träffas means "to meet each other." It is the reciprocal -s form of the plain verb träffa ("to meet someone"). Reciprocal -s verbs describe an action two or more people do to one another: vi träffas = "we meet (each other)," vi ses = "we see each other," de kramas = "they hug." Crucially the -s here is not a passive — De träffades does not mean "they were met"; it means "they met (one another)." Because the action is mutual, träffas always needs a plural or joint subject. This is the verb Swedes use a dozen times a week to arrange to get together.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present | Preteritum (past) | Supine | Imperative | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| träffas | träffas | träffades | träffats | träffas (rare) | reciprocal s-verb (from träffa, Group 1) |
Every form is just träffa in its Group-1 paradigm with an -s welded on: present träffas (träffar + s, contracting to träffas), past träffades (träffade + s), supine träffats (träffat + s). The -s sits on the outside of the normal ending. Like all Swedish verbs it does not change for person — vi träffas, ni träffas, de träffas are identical — but the subject must be plural (or two parties joined by och), because you cannot meet each other alone.
Ska vi träffas imorgon?
Shall we meet (up) tomorrow? träffas = present; vi makes the subject plural, which the reciprocal needs.
De träffades på en fest för tio år sedan.
They met (each other) at a party ten years ago. träffades = past — not 'were met', but 'met one another'.
Anna och jag har träffats varje vecka sedan dess.
Anna and I have met up every week since then. har träffats = perfect; the joint subject Anna och jag licenses the reciprocal.
Use 1: arranging to meet up
The number-one use of träffas is making plans: proposing, confirming, or recalling a get-together. Ska vi träffas? ("Shall we meet up?") is the standard opener.
Vi kan träffas på kaféet vid tre.
We can meet at the café at three. träffas + place/time — the everyday 'meet up'.
Hör av dig så ses vi — eller träffas nästa vecka?
Get in touch and we'll see each other — or meet up next week? ses and träffas are both reciprocal s-verbs.
Vi träffas utanför biografen klockan sju.
We'll meet outside the cinema at seven. Present träffas covers the near-future plan, very common in Swedish.
Use 2: a first encounter
träffas is also how you describe two people first meeting — where in English you'd say "we met." Because the meeting is mutual, the reciprocal is the natural choice over the plain träffa.
Var träffades ni egentligen?
Where did you two actually meet? träffades — asking about the mutual first encounter.
Vi träffades på universitetet och blev vänner direkt.
We met at university and became friends right away. The classic 'how we met' use of träffades.
Use 3: meeting up regularly
For recurring get-togethers — clubs, teams, friend groups — träffas expresses the routine of meeting one another on a schedule.
Bokklubben träffas en gång i månaden.
The book club meets once a month. A group as subject — the members meet each other.
Vi brukade träffas varje fredag, men nu hinner vi inte.
We used to meet every Friday, but now we don't have time. brukade + träffas — habitual past.
träffas vs träffa: who meets whom
The difference is whether the meeting is mutual or has a distinct object:
- träffas (reciprocal, plural subject, no object) = the parties meet each other: Vi träffas.
- träffa (plain, takes an object) = one party meets someone: Jag träffar dig. ("I'm meeting you.")
So Vi träffades = "We met (one another)," but Jag träffade henne = "I met her." If there is a clear object after the verb, you want träffa, not träffas.
Jag ska träffa min chef — sedan kan vi träffas, du och jag.
I'm going to meet my boss — then you and I can meet up. träffa + object (chef), then reciprocal träffas for the mutual plan.
Common Mistakes
❌ Jag träffas dig imorgon.
Incorrect — träffas can't take an object. With an object use träffa: Jag träffar dig.
✅ Jag träffar dig imorgon.
I'm meeting you tomorrow.
❌ Vi ska träffa imorgon. (mutual meet-up, but no object)
Off — for a mutual 'meet up' with no object you need the reciprocal: Vi ska träffas.
✅ Vi ska träffas imorgon.
We're going to meet up tomorrow.
❌ De träffades betyder 'they were met'.
Incorrect — the -s here is reciprocal, not passive. De träffades = 'they met (each other)'.
✅ De träffades på jobbet.
They met (each other) at work.
❌ Vi har träffat varje vecka. (reciprocal, no object)
Incorrect — without an object the perfect needs the reciprocal supine: har träffats.
✅ Vi har träffats varje vecka.
We've met up every week.
❌ Jag träffas på kaféet klockan tre. (singular subject)
Off — a single 'jag' can't meet each other. Use a plural subject (Vi träffas) or the plain träffa with an object.
✅ Vi träffas på kaféet klockan tre.
We'll meet at the café at three.
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Start learning Swedish→Related Topics
- Reciprocal Pronouns (varandra)B1 — 'Each other / one another' is one tidy word in Swedish: varandra, with a genitive varandras ('each other's'). The crucial contrast English keeps but learners collapse: sig means 'themselves' (each acting on their own self) while varandra means 'each other' (acting mutually) — De älskar sig vs De älskar varandra are different statements. Swedish also has a second route to the same meaning: the reciprocal -s verbs like ses, träffas, slåss, kysstes.
- Reciprocal s-verbs (ses, träffas, slåss)B2 — A third job for the -s ending: 'each other'. With a plural subject, verbs like ses ('meet / see each other'), träffas ('meet'), kramas ('hug'), and slåss ('fight') express a mutual action — and the most common Swedish farewell of all, Vi ses!, is exactly this construction. Learn it once and you unlock a whole productive pattern.
- Using the Verb ReferenceA2 — How to read the single-verb reference cards and the principal-parts citation system that underpins them. Every Swedish verb is cited as a short chain — infinitive – present – preteritum – supine – (past participle) — because every other form is derivable from those parts. This page decodes one weak verb (tala – talar – talade – talat) and one strong verb (skriva – skriver – skrev – skrivit – skriven), explains the conjugation-group labels (1/2/3/4), and gives a key to everything on a card.