Learn Hardcore Swedish: Jag dricker te istället för kaffe idag.

I stället för means “instead of” and is followed by a noun phrase: Jag dricker te i stället för kaffe. If you use i stället without för, it just means “instead,” with the alternative understood from context: Jag dricker te i stället.

Is istället one word or two (i stället)? Which should I use?

Both are correct today. i stället is a bit more formal/traditional; istället is very common in everyday writing. Pick one style and be consistent.

Is idag one word or two (i dag)?

Both spellings are accepted. idag is common informally; i dag is somewhat more formal. The meaning and pronunciation are the same.

Where can I put i dag in the sentence? Is the word order here natural?

All of these are natural:

End position (very common): Jag dricker te i stället för kaffe i dag.
Fronted (verb-second): I dag dricker jag te i stället för kaffe.
Mid-sentence (a bit formal): Jag dricker i dag te i stället för kaffe. Remember V2: if you start with I dag, the finite verb dricker must be second.

Why does Swedish use dricker for both “I drink” and “I am drinking”?

Swedish present tense covers both simple and progressive meanings. Jag dricker can mean either “I drink” (habit) or “I am drinking” (right now). Context or adverbs like just nu clarify if needed.

Do te and kaffe need articles here?

No. They’re mass nouns here, so you normally omit the article: Jag dricker te/kaffe. Use an article if you mean one serving: Jag tar en kaffe (very common in cafés) or Jag tar ett te.

When would I use the definite forms kaffet or teet?

Use the definite if you mean specific, known drinks:

Jag dricker te i stället för kaffet vi bryggde tidigare. Spelling note: definite of te is teet (double e + t); kaffe → kaffet.

Are kaffe and te “en” or “ett”? How do people order them?

Both are neuter: ett kaffe, ett te. In cafés, many say en kaffe to mean “a coffee (one cup)”—that set phrase is very common. For tea, ett te or en kopp te is preferred; en te occurs but many consider ett te/en kopp te more standard.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

One careful pronunciation: [jɑː(ɡ) ˈdrɪkːɛr teː ɪˈstɛlːɛt føːr ˈkafːɛ iˈdɑː(ɡ)] Quick tips:

ö in för ≈ French “eu”/German “ö”; long vowel.
Double consonants or ck mean the preceding vowel is short and the consonant is long.
j in jag = English y; the final g in jag and i dag is often weak or silent.

Could I say Jag dricker hellre te än kaffe instead? What’s the difference?

Yes. hellre ... än expresses preference (“I would rather…”), often generally. i stället för expresses substitution in this situation.

Today’s choice: Jag dricker te i stället för kaffe i dag.
General preference: Jag dricker hellre te än kaffe.

Can I place istället as a sentence adverb, like Jag dricker istället te?

Yes. As a sentence adverb, i stället goes after the finite verb: Jag dricker i stället te i dag. If you name the alternative, keep för: Jag dricker te i stället för kaffe.

How do I say “not coffee” with this sentence? Where does inte go?

Negation after the verb: Jag dricker inte kaffe i dag; jag dricker (i) stället te.
After a negation, use utan (“but rather”) instead of men: I dag dricker jag inte kaffe, utan te.

Can I drop the subject Jag the way Spanish/Italian do?

No. Swedish normally requires an explicit subject pronoun. Say Jag dricker ..., not just Dricker ..., except in very telegraphic styles (notes, headlines).

Do I need any commas in this sentence?

No. Jag dricker te i stället för kaffe i dag. has no comma. If you front a long adverbial for emphasis, you may add a comma, but not after a simple I dag: write I dag dricker jag ..., not I dag, dricker jag ....

Is te ever written té?

You might see té in older texts, but the modern standard is te. The definite form is teet.

How do I say “instead of drinking coffee” with a verb?

Use i stället för att + infinitive: Jag dricker te i stället för att dricka kaffe, or fronted: I stället för att dricka kaffe dricker jag te.