Questions & Answers about Signalen är stark hemma.
Why is it signalen and not just signal?
Signalen is the definite singular form of signal, so it means the signal.
- en signal = a signal
- signalen = the signal
Swedish usually adds the definite ending to the noun itself, instead of putting a separate word like the in front.
Why does signal take -en at the end?
Because signal is an en-word in Swedish.
For most common-gender nouns:
- en signal = a signal
- signalen = the signal
If it were an ett-word, the definite ending would usually be -et instead.
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, Signalen är stark hemma, it means The signal is strong at home.
Why is it stark and not starkt or starka?
Because stark agrees with the noun it describes in a predicative structure, after är.
Here, signalen is:
- singular
- common gender (en-word)
So the adjective form is stark.
Compare:
- Signalen är stark. = The signal is strong.
- Ljudet är starkt. = The sound is strong.
(ljudet is a neuter ett-word) - Signalerna är starka. = The signals are strong.
So stark is correct because signalen is singular and common gender.
Why is it hemma and not hem?
Because hemma means at home, while hem usually means homeward / home as a destination.
This is an important Swedish distinction:
- Jag är hemma. = I am at home.
- Jag går hem. = I am going home.
In your sentence, the meaning is about location, not movement, so hemma is the right choice.
Where does hemma fit in the sentence, and why is it at the end?
Hemma is an adverb of place, and in a neutral sentence it often comes later in the clause.
So:
- Signalen är stark hemma.
is a natural, straightforward word order:
- subject: Signalen
- verb: är
- adjective/complement: stark
- place adverb: hemma
You can also move hemma to the front for emphasis:
- Hemma är signalen stark.
That sounds more like At home, the signal is strong.
Is Signalen är stark hemma a natural Swedish sentence?
Yes, it is natural.
It sounds like something you might say about phone reception, Wi‑Fi, radio reception, or another kind of signal. It suggests that the signal is strong when you are at home or in the home location.
Depending on context, Swedish speakers might also say things like:
- Det är bra signal hemma. = There is good signal at home.
- Jag har stark signal hemma. = I have a strong signal at home.
But your sentence is absolutely correct and natural.
Does stark really work with signal in Swedish?
Yes. Stark signal is completely normal Swedish.
It works much like English strong signal. You can use it for:
- mobile signal
- Wi‑Fi signal
- radio signal
- TV signal
So Signalen är stark hemma is a very ordinary and idiomatic combination.
Could this sentence also be understood as The signal is strong in the house?
Yes, often it could.
Hemma literally means at home, but in real use it can refer to:
- being at one’s home in general
- the home environment
- the house/apartment where someone lives
So depending on context, it can feel like:
- at home
- in my house
- where I live
The exact nuance comes from the situation.
How is Signalen är stark hemma pronounced?
A simple approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:
sing-NAH-len air star-k HEM-ma
A few notes:
- gn in signalen is pronounced like the ng sound
- ä in är is somewhat like the vowel in English air
- stark has a clear r and a crisp final k
- hemma has stress on the first syllable: HEM-ma
If you want to sound more natural, keep the rhythm fairly even and stress mainly:
signAlen är STARK hemma
Why is there no word for the before signal?
Because Swedish usually expresses definiteness by adding it to the noun, instead of using a separate article.
So:
- the signal = signalen
This is one of the biggest differences from English. In many cases, Swedish does not need a separate word equivalent to the because the noun ending already shows it.
Could I say En signal är stark hemma instead?
Grammatically, en signal means a signal, but that sentence would usually sound odd without more context.
- Signalen är stark hemma. = The signal is strong at home.
This sounds like a specific, known signal. - En signal är stark hemma. = A signal is strong at home.
This sounds less natural unless you are contrasting one signal with another.
In normal everyday Swedish, if you are talking about your phone or Wi‑Fi reception, signalen is much more likely.
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