Learn Hardcore Swedish: Kan du vänta några minuter?

In yes/no questions, Swedish typically puts the finite verb first. The statement would be Du kan vänta några minuter, and the question flips the order to Kan du vänta några minuter?. This verb-first pattern is standard for yes/no questions.

Why is it vänta and not väntar? And where is att?

After a modal verb like kan (can), Swedish uses the bare infinitive, so it’s vänta, not väntar. You also don’t use att after modals. More examples: ska gå, vill komma, måste åka.

Do I need i before the time expression, as in i några minuter?

No, it’s not required. Kan du vänta några minuter? is perfectly natural. Adding i (as i några minuter) emphasizes the duration a bit more explicitly. Both are correct in a request like this. Note: för några minuter sedan means a few minutes ago, which is different.

Why några and not någon?

Några is the plural form (a few/some), so it pairs with plural minuter. Någon is singular common gender (someone/any/one), so någon minut would mean roughly one minute or so.

How polite is Kan du … ? Are there softer alternatives?

Kan du … ? is neutral and commonly used. Softer options:

Skulle du kunna vänta (i) några minuter?
Kunde du vänta (i) några minuter? (past tense softens the request)
Skulle det gå bra att vänta (i) några minuter? Adding tack also softens the tone: Kan du … , tack?

How do I say please here—do I use snälla or tack?

Both can work, but they’re used differently:

tack is very common at the end of requests: Kan du vänta några minuter, tack?
Snälla is an interjection and sounds more pleading: Snälla, kan du vänta några minuter?
In imperatives, you can say Var snäll och vänta några minuter.

When do I use vänta vs vänta på?

Use bare vänta for the act of waiting (often with a time span): vänta några minuter. Use vänta på when you wait for someone/something: vänta på mig, vänta på bussen. You can combine both: Kan du vänta på mig i några minuter?

Where does inte go if I want to say not?

Place inte after the finite verb kan: Kan du inte vänta några minuter? That’s a common way to ask Can’t you wait a few minutes? (often softer than a direct no).

Can I drop du, like in English informal speech?

No. Swedish normally requires an explicit subject. You can’t say Kan vänta …. If you want a subjectless form, use the imperative: Vänta några minuter.

Should I use du or ni/Ni?

Use du for singular you; it’s standard and not rude. ni is plural you. Ni (capitalized) as a formal singular exists but is uncommon and can feel old-fashioned or marked; it’s mostly used in certain service contexts. For one person you don’t know, du is almost always fine.

Why minuter and not minuterna?

With quantifiers like några, Swedish uses the indefinite form: några minuter. The definite plural minuterna (the minutes) wouldn’t be used here.

Pronunciation tips for each word?

Kan: [kan] — short a, like the a in father but shorter.
du: [dʉː] — long, rounded vowel (between English ee and oo).
vänta: [ˈvɛn.ta] — ä like e in bed; stress on vën.
några: [ˈnoːɡra] — å like long o; clear g.
minuter: [mɪˈnʉːtɛr] — stress on nu; u as in du. Approximate: KAN doo VEN-ta NOH-gra mi-NU-ter.

Does kan mean ability here, or is it just a polite request?

Literally it’s ability, but in everyday Swedish Kan du … ? is a standard way to make a polite request, just like English Can you … ? Context decides whether it’s about ability or a request; here it’s clearly a request.

How could I answer this question in Swedish?

Positive: Ja, det kan jag. / Ja, visst. / Absolut.
Negative/soft: Tyvärr inte. / Nej, det går inte just nu. That placeholder det in Ja, det kan jag is natural Swedish.

What are some natural alternatives to the same idea?

Vänta lite (grann), tack.
Kan du vänta en liten stund?
Kan du vänta ett par minuter?
Skulle du kunna vänta i några minuter?
Ett ögonblick, tack.