Useful short words (attitudinal adverbs) in everyday Swedish; ju, nog, väl, heller Posted by Tibor on Feb 10, 2010 in Swedish Language
You put these small words after the verb in sentences with staright syntax in main clauses. Staright syntax means: 1st. Subject. 2nd. Verb 3rd. Object. Please note that these small words end up as 3rd. so the object ends up as 4th in the sentence (in written language). In spoken language they can end up as 3rd or 4th in some cases. I won´t discuss the position of these words in subordinate clauses here, but don´t forget that the syntax can change in subordinate clauses, especially in negative subordinate clauses.
Straight syntax
For example: I´m (1) eating (2) a sandwich (3). Jag (1) äter (2) en smörgås (3)
The word “ju” is used when you want to send out the message that you are certain about something.
For example: a, Jag älskar ju dig. (It´s a fact in one´s opinion that he/she loves you). b, Vi behöver ett paraply. Det regnar ju. We need an umbrella. It is raining.
People usually misuse the word. You can hear it a lot when people speak. Some of us can react strongly when hearing “ju” in a sentence since it can feel like someone tries to take it for granted that you have the same opnion on something. But in general it is okay to make a stronger point of view.
For example: A: Han är ju dum. He is stupid.
B: Ju? Det är din egen åsikt. Is he? This is your own opinion.
The word “nog” is used when you are not sure about something. You think that it is maybe like that.
For example: I think it is going to rain. Det blir nog regn.
The word “väl” is used when you want a positive answer or feedback. The person who says “väl” not really sure about something and thinks that you may know the answer.
We have to turn right here, don´t we? Vi måste väl svänga till höger. or Vi måste väl svänga till höger, eller? Please note that English sometimes uses question-tags in cases like these. Int the second Swedish exempel the person really wants a feedback. It is a funny thing that one of the most common mistakes for Swedish speaking people in English is to use eller instead of question-tags. Should we go or? This is good or?
In Gothenburg people use the “la” form instead of “väl“. Please note that only in spoken language. Sms and chat language can be an exeption of course.
The word “heller” is used in neagtive sentences. It means “also=också” but only in neagtive sentences!
For example: I don´t have money either. Jag har inte heller pengar. Please note that inte moves heller one place.
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Comments:
Kenia:
hej Tibor,
very useful post! These short words you read and hear all the time can be a little hard to understand in certain contexts, mostly “ju”.
I’ve also noticed they use very often “eller?” as you said, or “eller hur?” both in the form of a tag-question. What’s the difference between them? when do you use one or the other one? You see, in english there’s a rule for tag-questions, you need to analize the sentence, see the verb, chose the right auxiliary verb, etc etc. It seems to be more simple in swedish. Can you please, explain this a little?
TIA
stefan:
Don´t forget the word” schu” that they use in the northern part of Sweden. And you must inhale while pronauncing it. I think it means it, or it is. Now that i think about it, i suppose it´s just like ju, or is it?
Alastair Reid:
Excellent and interesting blog. Could you explain to me the differences between ‘jag tror’, ‘jag tycker’, ‘jag vet’, ‘jag kӓnner’ or ‘jag kan’? There are nuances that we do not have in English that I keep mising.
tibor:
Dear Kenia,
eller? is more like a question in the end of a sentence. It can be in the end of a statement: Han är sen, eller? or in the end of a question: Ska vi gå, eller?
eller hur? Is more of a: Are you also on the same opinion…. kind of one. Han är alltid sen, eller hur? You make a statement but you also need a feedback from the listener.
You can also use it in a sarcastic way in dialogues. For example:
A: Jag har aldrig sagt det.
B: Eller huuuuur…?
You seem to me like a very observant person so watch people using it. 🙂
tibor:
Dear Stefan,
It can be also interpreted as “yes” or “yep”. But there is not much difference between them.
tibor:
Hi Alastair,
I am going to take it as another blog post, because it is an interesting question.
Jag tror, tycker and tänker is usually the problem for the most foreigners when learning Swedish. Jag vet, känner, kan you can find it in the most German languages. For example can is about ability..even in English…Think about that another form of expressing abilites in English could be (able to).
Peter:
Any uselful verbs and nouns for Olympics???
Kenia:
thanks tibor! you’re right, the best way to get it for real is to pay attention when people use it, but i liked your explanation.
Oh and I’m with Alastair, i find those verbs SO confusing! Mostly by pairs: tro-tycka and veta-känna. I look forward to the post about them.
Have a nice day!
tibor:
Hi Peter,
That could be also a blog topic…but maybe names of the different sports and words like diska (DQ) or OS (olympic games) or ett lopp, en bana, en trekamp, femkamp, sprinta, löpa, häcklöpning, 200 m fjäril, strecha, en stadion, en stafettlöpning, en stafettpinne, en dopning/doping, en final, en finalist, en kvartsfinal, en prispall, en guld-, silver-. bornsmedlaj, ett mål, en tränare, en träning, en läktare, en direktsändning.