Learn Hardcore Swedish: Jag är fortfarande trött, men jag hoppas att kaffet hjälper. - I am still tired, but I hope that the coffee helps.

It means still. In a main clause, adverbs like fortfarande typically come after the finite verb: Jag är fortfarande trött. In a subordinate clause, you usually put it right after the subject: att jag fortfarande är trött.

What is the role of att in jag hoppas att kaffet hjälper?

Here att means that and introduces a subordinate clause: att kaffet hjälper. It is not the infinitive marker (the to in English) in this case.

Can I drop att after hoppas?

Often yes in everyday speech and informal writing: Jag hoppas kaffet hjälper. In careful or formal writing, keep att. Both are common and correct.

Why is it hjälper (present tense) and not something like ska hjälpa to mean future?

Swedish often uses the present tense for near-future events when context makes the time clear: Jag hoppas att kaffet hjälper = I hope the coffee will help. You can say ska hjälpa if you want to stress intention or expectation: Jag hoppas att kaffet ska hjälpa.

Why is it kaffet (definite) instead of just kaffe?

Because you mean a specific coffee (the one you’re about to drink or have). Swedish marks definiteness with a suffix: kaffe = coffee (in general), kaffet = the coffee (this particular one).

Is kaffe countable in Swedish? Can I say en kaffe?

As a liquid, kaffe is a mass noun, but in cafés people commonly order using a countable sense: en kaffe (one coffee). Traditionally, the countable form is neuter (ett kaffe), but both are heard. The definite form in your sentence, kaffet, is neuter.

What does the word order kaffet hjälper tell me about subordinate clauses?

In subordinate clauses introduced by att, Swedish uses subject–verb order (no V2): att kaffet hjälper (subject before verb). You would only say Hjälper kaffet? (verb–subject) in a main-clause question.

Where does inte go if I want to negate parts of this sentence?

Main clause: after the finite verb: Jag är inte trött; with your adverb: Jag är fortfarande inte trött (I am still not tired).
After hoppas: Jag hoppas inte att …
Subordinate clause: before the finite verb: Jag hoppas att kaffet inte hjälper (I hope the coffee doesn’t help). Note that … hjälper inte is ungrammatical inside a clause with att.

Why is the comma before men there? Is it required?

It separates two main clauses. In Swedish, a comma before men is common and recommended when joining independent clauses: …, men …. You’ll also see it omitted in informal writing, but using it is good practice.

Could I front something for emphasis, like starting with Fortfarande?

Yes. Swedish main clauses are V2, so if you front an adverbial, the finite verb still comes second: Fortfarande är jag trött, men jag hoppas att … This sounds a bit more formal or emphatic.

Why is trött not trötta?

Adjectives agree with the subject. With a singular personal pronoun like jag, use the base form: trött. Plural subjects take -a: Vi är trötta. With a neuter noun it’s also trött: ett trött barn.

What’s the difference between trött and sömnig?

trött = tired, fatigued (general).
sömnig = sleepy (specifically drowsy, ready to fall asleep).
You could say Jag är fortfarande sömnig if you mean drowsy.

How do I say “help me” here?

Add an object: Jag hoppas att kaffet hjälper mig. You can also be more specific: … hjälper mig att vakna or … hjälper mot trötthet (helps against tiredness).

Is there any difference between men, utan, and fast?

men = but (neutral contrast): …, men …
utan = but rather; used after a negation: Inte kaffe, utan te.
fast/fastän = although/though; fast is more colloquial: Jag är trött, fast jag jobbar vidare.

Can I say hoppas på att?

Yes, hoppas på att is common and acceptable: Jag hoppas på att kaffet hjälper. Hoppas att is a bit more neutral/direct; på can add a nuance of “hoping for” or “counting on.” With nouns you need på: Jag hoppas på bättre väder.

Any quick pronunciation tips for the tricky bits?

jag: often [ja] in casual speech; careful speech can have a final g sound.
är: ä like the e in English “bed.”
fortfarande: stress on the first syllable; the rd is a retroflex sound in many accents.
trött: ö like French “eu” in “peur”; short vowel, double consonant.
hjälper: hj is pronounced like English y; ä as in “bed.”
kaffet: short a, double f makes the vowel short.
att: short a, both t’s pronounced.
Say it smoothly: [ja är ˈfɔrtːˌfɑːrande trœt, mɛn ja ˈhɔpas at ˈjɛlpɛr]. (Approximate.)