Learn Hardcore Swedish: Vi sitter ofta vid dörren på stationen, men vädret är oftast varmt där. - We often sit by the door at the station, but the weather is usually warm there.

sitta (present: sitter) = to be in a seated position (state).
sätta (sig) (present: sätter [sig]) = to sit down (the action of moving into a seated position). Here the meaning is “we are (often) seated by the door,” so sitter is correct. If you wanted to stress the action each time you arrive, you could say: Vi sätter oss ofta vid dörren …

Where does ofta go, and why is it after the verb?

In main clauses Swedish is a V2 language: the finite verb must be in the second slot. With the subject first, sentence adverbs like ofta, inte, kanske come right after the verb: Vi sitter ofta … If you front an adverb, the verb still comes second: Ofta sitter vi vid dörren … Both are correct, just with different emphasis.

What’s the difference between ofta and oftast, and could I use ofta in the second clause?

ofta = often, frequently.
oftast = most often, usually (superlative of ofta). Using oftast suggests it’s the typical case (“usually warm”). You can use ofta instead—…, men vädret är ofta varmt där—but it’s a bit weaker in meaning.

Is it odd to have both ofta and oftast in one sentence?

Not at all. They modify different clauses: ofta describes how frequently “we sit,” and oftast describes how typically “the weather is warm.”

Why is it vid dörren and not bredvid or nära?

vid dörren = at/by the door (neutral, very common).
bredvid dörren = right next to the door, to the side of it.
nära dörren = near/close to the door (less specific). Note that i dörren means “in the doorway,” often implying you’re blocking it, which is different.

Why på stationen instead of i stationen or vid stationen?

på stationen is the idiomatic way to say “at the station” (as a place/institution).
i stationen emphasizes being inside the station building.
vid stationen means near/next to the station (e.g., outside by the entrance). Choose the one that matches the physical relationship you want to express.

Why are dörren and stationen in the definite form?

Swedish marks definiteness with a suffix: dörren = “the door,” stationen = “the station.” Use the definite when the referent is specific/known or unique in the context (e.g., the main door at the station). Using en dörr would mean “a door” (any door), which doesn’t fit the context as well.

Is Vädret är oftast varmt natural, or should I say Det är oftast varmt?

Both are grammatical, but Swedish usually describes weather with dummy det: Det är (oftast) varmt/kallt/soligt där. Vädret är varmt is a bit formal or bookish; Vädret är bra/dåligt is more common. For everyday speech, …, men det är oftast varmt där sounds very natural.

Why is it varmt and not varm?

Adjectives agree with the noun. Vädret is a neuter noun (ett väder), so the predicative adjective takes -t: varmt. Compare:

Maten är varm (en-words use the base form).
Havet är kallt (neuter uses -t).
De är varma (plural/definite uses -a). With dummy det for weather, you also use neuter: Det är varmt.

What does där refer to, and how is it different from dit and därifrån?

där = there (location; static). Here it refers back to på stationen.
dit = to there (direction).
därifrån = from there (origin). Examples: Vi går dit. “We’re going there.” / Vi kommer därifrån. “We come from there.”

Could I change the order to Men där är det oftast varmt?

Yes. Fronting där for focus is fine, and V2 still applies: Men där är det oftast varmt. This version also uses idiomatic det for weather, which many speakers prefer.

Why is there a comma before men?

When men joins two independent clauses, Swedish style often puts a comma before it. It’s common and recommended in formal writing. Dropping the comma is acceptable in more informal text.

Is men the only option? What about fast or utan?

men = but (neutral, works here).
fast = but/though (more informal): …, fast det är oftast varmt där.
utan = but rather, used after a negation: Det är inte kallt, utan varmt. Don’t use utan without a preceding negation.

Any pronunciation tips for dörren, vädret, på, and stationen?

ö (as in dörren) is like the vowel in British “nurse,” but rounded.
ä (as in vädret) is like “e” in “bed.”
å (as in på) is like “aw” in “law.”
In stationen, the sequence tion is often pronounced with the Swedish “sj” sound; a rough guide is “sta-shoo-nen” (regional variation exists).

Could I say Vi sitter ofta i dörren?

You could, but it changes the meaning to “We often sit in the doorway,” implying you’re actually in the opening and possibly blocking it. If you mean “by/at the door,” use vid dörren.

Why is the verb form sitter the same for vi and han/hon?

Swedish verbs don’t change for person or number in the present tense. You say jag/du/han/hon/vi/ni/de sitter—the form sitter stays the same for all subjects.

Could I link the clauses with a relative place clause like …, där det oftast är varmt?

Yes. This is idiomatic and avoids repetition: Vi sitter ofta vid dörren på stationen, där det oftast är varmt. Using det here is smoother than repeating vädret.