Den versus det: Swedish for that
What the lesson covers
The lesson provides an overview of the Swedish words for "that," "den" and "det," and their specific usage rules. "Det" is primarily used for abstract concepts, experiences, or as a general introductory phrase like "det är" (it/that is). "Den" is generally used for graspable, physical objects, especially when the specific noun is not explicitly mentioned. However, when a noun is present in the sentence, "den" must agree with "en" words (e.g., "den boken") and "det" with "ett" words (e.g., "det huset"). The lesson also incorporated practice with various Swedish phrases and vocabulary, including "to meet," "I said to him," and "to read."
Vocabulary in this lesson
71 words. Inside Lingolib each one is tappable in the transcript and saved to your library with one tap.
- att
- to (infinitive marker)
- att läsa
- to read
- att möta
- to meet
- att träffa
- to meet
- bil
- car
- bok
- book
- boken
- the book
- bra
- good
- bröd
- bread
- dag
- day
- den
- that
- den bilen
- that car
- det
- that
- det huset
- that house
- dig
- you
- en
- a/an (common gender)
- ett
- a/an (neuter)
- fin
- nice
- fint
- nice
- få
- get
- gick
- went
- han
- he
- har sagt till honom
- have said to him
- har skrivit
- has written
- hit
- here (with motion)
- honom
- him
- hus
- house
- här
- here
- höra
- hear
- imorgon
- tomorrow
- inte
- not
- ja
- yes
- jag
- I
- kan
- can / to be able to
- komma
- come
- läsa
- read
- läser
- am reading
- maträtt
- dish
- med
- with
- men
- but
- mitt
- my
- när
- when
- oss
- us
- på
- at
- restaurangen
- the restaurant
- riktigt
- really
- sa
- said
- sade
- said
- sitta
- sit
- situation
- situation
- skrivit
- written
- som
- that (relative pronoun)
- stor
- big
- stort
- big
- säga
- say
- säger
- are saying
- ta
- take
- tavla
- painting
- till
- to
- tror
- think
- träd
- tree
- träffa
- meet
- vad
- what
- var
- where
- varm
- warm
- vem
- who
- vet
- know
- vill
- want / wants
- vår
- our
- vårt
- our
- är
- am / is / are
How the lesson starts
The opening of the lesson transcript. The rest is in the course, synced to the video.
Let's talk about the two words for that in Swedish. You can say den or det. Den or det. And there are some specific rules regarding which one to use, so we're going to talk a little bit about that. But before we do that, how do you say meet in Swedish, to meet as in a meeting, to meet?
Att träffa, or of course, att möta.
If you said möta, that's also correct. You have more than one option here. So you can say träffa, att träffa, to meet, or att möta, to meet. I want to meet you tomorrow at the restaurant.
How would you say this?
The video plays beside a transcript that follows it line by line. Swedish words are underlined; tap one and the video pauses, the meaning appears, and the word goes into your library. At the end there is a five-question quiz written from this exact lesson, and every word can be practised out loud.