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Kom genast, bussen går om två minuter.

Kom genast, bussen går om två minuter.
Come immediately, the bus leaves in two minutes.
FromLesson 13inHardcore Swedish
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Breakdown of Kom genast, bussen går om två minuter.

gå
to go
komma
to come
två
two
bussen
the bus
minuten
the minute
om
in
genast
immediately

Questions & Answers about Kom genast, bussen går om två minuter.

Why is it "Kom" and not "Kommer"?

Because Kom is the imperative of komma (to come), used to give a command or urgent request. Kommer is present tense (“am/is/are coming”). Compare:

  • Kom genast! = Come at once!
  • Jag kommer genast. = I’m coming at once.

Note that kom is also the past tense (“came”), but here the context and exclamation make it imperative.

What exactly does "genast" mean? How strong is it?

Genast means immediately/at once, and it sounds quite firm/urgent. Near-synonyms, from stronger to milder or different nuance:

  • omedelbart = immediately (formal)
  • genast / direkt = right away (direct, common)
  • på en gång = at once (colloquial)
  • nu = now (can be less urgent)
  • strax = shortly/in a moment (often implies a tiny wait)
Could I say "Kom nu" instead of "Kom genast"?
Yes, but the tone changes. Kom nu is softer: “Come now.” Kom genast is sharper: “Come immediately.” You can also say Kom direkt or Kom på en gång.
Why is there a comma between the clauses? Is that correct in Swedish?

Yes. Swedish allows a comma between two closely related main clauses, especially when the first is short (like an imperative) and the second gives a reason. Alternatives:

  • Kom genast. Bussen går om två minuter.
  • Kom genast — bussen går om två minuter.
  • Kom genast: bussen går om två minuter.
Why use "går" for a bus? Doesn’t "gå" mean "to walk"?
Gå also means “to depart/leave” for scheduled transport. So Bussen går = “The bus leaves.” A more formal word is avgår: Bussen avgår om två minuter. Don’t use åker for the vehicle’s departure; åka is what passengers do: Vi åker om två minuter (We leave in two minutes).
The verb is present tense ("går"). How can it refer to the future?

Swedish often uses present tense plus a time expression for scheduled/near-future events:

  • Bussen går om två minuter. = The bus leaves in two minutes.
  • Tåget går i morgon klockan åtta. = The train leaves tomorrow at 8. You can also say ska gå/avgå, but plain present is natural here.
What does "om" mean in "om två minuter"? When do I use "om" vs "i" or "på"?

Here om means “in (from now)”:

  • Jag är klar om två minuter. = I’ll be ready in two minutes.

Contrast:

  • i två minuter = for two minutes (duration): Jag väntade i två minuter.
  • på två minuter = in two minutes (time needed to complete): Jag gjorde det på två minuter.
  • inom två minuter = within two minutes (deadline window).
Can I move the time phrase to the front?

Yes. Swedish is a V2 language: the finite verb stays in second position. Both are correct:

  • Bussen går om två minuter.
  • Om två minuter går bussen. (Time first, then verb, then subject.)
Why "bussen" with -en? How do Swedish definites work here?

Swedish marks “the” with a suffix. buss (bus) → bussen (the bus). We use the definite because a specific, known bus is meant (the next bus we’re catching). More examples:

  • en buss = a bus
  • bussen = the bus
  • bussarna = the buses (definite plural)
Is "buss" spelled with double s for a reason?
Yes. The double consonant shows the preceding vowel is short and the s is long. buss + -en → bussen. There is no form bus in Swedish.
What’s the plural of "minut"? Why "minuter" here?

Minut is an en-word. Plurals:

  • singular: en minut
  • plural indefinite: minuter (e.g., två minuter, många minuter)
  • plural definite: minuterna (e.g., de två minuterna) So två minuter is correct; not “två minut.”
Is "Kommer genast!" okay as a reply?
Yes, as a shortened Jag kommer genast!, meaning “I’m coming right away!” But it’s not an imperative; it’s a statement about yourself.
Any quick pronunciation tips for the sentence?
  • Kom: short o (like the o in British “cot”).
  • genast: g before e → y-sound; roughly “YEN-ast,” with long e.
  • bussen: u is the Swedish fronted vowel (like French “eu”); double ss is long: “BUSS-en.”
  • går: å is a long “oh” sound; r is tapped/rolled.
  • om: short o.
  • två: sounds like “tvoh.”
  • minuter: stress on the “nu” syllable; u is the fronted vowel again.
Is "Kom genast" too rude? How can I soften it?

It’s quite direct. Softer options:

  • Kan du komma nu/direkt? = Can you come now/right away?
  • Skulle du kunna komma nu? = Could you come now?
  • Kom gärna nu. = Please come now (gently encouraging; gärna softens).
Could I say "Bussen lämnar om två minuter" or "Bussen åker om två minuter"?

Understandable, but less idiomatic for schedules. Prefer:

  • Bussen går om två minuter. (everyday)
  • Bussen avgår om två minuter. (formal/official) Use åker for people: Vi åker om två minuter. “Lämnar” fits better with an object/place: Bussen lämnar stationen, but even there avgår från stationen is more standard.

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