Let’s be honest, there’s no fun and exciting way to talk about abbreviations. But they can be tricky and it is quite easy to become Swenglish when there’s an abbreviation involved. So, let’s get this over with, shall we? Useful Swedish abbreviations and where you would see them:
ank. = ankommande = arrival, arriving
Ank. tåg från Stockholm
Train arriving from Stockholm
avd. = avdelning = department
Avd. för geologi
The geological department
avg. = avgående = departure, departing
Avg. tåg från Stockholm
Train departing from Stockholm
ca. = cirka = approximately
(OBS/Attention! The Swedish cirka differs from the English circa and is used when talking about anything approximately/roughly, not only in connection to dates.)
Det var ca. 100 personer i publiken
There were approx. 100 people in the audience
d.v.s. = det vill säga = i.e
Vi åkte till huvudstaden, d.v.s. Stockholm
We went to the capital city, i.e. Stockholm
e.m. = eftermiddag = (in the) afternoon
Vi ses i e.m
See you in the afternoon
f.m. = förmiddag = (in the) morning
Mötet är i morgon f.m.
The meeting is tomorrow morning
fr.o.m. = från och med = as of
Vi tar lov fr.o.m. onsdag
We will be on holiday as of Wednesday
m.m. = med mera = a Swedish form of etc. meaning “and more”.
(OBS!Attention! Swedes also use o.s.v. meaning and so on/e.t.c)
Jag älskar hundar, katter, hästar m.m.
I love dogs, cats, horses etc.
p.g.a. = på grund av = because of/due to
Terrassen är stängd p.g.a. regn
The trerrace is closed due to rain
t.o.m = till och med = up until and including
Jag läste t.o.m sidan 37
I read up until and including page 37
More commonly used abbreviations:
inv. = invånade = inhabitants
kl. = klockan = o’clock
kr. = krona/kronor = crown/crowns
OBS! = Observera! = Attention!
o.s.v. = och så vidare = etc.
st. = styck = piece
t. ex. = till exempel = for example
t.h. = till höger = to the right
t.v. = till vänster or tills vidare = to the left or until further notice
tr. = trappa/trappor = stairs/floor
v.g. = var god = please (formal)
Still here? If, please feel free to share with us Swedish bloggers what you would like to know more about regarding the Swedish language. Anything particular that is bugging you? Prepositions? Word division? Irregular verbs? What on earth are my IKEA furniture called? All suggestions are welcome!
12 Comments
Great reference, tack så mycket!
m.v.h.
and thanks for the others! I didn’t know most of them until now, tack!
But of course! mvh!
Med vänlig hälsning/Kind regards
/Jennie
How valuable this post is! This is the kind of information that is often difficult to find in dictionaries. Tack!
You could help us by showing us how people speak from day to day. We usually learn rather formal speech when we learn a language. It is grammatically correct at times but sounds “funny” to native speakers. A simple example in American English– a new speaker fresh from a course in English may greet someone by saying “How do you do?” This is correct but appears stilted. We simply say “Hi” or”How goes it.” in everyday speech. So tell us how you talk to each other every day.
One grammar concept that’s really kicking my butt are the verb declensions. Maybe you guys could dedicate a few posts going over the (five?) declensions?
Could you explain difference between “dem” and “de” in one of your posts, please?
Hi Nikita,
“dem” is a so callet objektsform while “de” är subjektsform. Hon (subjekt) ser (verb or predikat) dem (objekt). All the personal pronouns have their objektform.
Jag – Mig (Me)
Du-Dig(you)
Han/Hon-Honom, henne (him,her)
Vi-Oss (us)
Ni-er (you)
De-Dem (them)
Bl.a. = bland annat/andra = among others/for instance is also a quite common abbreviation. It’s my impression that it’s used more often in Swedish texts than the equivalent expressions would be used in English texts.
@Gustafson: verbs have conjugations and nouns have declensions. There are no cases of nouns, therefore there are no declensions in Swedish. The forms jag-mig, han-honom etc. are relics of the declension system.
The guys will surely explain this topic sometime in the future.
Jag tycker att det skulle kunna komma av nytta att beskriva de många prepositionerna som finns i svenska. Man skapar nya prepositioner genom att sätta dem samman (där-uppe, in-i-från osv.). Jag kommer ihåg hur desperat jag blev när jag möt dem här prepositionerna. De är så lika men de måste skiljas i mening.
Thank you guys for all your great suggestions! Watch this space!
Hi Rokas,
You have the genitive case in Swedish that is the only case!
For example: Mormors tårta, soldatens vapen, mattans färg etc.
What is important that the nouns are always in indefinite form (without article) after genitive case and it is also true when it comes to possessive pronouns.
For example: min hatt, din lägenhet, hennes mamma etc.