Selv når min søn lader som om, han ikke er træt, putter vi ham efter badet.

to be

Breakdown of Selv når min søn lader som om, han ikke er træt, putter vi ham efter badet.

• min: my
• vi: we
• han: he

Questions & Answers about Selv når min søn lader som om, han ikke er træt, putter vi ham efter badet.

What does selv når mean, and why isn’t it selvom?

Selv når means even when.

It introduces a situation in time: in those situations when this happens.

That is different from selvom, which means although / even though and usually emphasizes contrast more directly.

So:

• Selv når min søn ... = Even when my son ...
• Selvom min søn ... = Even though my son ...

In this sentence, selv når fits well because it describes a recurring bedtime situation.

Why is når used here instead of hvis?

Når is used for something that happens regularly, typically, or whenever the situation comes up.

Hvis is more like if in a hypothetical sense.

So:

• Når han ikke vil sove ... = When/whenever he doesn’t want to sleep ...
• Hvis han ikke vil sove ... = If he doesn’t want to sleep ... (more hypothetical)

Here, the sentence suggests a familiar pattern, so når is natural.

What does lader som om mean?

At lade som om is a fixed expression meaning to pretend or to act as if.

So:

• han lader som om, han ikke er træt = he pretends that he isn’t tired
• more literally: he acts as if he isn’t tired

It is best learned as a whole phrase, because the meaning is idiomatic.