slåss means "to fight" (reciprocal s-verb). It belongs to the -s class: it always ends in -s, it is fully active in meaning, and the -s is never stripped. It is reciprocal — fighting is something people do to one another — so slåss takes no direct object: you cannot *slåss someone. (To hit a person you use the plain verb slå; to fight with someone you say slåss med någon.) It covers both senses of "fight": physical brawling (Pojkarna slogs — "The boys were fighting") and figurative struggle (slåss för/mot — "fight for / against" a cause). And it is irregular: built on the strong verb slå ("to hit/strike"), so its past is slogs (echoing slog) and its supine slagits (echoing slagit).
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present | Preteritum (past) | Supine | Imperative | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| slåss | slåss | slogs | slagits | slåss | reciprocal (s-verb), irregular |
Every form keeps the -s — the deponent/reciprocal trait. Because slåss is built on slå, you cannot regularise it: the past is slogs (not *slåssade), mirroring slå → slog, and the supine — used after har/hade — is slagits (not *slåssat), mirroring slå → slagit. Memorise the pair: slogs / slagits. Unusually for this class, slåss does have a usable imperative, slåss, seen in negative commands and warnings: Sluta slåss! ("Stop fighting!"). Like all Swedish verbs the form is the same for every subject: de slåss, vi slåss, pojkarna slåss.
Pojkarna slåss på skolgården igen.
The boys are fighting in the schoolyard again. slåss = present, identical to the infinitive.
De slogs om sista platsen.
They fought over the last spot. slogs = the IRREGULAR past, built on slå (slog).
Det har slagits hårt om det här området.
There's been hard fighting over this area. har slagits = perfect, the irregular supine (built on slagit).
Use 1: physical fighting
The literal sense is people physically fighting — brawling, scuffling, coming to blows. Because it is reciprocal, the subject is plural or joint, and there is no object.
Sluta slåss!
Stop fighting! The imperative slåss, in a sharp command — what every Swedish parent says.
Två fyllon började slåss utanför baren.
Two drunks started fighting outside the bar. slåss = the brawl; plural subject, no object.
Som barn slogs vi jämt om fjärrkontrollen.
As kids we were always fighting over the remote. slogs = irregular past; om marks what was fought over.
Use 2: fighting for / against — slåss för / mot
Figuratively, slåss is "to struggle / campaign," taking för ("for") or mot ("against") a cause. This is the language of activism, rights, and determined effort.
Hon slåss för djurens rättigheter.
She fights for animal rights. slåss för = struggle/campaign for a cause.
Vi måste slåss mot orättvisorna.
We have to fight against the injustices. slåss mot = fight against.
De slogs in i det sista för att rädda fabriken.
They fought to the very end to save the factory. slogs = irregular past, figurative struggle.
Use 3: fighting WITH someone — slåss med
When you name the other party, you use med ("with"), not a direct object — because the fight is mutual. Slåss med någon = "fight with someone" (against them).
Han slogs med sin bror om leksaken.
He fought with his brother over the toy. slåss med names the other party; om marks what they fought over.
Bråka inte — ni får inte slåss med varandra.
Don't squabble — you mustn't fight with each other. med varandra makes the reciprocity explicit.
slåss vs. slå: the object is the dividing line
The cleanest test is whether there is a direct object:
- slåss (reciprocal, -s, no object) = the parties fight each other: De slåss. / Han slåss med sin bror.
- slå (active, takes an object) = one party hits someone/something: Han slog sin bror. ("He hit his brother.")
So Han slog honom = "He hit him" (object → slå), but De slogs = "They fought (one another)" (no object → slåss). The moment a clear object appears, you need slå, not slåss.
Han slog honom, och sedan slogs de hela kvällen.
He hit him, and then they fought all evening. slå + object (honom), then reciprocal slogs for the mutual fight.
Common Mistakes
❌ Pojkarna slåssar på skolgården.
Incorrect — slåss is a reciprocal s-verb; the present is slåss and keeps the -s. There is no *slåssar.
✅ Pojkarna slåss på skolgården.
The boys are fighting in the schoolyard.
❌ Han slåss sin bror.
Off — slåss takes no direct object. To hit him use slå (Han slår sin bror); to fight with him use slåss med.
✅ Han slåss med sin bror.
He's fighting with his brother.
❌ De slåssade om platsen igår.
Incorrect — slåss is irregular (built on slå); the past is slogs, not a regular *slåssade.
✅ De slogs om platsen igår.
They fought over the spot yesterday.
❌ Vi har slåssat länge för den här saken.
Incorrect — the supine is slagits (irregular, from slagit) and keeps the -s; not *slåssat.
✅ Vi har slagits länge för den här saken.
We've fought for this cause for a long time.
❌ Vi slåss orättvisorna. (meaning 'fight the injustices')
Off — slåss takes no object. To 'fight against' something use slåss mot: Vi slåss mot orättvisorna.
✅ Vi slåss mot orättvisorna.
We fight against the injustices.
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