Learn Hardcore Swedish: Efter fikan börjar mötet. - After the coffee break the meeting starts.

Swedish is a verb-second (V2) language. When you start a main clause with an adverbial like Efter fikan (“After the coffee break”), the finite verb must be in second position: Efter fikan börjar mötet. Saying Efter fikan mötet börjar is ungrammatical.

Can I put the time phrase at the end instead?

Yes: Mötet börjar efter fikan is equally correct. Fronting Efter fikan adds emphasis to the time frame; leaving it last is more neutral.

Do I need a comma after “Efter fikan”?

No. Swedish normally does not use a comma after a short fronted adverbial. You would only use a comma if the initial phrase is very long or parenthetical.

Why is it “fikan” in the definite form?

Because you’re referring to a specific, known coffee break (the one on the schedule right now). Swedish often uses the definite form for specific, context-known events: fikan (“the fika”), lunchen (“the lunch”).

Can I also say “Efter fikat”?

You will hear both. Many speakers treat fika as an “en”-word (en fika → fikan), while others use it as an “ett”-word (ett fika → fikat). Both occur in everyday Swedish. As a learner, it’s perfectly safe to stick with en fika → fikan.

Is “efter fika” (without the article) okay?

For a specific instance, Swedish strongly prefers the definite: efter fikan/fikat. Bare efter fika sounds odd here (unlike meal words where both “efter lunch” and “efter lunchen” can occur).

What exactly is “fika” in Swedish?

It’s a cultural concept: a social coffee/tea break, often with something sweet or a sandwich. It’s both a noun (en fika) and a verb (att fika, “to have a coffee break”: Vi fikar = “We’re having fika”).

Why is it “mötet” (definite) and not “ett möte”?

Because a specific, scheduled meeting is meant. Swedish mirrors English here: “the meeting.” Forms: ett möte (indefinite), mötet (definite), möten (plural), mötena (definite plural).

Could I say “Mötet startar” instead of “Mötet börjar”?

Yes, but börjar is the default, neutral choice for events. Startar can sound a bit more technical or abrupt (fine in many contexts, just slightly different nuance).

Why present tense “börjar” for a future event?

Swedish commonly uses present tense for scheduled or near-future events: Mötet börjar (“The meeting starts [is starting]”). Alternatives: Mötet ska börja or Mötet kommer att börja, which can sound more explicitly future/planned.

When do I use “efter” vs “efter att”?

Use efter before a noun: Efter fikan börjar mötet.
Use efter att before a clause: Efter att vi har fikat börjar mötet.
More formal: efter det att.

How do I pronounce the tricky vowels and consonants?

Efter: [ˈɛf.tɛr] (short e like “get”).
fikan: [ˈfiː.kan] (long i like “machine”).
börjar: [ˈbœr.jar] (ö is fronted like the vowel in British “bird” but rounded; j like English “y”).
mötet: [ˈmøː.tɛt] (long ö [øː], similar to the French “deux”).
Swedish r is typically a tap or trill.

Does the verb change with person/number?

No. Present tense is the same for all subjects: jag börjar, vi börjar, mötet börjar, mötena börjar.

Do I ever add a separate article like “det” before “mötet”?

Not in the basic form. Swedish marks definiteness with a suffix: mötet = “the meeting.” If you add an adjective, you use a leading article too: det viktiga mötet (“the important meeting”).