Freden är viktig.

Peace is important.

Breakdown of Freden är viktig.

• vara: to be
• viktig: important
• freden: the peace

Questions & Answers about Freden är viktig.

Why is it freden and not just fred?

Fred is the basic dictionary form and means peace.

Freden is the definite singular form, literally the peace. In Swedish, the definite article is often added as a suffix to the noun, so:

• fred = peace
• freden = the peace

In a sentence like Freden är viktig, Swedish can use the definite form to talk about the idea of peace in a general or abstract way, similar to English Peace is important.

Why is there no separate word for the before freden?

Because Swedish usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word before it.

So instead of English:

• the peace

Swedish says:

• freden

That -en ending already means the here.

What is är?

Är is the present tense of vara, which means to be.

So:

• är = is / are / am depending on context

In this sentence:

• Freden är viktig = Peace is important / The peace is important

Swedish uses the same form är for all persons:

• jag är = I am
• du är = you are
• han är = he is
• vi är = we are