Jag fryser in matresterna.

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Breakdown of Jag fryser in matresterna.

• matresterna: the leftovers
• frysa in: to freeze

Questions & Answers about Jag fryser in matresterna.

What does fryser in mean here?

Here, fryser in is the present-tense form of the particle verb frysa in, which means to freeze something for storage, especially food.

So Jag fryser in matresterna means that the speaker is putting the leftovers in the freezer to save them for later.

The in is not just the ordinary preposition in. It is part of the verb expression frysa in.

Why is it fryser in and not just fryser?

Because frysa and frysa in do not mean exactly the same thing.

• frysa can mean to freeze or to be cold
• frysa in specifically means to freeze something and store it

So:

• Jag fryser = I am cold / I am freezing
• Jag fryser in matresterna = I’m freezing the leftovers

The little particle in changes the meaning in an important way.

Does Jag fryser really mean I am cold? How can the same verb be used here?

Yes. Swedish frysa can be used in different ways depending on context.

• Jag fryser = I’m cold
• Vattnet fryser = The water is freezing
• Jag fryser in matresterna = I’m freezing the leftovers

So the same verb can refer to feeling cold, becoming frozen, or freezing something for storage when combined with in.