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How to think in
Swedish
by Sofi | 17,11,15 | Uncategorised | 0 comments
The word think, or the equivalent(s) in your language, is conveniently translated into three different
words in Swedish: tycker, tänker, tror. Do not believe that you can use these sporadically, as per
your own preference, because for any Swede, these three words have very distinct meanings, and
cannot be mixed up.
Tänker
This is the easiest one to grasp the meaning of, but also the most abused one by language learners.
I personally believe that the phonological similarities to the English think makes it feel like a safe
choice, when you are not feeling perfectly sure what word to use. This leads to inaccurate use of the
term.
Tänker refers to the actual process of processing thoughts in your head:
Tror på
Then, there is tycker and tror.
Tror på is the easiest construction, very similar to the English believe in. You can believe in God, or
Santa, angels, and whatever else builds on
Han tror på Gud men inte på Jultomten. [He believes in God but not Santa]
But, just like English, you can also believe in what you see, hear and read:
Tro inte på allt du läser i tidningarna. [Don’t believe everything you read in the news.]
And just as in English, we can also use it to express encouragement, believing that someone will
make it.
Jag tror på dig, du kommer klara det! [I believe in you, you will make it]
Jag tror inte på deras affärsidé. [I don’t believe in their business idea.]
So this should be fairly clear to you, but it will soon get trickier, when we start looking at the
difference between tyckerand tror.
Tycker om
First, let’s look at the difference between tycker om and tycker, because this is huge. Tycker om is
a phrasal verb (partikelverb in Swedish), and just as for phrasal verbs in English they can acquire
completely different meanings than the base verb. Get over is not the same as get, and nod off is not
the same as nod. Tycker, as we will look at in more detail very soon, means to have an opinion,
based on subjective and direct experience. Tycker om, in contrast, would translate as like or enjoy.
Han tycker inte om kokt ägg. [He doesn’t like boiled eggs.]
Tycker du om Sverige? [Do you like Sweden?]
Jag tycker mycket om att bada. [I really enjoy swimming.]
Recommendations
Tycker may also be used for making recommendations or giving advice, based on subjective
opinion.
Tycker du att jag ska söka ett nytt jobb? [Do you think I should look for a new job?
Jag tycker att du ska studera i ett halvår till innan du skriver testet. [I think you should study for
another six months before taking the exam.]
This is pure guesswork, speculating about the other person’s plans, intentions or uncontrolled future.
Attitude
Tycker can express an attitude to something.
Vi ska åka på en konferens med jobbet. Jag tycker att det ska bli roligt. [We are going on a
conference with work. I am looking forward to it.]
Vi ska åka på en konferens med jobbet. Jag tror att det blir roligt. [We are going on a conference
with work. It should be fun.]
To conclude
This may all seem a little daunting to you right now, but it is definitely not impossible. Your first step
to master these verbs is to start paying attention to how Swedes use them. Good luck!