Essential Swedish: Pronouns, Question Words, and Demonstratives

When learning Swedish, understanding the basic building blocks like pronouns, question words, and demonstratives is crucial for constructing meaningful conversations. These small but powerful words form the backbone of daily communication. In this guide, I’ll walk you through these essential components with practical examples to help you use them naturally in everyday situations.

Question Words (Frågeord)

Swedish question words function similarly to their English counterparts but with some unique features. Here’s how to use them effectively:

What (Vad)

The word “vad” is used to ask about things, actions, or definitions.

  • Vad är det? (What is that?)
  • Vad gör du? (What are you doing?)
  • Vad betyder detta ord? (What does this word mean?)
  • Vad vill du ha till frukost? (What do you want for breakfast?)

When (När)

“När” asks about time or timing of events.

  • När börjar filmen? (When does the movie start?)
  • När kom du till Sverige? (When did you come to Sweden?)
  • När ska vi träffas? (When shall we meet?)
  • Vet du när bussen kommer? (Do you know when the bus is coming?)

Where (Var)

“Var” helps you ask about locations and places.

  • Var bor du? (Where do you live?)
  • Var är toaletten? (Where is the toilet?)
  • Var köpte du din jacka? (Where did you buy your jacket?)
  • Var ska vi äta lunch? (Where shall we eat lunch?)

Note: When asking about direction or movement, you would use “vart” instead of “var”:

  • Vart går du? (Where are you going?)
  • Vart ska vi åka på semester? (Where should we go on vacation?)

Whose (Vems)

“Vems” asks about possession or ownership.

  • Vems bok är det här? (Whose book is this?)
  • Vems bil står där? (Whose car is standing there?)
  • Vems tur är det? (Whose turn is it?)
  • Vems idé var det? (Whose idea was it?)

Whom (Vem/Vilka)

In Swedish, “vem” (singular) or “vilka” (plural) is used for asking about people.

  • Vem är din lärare? (Who is your teacher?)
  • Vem pratade du med? (Who did you talk to?)
  • Vilka kommer till festen? (Who is coming to the party? [plural])
  • Med vem reste du? (With whom did you travel?)

How (Hur)

“Hur” is used to ask about manner, condition, or state.

  • Hur mår du? (How are you?)
  • Hur kommer jag till centralstationen? (How do I get to the central station?)
  • Hur fungerar det här? (How does this work?)
  • Hur länge har du bott i Sverige? (How long have you lived in Sweden?)

Time Expressions (Tidsuttryck)

Time expressions are essential for describing when events occur. Here are some common expressions:

Time (Tid)

  • Vad är klockan? (What time is it?)
  • Jag har inte tid. (I don’t have time.)
  • Det är dags att gå. (It’s time to go.)
  • På den tiden bodde jag i Stockholm. (At that time, I lived in Stockholm.)
  • Tiden går fort när man har roligt. (Time flies when you’re having fun.)

Common time phrases:

  • nu (now)
  • sedan (then/afterwards)
  • alltid (always)
  • aldrig (never)
  • ibland (sometimes)
  • ofta (often)
  • sällan (seldom)
  • idag (today)
  • igår (yesterday)
  • imorgon (tomorrow)

Pronouns and Demonstratives

They (De/Dom)

In Swedish, “de” is the written form, while “dom” is commonly used in spoken Swedish.

  • De bor i Göteborg. (They live in Gothenburg.)
  • Jag såg dem igår. (I saw them yesterday.)
  • Det är deras hus. (That is their house.)
  • Jag gav dem en present. (I gave them a present.)

Note: “Dem” is the object form of “de,” and “deras” is the possessive form.

Those (De där/Dom där)

These are used to point to objects or people at a distance.

  • De där böckerna är mina. (Those books are mine.)
  • Vilka är de där personerna? (Who are those people?)
  • Jag vill ha de där röda skorna. (I want those red shoes.)
  • De där äpplena ser goda ut. (Those apples look good.)

It (Det)

“Det” is a versatile pronoun in Swedish that can refer to objects, concepts, or serve as a formal subject.

  • Det är mitt hus. (It is my house.)
  • Jag gillar det. (I like it.)
  • Det regnar. (It’s raining.)
  • Det är måndag idag. (It is Monday today.)
  • Hur går det? (How’s it going?)

This (Den här/Det här/Detta)

Used to indicate something close to the speaker. “Den här” is used for en-words, “det här” for ett-words, and “detta” is a more formal variant of “det här.”

  • Den här boken är intressant. (This book is interesting.)
  • Det här huset är stort. (This house is big.)
  • Detta är min vän Erik. (This is my friend Erik.)
  • Jag läste detta igår. (I read this yesterday.)

For plural objects:

  • De här äpplena är från min trädgård. (These apples are from my garden.)

That (Den där/Det där)

Used to indicate something further away from the speaker. Like “this,” the form changes based on the gender of the noun.

  • Den där mannen är min granne. (That man is my neighbor.)
  • Det där bordet är fint. (That table is nice.)
  • Den där idén låter bra. (That idea sounds good.)
  • Kan du ge mig det där? (Can you give me that?)

For plural objects:

  • De där stolarna är sålda. (Those chairs are sold.)

Additional Useful Pronouns

Who (Vem/Vilka)

  • Vem är du? (Who are you?)
  • Vem vann matchen? (Who won the match?)
  • Vilka är dina vänner? (Who are your friends?)

Which (Vilken/Vilket/Vilka)

These change form based on the gender and number of the noun they refer to.

  • Vilken bok läser du? (Which book are you reading?) - for en-words
  • Vilket hus är ditt? (Which house is yours?) - for ett-words
  • Vilka dagar är du ledig? (Which days are you free?) - for plural

Why (Varför)

  • Varför lär du dig svenska? (Why are you learning Swedish?)
  • Varför regnar det så mycket? (Why is it raining so much?)
  • Varför inte? (Why not?)

Tips for Using These Words in Conversation

  1. Practice question formation: Swedish questions often follow the V2 rule (verb in second position), similar to statements. For example: “När kommer du?” (When are you coming?)

  2. Learn demonstratives with nouns: Always practice demonstratives together with nouns to internalize which form to use with which gender (en/ett).

  3. Listen carefully to native speakers: Notice how Swedes use “dom” in speech but write “de/dem” - this will help you distinguish between formal written and casual spoken Swedish.

  4. Create mini-dialogues: Practice creating short conversations using question words:

    • “Vad gör du?” (What are you doing?)
    • “Jag läser en bok.” (I’m reading a book.)
    • “Vilken bok?” (Which book?)
    • “Den här boken om svensk historia.” (This book about Swedish history.)

  5. Use time expressions in your daily journal: Try writing about your day using various time expressions: “Idag vaknade jag klockan sju. Sedan åt jag frukost.” (Today I woke up at seven. Then I had breakfast.)

Conclusion

Understanding these fundamental building blocks of Swedish will dramatically improve your ability to form questions, refer to people and objects, and discuss timing in everyday conversations. While these small words may seem simple, mastering their usage will make your Swedish sound more natural and fluid.

As with all language learning, regular practice is key. Try to incorporate these words into your daily Swedish practice, whether you’re speaking, writing, or creating example sentences for yourself.

Lycka till med din svenska! (Good luck with your Swedish!)