Language/Swedish/Grammar/Definite-and-indefinite-nouns

Swedish Grammar → Swedish Nouns → Definite and indefinite nouns

In this lesson, you will learn about the difference between definite and indefinite nouns in Swedish and how to use them in sentences.

Definite articles

In Swedish, definite articles are used to specify a particular noun. There is only one definite article in Swedish which is "den" for common gender nouns and "det" for neuter gender nouns. The definite article for plural nouns is "de".

Common gender nouns

For common gender nouns, the definite article "den" is added before the noun. The definite article takes different endings depending on the gender of the noun.

The endings for common gender definite articles are:

• -en for singular definite
• -n for singular definite, if the noun ends with a vowel or a vowel sound
• -erna for plural definite

Below are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
en bil	['beːl]	a car	den bilen	['beːlen]	the car
en flicka	['flɪk:a]	a girl	flickan	['flɪkan]	the girl
en katt	['kat:]	a cat	katten	['katen]	the cat

Neuter gender nouns

For neuter gender nouns, the definite article "det" is added before the noun. Neuter gender definite articles only have one ending which is "-et".

Below are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
ett äpple	[ɛt ˈɛpː.lɛ]	an apple	äpplet	[ɛpː.lɛt]	the apple
ett bord	[ɛt boːr:d]	a table	bordet	[boːr:dɛt]	the table
ett ägg	[ɛt ɛɡː]	an egg	ägget	[ɛɡːɛt]	the egg

Plural nouns

For plural nouns, the definite article "de" is added before the noun. The plural definite article only has one ending which is "-na".

Below are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
hundar	['hɵnːdar]	dogs	hundarna	['hɵnːdarna]	the dogs
bilar	['biːlar]	cars	bilarna	['biːlarna]	the cars
elever	[ɛ'lɛver]	pupils	eleverna	[ɛ'lɛverna]	the pupils

Indefinite articles

In Swedish, indefinite articles are used to refer to a non-specific noun. Swedish has two indefinite articles depending on the gender of the noun: "en" for common gender nouns and "ett" for neuter gender nouns. There is no indefinite article for plural nouns.

Below are some examples:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
en bil	['beːl]	a car	ett äpple	[ɛt ˈɛpː.lɛ]	an apple	en flicka	['flɪk:a]	a girl	ett bord	[ɛt boːr:d]	a table

Summary

- Definite articles are used to specify a particular noun in Swedish. - Indefinite articles are used to refer to a non-specific noun in Swedish. - The definite article for common gender nouns is "den". - The definite article for neuter gender nouns is "det". - The definite article for plural nouns is "de". - The indefinite article for common gender nouns is "en". - The indefinite article for neuter gender nouns is "ett".

Exercises

• Translate the following phrases into Swedish:

1. A dog –
2. The cat -
3. Some apples–
4. The boys –
5. A table –

Sources

• Swedish Grammar
• Swedish Language

Table of Contents - Swedish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Swedish

• Greeting people
• Saying goodbye
• Asking for directions
• Going to a restaurant

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Swedish Pronouns

• Personal pronouns
• Reflexive pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

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Colors and Numbers

• Colors
• Numbers 0-20
• Numbers 20-100
• Numbers above 100

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Swedish Culture

• Swedish customs
• Swedish food
• Swedish holidays
• Swedish geography

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Swedish Verbs

• Present tense
• Past tense
• Future tense
• Verbs with prepositions

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Body parts and health

• Body parts
• Symptoms and illnesses
• At the doctor's

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Swedish Nouns

• Gender of nouns
• Definite and indefinite nouns
• Plural nouns

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Travel and directions

• Means of transportation
• Booking a trip
• Giving directions

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Sweden's history

• Vikings and Middle Ages
• Modern Sweden
• Swedish politics and society

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Swedish Adjectives

• Basic adjectives
• Comparison of adjectives
• Compound adjectives

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Jobs and professions

• Types of jobs
• Job applications and interviews
• Workplace Swedish

Related Lessons

• Personal pronouns
• How to Describe Someone's Appearance and Personality
• How to express disagreement
• How to express ownership
• Questions
• Past tense
• How to Talk About How Something Smells
• How to Use Have
• Reflexive pronouns
• Negations