintuitive, and that’s something you need to learn through practice and exposure to the language.

• Common Gender (utrum): Example: katten (the cat)
• Neuter Gender (neutrum): Example: huset (the house)

Du and ni are both Swedish second-person pronouns, but they express different levels of formality and address different numbers of people.

• Du is the informal singular “you.” It’s used when addressing a friend, family member, or someone you know well. Think of it as the equivalent of “you” in English when speaking to a close friend.
• Ni is the formal singular/plural “you.” It can be used when addressing someone you don’t know, someone older, someone in a position of authority, or a group of people. In some dialects, and increasingly commonly in Sweden, it’s also used as a polite plural form. Think of it as a polite form of addressing a person, or addressing multiple persons. In some contexts this parallels the ‘vous’ in French, or the ‘usted’ in Spanish.

The choice between du and ni reflects social dynamics and politeness levels in Swedish society, showing respect and understanding of social contexts is key when using these pronouns.

The Swedish present perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb ha (to have) conjugated in the present tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb.

For example, let’s conjugate the verb att äta (to eat):

• Jag har ätit (I have eaten)
• Du har ätit (You have eaten)
• Han/Hon/Den har ätit (He/She/It has eaten)
• Vi har ätit (We have eaten)
• Ni har ätit (You have eaten – formal/plural)
• De har ätit (They have eaten)

Note that the past participle often ends in -t or -tt, but it can vary depending on the verb. The choice of ‘har’ or ‘hade’ (had) determines the tense; ‘har’ is present perfect, ‘hade’ is past perfect.

Jag förstår inte. translates to “I don’t understand.”

Swedish is rich with idioms! Here are a few common ones:

• Att gå på hal is (To walk on thin ice): This means to be in a risky situation.
• Att ha många järn i elden (To have many irons in the fire): This means to be busy with many things at once.
• Att kasta in handduken (To throw in the towel): This means to give up.
• Det regnar pengar (It’s raining money): This means that someone is making a lot of money.
• Att vara på hugget (To be on the alert/sharp): This means to be ready and attentive.

Understanding these idioms provides a deeper understanding of the culture and the way Swedes communicate.

The verb att vara (to be) is irregular in Swedish. Here’s its conjugation in the present tense:

• Jag är (I am)
• Du är (You are)
• Han/Hon/Den är (He/She/It is)
• Vi är (We are)
• Ni är (You are – formal/plural)
• De är (They are)

Note the irregular forms, especially the stem ‘är’ which is different from the infinitive ‘vara’. Mastering the irregular verbs like ‘att vara’ is fundamental to fluency in Swedish.

Swedish, like many other Germanic languages, utilizes definite and indefinite articles to specify whether a noun is specific or general. The definite article, equivalent to ‘the’ in English, agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The indefinite article, similar to ‘a’ or ‘an’ in English, is simpler and less variable.

Definite Articles: These are suffixes added directly to the noun. The forms vary depending on the noun’s gender and number:

• -en: Masculine singular (e.g., bilen – the car)
• -et: Neuter singular (e.g., huset – the house)
• -a: Feminine singular (e.g., flickan – the girl)
• -na: Plural (all genders) (e.g., bilarna – the cars, husen – the houses)

Indefinite Articles: The indefinite article is generally expressed using the word en (a/an) for masculine and neuter nouns, and en (a/an) or ett (a/an) for feminine and neuter nouns respectively. This can be tricky as the choice between ‘en’ and ‘ett’ depends on the noun’s gender.

Think of it like this: The definite article points out a specific item, while the indefinite article introduces a general or unspecified one. For example, ‘en bil‘ (a car) is general, while ‘bilen‘ (the car) refers to a specific car already known in the context.

The translation of ‘Hon är läkare.’ is ‘She is a doctor.’ Note the use of the indefinite article implied by the lack of a definite article before ‘läkare’. If you wanted to specify ‘She is the doctor’, you’d need a more specific context or perhaps a different phrasing.

Swedish word order is relatively flexible compared to English, influenced by the emphasis desired. While the basic structure is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO), like English, the placement of the verb can shift depending on the sentence’s focus. This flexibility allows for emphasis and stylistic variations.

The most common word order is SVO, as in Katten jagar musen (The cat chases the mouse). However, in questions, the verb often comes before the subject: Jagar katten musen? (Is the cat chasing the mouse?). Moreover, placing an element at the beginning of a sentence inherently emphasizes it, regardless of the grammatical function. For instance, Musen jagar katten! (The mouse chases the cat!) highlights the unexpected action of the mouse.

Think of it as a dance – the core components remain (subject, verb, object), but their placement is adjusted for the optimal flow and dramatic impact of the sentence.

The translation of ‘Han bor i Stockholm.’ is ‘He lives in Stockholm.’

