Learn Hardcore Swedish: Hur mår hon nu, och hur mår han?

In Swedish, mår means to feel in terms of health or mood. Hur mår hon nu? asks about her condition right now. Är (to be) describes identity or qualities. Hur är hon? usually means what is she like as a person. Typical answers with mår are bra, dåligt, bättre, sjuk is used with är (she is sick) rather than with mår.

Why is the verb before the subject in Hur mår hon?

Swedish main clauses follow the V2 rule: after a question word like hur, the finite verb (mår) comes second, before the subject (hon). In an embedded question, the word order changes: hur hon mår.

Is the comma before och necessary or correct?

It is optional here. Modern Swedish typically omits the comma before och between short main clauses: Hur mår hon nu och hur mår han? The comma can be used to mark a slight pause or to separate two full questions for clarity. You could also write two sentences: Hur mår hon nu? Och hur mår han?

Do I have to repeat hur mår in the second clause?

No. Ellipsis is fine, especially in speech: Hur mår hon nu, och han? or Hur mår hon nu, och han då? In careful writing, repeating hur mår is clearer and more balanced.

Why are hon and han used instead of henne and honom?

Because they are subjects. Subject forms: jag, du, han, hon, vi, ni, de. Object forms: mig, dig, honom, henne, oss, er, dem. You ask Hur mår han?, not Hur mår honom?

What if I want to be gender‑neutral?

Use hen (object hen, genitive hens): Hur mår hen? For plural they, use de: Hur mår de? In speech, both de and dem are pronounced dom, but in writing use de/dem.

What does nu add, and how is it different from just nu or nu för tiden?

nu = now (general present time): Hur mår hon nu?
just nu = right now/this very moment, stronger focus.
nu för tiden = these days/nowadays, a broader period.

How is mår conjugated? Does it agree with the subject?

Swedish verbs do not agree with the subject. The verb is irregular:

Infinitive: må
Present: mår
Past: mådde
Supine: mått Examples: Jag mår, hon mår, vi mår; Hon mådde dåligt i går.

How do you pronounce the key words?

hur [hʉːr] (front rounded vowel, like German ü)
mår [moːr] (long o; r can be trilled or uvular)
hon [hʊn] (u like in English book)
han [han] (a like in father)
nu [nʉː] (front rounded u)
och often reduced to [o] or [ɔ]; careful speech [ɔk]

Why is there only one question mark?

Because two questions are coordinated into a single sentence, Swedish normally uses one final question mark: Hur mår hon nu och hur mår han? Writing two separate questions with two question marks is also fine.

How would I turn this into an indirect question?

Use embedded word order (no V2): Jag undrar hur hon mår nu och hur han mår. Note hur hon mår, not hur mår hon.

Could I just ask about both at once with they?

Yes: Hur mår de? That asks about both together without separating them. It is less explicit if you want to contrast their conditions.

Where does nu go? Can I move it?

In a wh-question, nu typically follows the subject or comes at the end if nothing else follows: Hur mår hon nu? With more material, it stays before other complements: Hur mår hon nu efter operationen? Fronting Nu before the question is unusual and sounds rhetorical.

What are some natural replies in Swedish?

Hon mår bra nu, och han mår också bra. (She is doing well now, and he is also doing well.)
Hon mår bättre nu, men han mår fortfarande dåligt. (She is better now, but he still feels bad.)
Hon mår okej, tack. Han mår sisådär. (She is okay, thanks. He feels so-so.)
Hon mår inte så bra, tyvärr. Han mår utmärkt. (She is not so well, unfortunately. He feels excellent.)

Are there other common ways to ask about well‑being?

Yes:

Hur är det med henne nu, och hur är det med honom? (neutral/polite)
Hur har hon det nu, och hur har han det? (general well‑being)
Hur är läget med henne nu, och med honom? (informal)
Hur står det till med henne nu, och med honom? (more formal)