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Swedish adverb · noun· top 500 most common

väl

well, too, surely/vɛːl/

How väl is used

As an adverb, väl softens a statement or turns it into a request for agreement, like “surely”, “I suppose” or a tag question (“…, isn't it?”). It also means “well” in set phrases such as väl förberedd (well prepared).

väl as an adverb

Meaning

well; too; surely

In Swedish: på ett bra sätt

väl as a noun

Meaning

welfare

In Swedish: välfärd

Practise väl

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What does väl mean?

väl in a sentence

  • Du kommer väl i kväll?
    You're coming tonight, aren't you?
  • Det går väl bra.
    I suppose it'll be fine.
  • Hon var väl förberedd.
    She was well prepared.
  • det är väl känt
    that is well known
  • vara väl medveten om
    be well aware of
  • väl förberedd
    well prepared
  • väl insatt i frågan
    very well-informed about (familiar with) the matter
  • Är hon inte lite väl ung?
    Isn't she a little too young?
  • Du är väl inte arg?
    Surely you are not angry?
  • Du fattar väl att vi måste gå nu?
    Surely you realize we have to go now?

Expressions

  • i väl och ve
    for better or for worse, in prosperity and adversity

Questions

What does väl mean in English?

väl means “well, too”.

Similar words

antagligen

Origin

From Old Norse vel, from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-.

Nearby common words

väl is number 116 in our frequency list. These words come just before and after it.

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Sources: Folkets lexikon (CC BY-SA 2.5) and Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0), edited by Lingolib. Recording: Wikimedia Commons. Browse the dictionary