Non-native Swedish speakers often struggle with several aspects of the language. Here are some common pitfalls:

• Gender agreement: Correctly using the proper definite and indefinite articles and adjective endings requires a solid understanding of noun genders.
• Word order flexibility: Over-reliance on a rigid SVO structure can lead to unnatural-sounding sentences.
• Verb conjugations: Swedish verbs have various conjugations that can be challenging, especially irregular verbs.
• Pronoun usage: Subtle nuances in pronoun use (reflexive pronouns, for example) can be confusing.
• Dative case: The dative case, indicating indirect objects, is not as prominent in English and can be challenging to master.

Consistent practice, immersion, and targeted study of these areas are crucial for overcoming these common mistakes.

The past tense of regular verbs in Swedish is formed by adding suffixes to the verb stem. The suffixes vary slightly depending on the verb’s conjugation class but generally follow a pattern. For example, take the verb prata (to talk):

• Jag pratade (I talked)
• Du pratade (You talked)
• Han/Hon/Den pratade (He/She/It talked)
• Vi pratade (We talked)
• Ni pratade (You all talked)
• De pratade (They talked)

The past tense suffix for this verb is -ade. Note that the stem of the verb (prat-) remains the same throughout the conjugation. Irregular verbs, however, have more unpredictable past tense forms, requiring memorization.

The translation of ‘De är vänner.’ is ‘They are friends.’

Politeness in Swedish, like in many languages, is expressed through various linguistic mechanisms. It’s not just about a single word like ‘please,’ but a nuanced system involving word choice, verb conjugation, and overall tone.

• Formal vs. Informal ‘You’: Swedish has two forms of ‘you’: ni (formal) and du (informal). Using ni shows respect and distance, typically used for strangers, elders, or in formal settings like business communications. Using du indicates familiarity and closeness, appropriate for friends and family. Choosing the correct form is crucial for appropriate politeness.
• Please and Thank You: ‘Please’ is generally expressed by phrasing requests politely, often by softening the request. For example, instead of a direct ‘Stäng dörren!‘ (Close the door!), a more polite phrasing would be ‘Skulle du kunna stänga dörren?‘ (Could you close the door?). ‘Thank you’ is simply ‘Tack‘ and ‘Tack så mycket‘ (Thank you very much).
• Indirect Speech: Softening requests and commands through indirect speech is another crucial aspect. Consider the difference between ‘Ge mig boken!‘ (Give me the book!) and ‘Jag undrar om jag kunde få boken?‘ (I wonder if I could get the book?).
• Modal Verbs: Modal verbs like kan (can), kunde (could), skulle (would/should) often convey a polite tone by suggesting rather than demanding. For example, ‘Skulle du vilja ha kaffe?‘ (Would you like some coffee?) is much more polite than ‘Vill du ha kaffe?‘ (Do you want coffee?).

Mastering these nuances demonstrates respect and understanding of Swedish social conventions, crucial for positive professional and personal interactions.

The translation of ‘It is raining’ in Swedish is: Det regnar.

The passive voice in Swedish is formed using the verb ‘att bli‘ (to become) or the past participle of the main verb. The subject of the action is affected rather than performing the action.

• Simple Passive: The sentence ‘The car was washed’ would be ‘Bilen blev tvättad‘. Here, ‘bilen‘ (the car) is the subject, but it’s the object of the washing action. ‘blev‘ is the past tense of ‘bli‘ and ‘tvättad‘ is the past participle of ‘tvätta‘ (to wash).
• Complex Passive: For more complex sentences, the passive voice structure involves various forms of ‘bli‘ and the past participle, adjusting to the tense and mood.

The use of the passive voice is similar to English, often used to emphasize the action rather than the actor, or when the actor is unknown or unimportant. For example, in a news report: ‘Brott begicks i natt‘ (A crime was committed last night) – the perpetrator is not specified.

Reflexive pronouns in Swedish indicate that the subject performs the action on itself. They agree in gender and number with the subject.

• Singular: mig (me), dig (you), sig (him/her/itself)
• Plural: oss (us), er (you), sig (them)

Examples: ‘Jag tvättar mig‘ (I wash myself), ‘Han klär på sig‘ (He gets dressed), ‘De ser på sig själva‘ (They look at themselves).

The reflexive pronoun ‘sig‘ can be tricky as it does not change for singular or plural third person. The context clarifies the meaning.

Let’s translate the short paragraph: “The sun shone brightly. Birds sang sweetly in the trees. A gentle breeze blew through the meadow.”

Swedish Translation: Solen sken starkt. Fåglar sjöng vackert i träden. En lätt bris blåste över ängen.

Let’s translate this Swedish paragraph: “Snön föll tyst och mjukt. Landskapet var täckt av ett vitt täcke. Luften var kall och frisk.”

English Translation: “The snow fell quietly and softly. The landscape was covered with a white blanket. The air was cold and crisp.”

