mäta means "to measure" — to find the length, height, temperature or size of something. It belongs to Group 2, and specifically to the -te subtype: because the stem mät- ends in the voiceless consonant t, the past takes -te (mätte), not -de. There is one trap worth flagging up front: the supine mätt is spelled exactly like the everyday adjective mätt ("full, having eaten enough"). They are unrelated; only context tells them apart.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present | Preteritum (past) | Supine | Imperative | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mäta | mäter | mätte | mätt | mät | Group 2 (-te) |
The present is mäter (stem + -er — the Group 2 marker, never the -ar of Group 1). The past is mätte: the stem mät- already ends in t, so adding -te gives the doubled tt. The supine is mätt (also tt), so the perfect is har mätt. The imperative is the bare stem mät ("Measure!").
Use 1: mäta — to measure something
The core use takes a direct object: the dimension or quantity you measure.
Kan du mäta längden på bordet?
Can you measure the length of the table? mäta + direct object.
Sjuksköterskan mätte temperaturen två gånger.
The nurse measured the temperature twice. mätte — the irregular-looking -te past, doubled tt.
Vi har redan mätt rummet, det är fyra meter brett.
We've already measured the room, it's four metres wide. har mätt — the perfect; note the supine mätt.
Mät avståndet innan du borrar!
Measure the distance before you drill! Imperative mät — bare stem.
Use 2: mäta — to be a certain size (with no object)
Mäta can also state a measurement intransitively — "to measure / be X" — where English likewise says "it measures two metres."
Tornet mäter över hundra meter.
The tower measures over a hundred metres. Intransitive mäter — stating its own size.
Tavlan mätte en meter på varje sida.
The painting measured one metre on each side. mätte, intransitive past.
The supine mätt vs the adjective mätt
Here is the point to be careful with. The verb's supine mätt ("measured," as in har mätt) and the adjective mätt ("full, sated, having eaten enough") are spelled and pronounced the same. They share no etymology — it's pure coincidence. Context resolves it instantly: after har / är + a thing being measured, it's the verb; after a person + a meal, it's the adjective.
Jag har mätt bordet — det är två meter långt.
I've measured the table — it's two metres long. Here mätt is the verb's supine (har mätt).
Nej tack, jag är mätt.
No thank you, I'm full. Here mätt is the adjective — context (after a meal) makes it clear.
The noun ett mått, and contrast with väga
The related noun is ett mått — "a measurement, a measure, a size" (ta mått = "take measurements"; kläder i alla mått = "clothes in all sizes"). The act of measuring is en mätning. Keep mäta (measure dimensions, temperature, distance) apart from väga (weigh — find the weight of something).
Skräddaren tog mått för kostymen.
The tailor took measurements for the suit. The noun ett mått.
Vi mäter längden men väger paketet.
We measure the length but weigh the parcel. mäta = dimensions; väga = weight.
Common Mistakes
❌ Jag mätade bordet.
Incorrect — mäta is Group 2, not Group 1. The past is mätte, not *mätade.
✅ Jag mätte bordet.
I measured the table.
❌ Han mätde temperaturen.
Incorrect — the stem ends in t, so the -te subtype applies: mätte (tt), not *mätde.
✅ Han mätte temperaturen.
He measured the temperature.
❌ Jag mätar rummet imorgon.
Incorrect — the present is mäter (-er, Group 2), not *mätar.
✅ Jag mäter rummet imorgon.
I'll measure the room tomorrow.
❌ Jag har mätat avståndet.
Incorrect — the supine is mätt, so the perfect is har mätt, not *har mätat.
✅ Jag har mätt avståndet.
I've measured the distance.
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Start learning Swedish→Related Topics
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