Swedish has many dialects, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Here are a few examples:

• Stockholmssvenska (Stockholm Swedish): Considered the standard dialect, often used in media and formal settings. It has a relatively neutral pronunciation.
• Göteborgska (Gothenburg Swedish): Characterized by a distinctive melodic intonation and unique vocabulary. For example, the word ‘hej‘ (hi) might be pronounced differently.
• Skånska (Scanian Swedish): Spoken in southern Sweden, it retains more features from older forms of Swedish and has a unique vocabulary and pronunciation influenced by Danish.
• Norrländska (Northern Swedish): Spoken in northern Sweden, its features often include different vowel sounds, unique vocabulary, and sentence structures influenced by Finnish in some areas.

Dialect differences can be subtle to profound, influencing everything from everyday conversations to formal writing. Being aware of these variations is essential for effective communication across Sweden.

Forming questions in Swedish is generally straightforward, relying on word order and sometimes auxiliary verbs. The most common method involves inverting the subject and verb, similar to English in simple sentences.

• Simple Sentences: If the sentence is simple, you simply switch the subject and verb. For example, Han äter (He eats) becomes Äter han? (Does he eat?).
• Sentences with Auxiliary Verbs: For sentences using auxiliary verbs like har (has), är (is), or ska (shall), the auxiliary verb comes before the subject. For example, Han har ätit (He has eaten) becomes Har han ätit? (Has he eaten?).
• Question Words: Question words such as vem (who), vad (what), var (where), när (when), hur (how), and varför (why) are placed at the beginning of the sentence. For example, Vad äter han? (What does he eat?).

Understanding the basic word order is crucial for constructing grammatically correct questions. Practice is key to mastering this aspect of Swedish grammar.

The difference between ‘svenska’ and ‘svenskan’ lies in their grammatical function; they both refer to the Swedish language, but one is a noun and the other is a noun in the definite form.

• ‘Svenska’ is the indefinite form of the noun. Think of it as ‘Swedish’ in a general sense. For example, Jag studerar svenska (I study Swedish).
• ‘Svenskan’ is the definite form, meaning ‘the Swedish language.’ It’s used when referring to the language specifically, as a known entity. For example, Svenskan är ett vackert språk (The Swedish language is a beautiful language).

The choice between ‘svenska’ and ‘svenskan’ depends on the context and whether you are referring to Swedish in a general or specific way. It’s like the difference between ‘a cat’ and ‘the cat’ in English.

Encountering unfamiliar words or phrases is a natural part of learning any language. Here’s a step-by-step approach to handling such situations:

1. Contextual Clues: First, try to understand the word or phrase from its context. What are the surrounding words and the overall meaning of the sentence? Often, you can infer the meaning.
2. Ask for Clarification: If the context isn’t enough, politely ask the speaker to clarify or explain the word or phrase. You could say something like Ursäkta, jag förstår inte det ordet/den frasen (Excuse me, I don’t understand that word/phrase).
3. Use a Dictionary or Translator: If you can’t ask for clarification, utilize a Swedish dictionary (paper or digital) or a translation app. However, remember that direct translations can sometimes be misleading.
4. Note and Research: Once you’ve found a definition, write down the word or phrase and its meaning in your vocabulary notebook. This will help you remember it for future encounters.

Being proactive and comfortable seeking clarification is key to overcoming language barriers effectively. Remember, it’s okay not to understand everything immediately.

Jag heter... translates to ‘My name is…’ in English.

The word ‘man’ in Swedish has multiple uses, leading to potential confusion for learners. It doesn’t directly translate to a single English word.

• Impersonal ‘one’: This is perhaps the most common usage. It represents an indefinite subject, similar to ‘one’ or ‘you’ (in the informal sense) in English. Example: Man bör vara artig (One should be polite) or Man säger så (One says so).
• Generic ‘people’: It can also refer to people in general. Example: Man behöver mat för att leva (People need food to live).
• Passive Voice: In certain contexts, it can be used to create a passive voice structure, although less frequently compared to English. This usage is more formal and somewhat archaic.

The meaning of ‘man’ is heavily dependent on context. Understanding the surrounding words is crucial for accurate interpretation.

The subjunctive mood in Swedish is less prevalent than in some other languages, such as Spanish or French. It is primarily used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations, often in subordinate clauses. The forms are generally less distinct compared to some other languages.

Its use is most noticeable in expressions of doubt, wishes or counterfactual statements. For example, the form of the verb would be different in a sentence like: Jag önskar att han vore här (I wish he were here), where the ‘vore’ (were) indicates a subjunctive mood contrasting with the indicative är (is).

While understanding the nuances of the subjunctive is beneficial for advanced Swedish, it’s less critical for everyday conversation compared to mastering tense and mood in the indicative.

Tack så mycket! translates to ‘Thank you very much!’ in English.