Learn Hardcore Swedish: Vi tar en kort fika nu. - We are taking a short coffee break now.

Vi tar en fika (nu). = We’re taking a coffee break (now). Counts a specific instance.
Vi fikar (nu). = We’re having coffee (now). More activity-focused. Note: You wouldn’t normally say “Vi fikar kort” to mean “a short one.” Use the noun: Vi tar en kort fika.

Why is it en fika and not ett fika?

Because fika is a common-gender noun (an “en-word”). Swedish noun gender is mostly lexical, so you learn it with the word: en fika.

Is en kort fika idiomatic? Could I say snabb or liten instead?

Yes, en kort fika is very natural. Nuances:

kort = short in duration (time available is limited).
snabb = fast/quick (you’ll do it quickly).
liten = small (amount/size), e.g., just a small snack/coffee. All are possible but they highlight different aspects.

Where can nu go in the sentence?

Common options:

Nu tar vi en kort fika. (fronted time = natural and common)
Vi tar en kort fika nu. (time adverbial at the end = very common)
Vi tar nu en kort fika. (grammatical but sounds more formal/written or with a special emphasis on “now”) Remember Swedish main clauses are V2: if you front Nu, the finite verb (tar) must be in second position.

Why is present tense used if it’s about something that’s about to happen?

Swedish presens often covers both “is doing” and “is about to do/going to do (now).” With nu, it clearly means an immediate or decided action. You can also use:

Nu ska vi ta en kort fika. (we’re about to/shall take)
Avoid kommer att with nu here; it sounds off for an immediate decision.

Why isn’t it korta fika?

Adjective agreement:

Singular, indefinite: base form → en kort fika, ett kort möte
Definite or plural: korta → den korta fikan, korta fikor So with singular indefinite en, you use kort, not korta.

How do I say “the short fika”?

Den korta fikan.

Definite article: den
Adjective takes -a: korta
Noun takes the definite ending: fika → fikan

Can I drop the article and say “Vi tar kort fika nu”?

No. In singular indefinite with an adjective, Swedish requires the article: en/ett. So you need en kort fika. If you don’t want the article, use the verb: Vi fikar nu.

Is fika countable? What’s the plural?

It can be both:

Countable event: en fika, plural fikor (exists but is not very common in everyday speech). People often avoid it: fikapauser, fikastunder instead.
Mass/collective (the refreshments): fikat (definite) as in Var är fikat? = “Where are the fika snacks/drinks?” You also see zero-article mass-like use: Det blir fika klockan tre.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Vi [viː] — long i like “vee.”
tar [tɑːr] — long a as in “father.”
en [ɛn]
kort [kɔʈː] — short o; the rt becomes a retroflex [ʈ].
fika [ˈfiːka] — stress on fi, long i.
nu [nʉː] — long front rounded vowel [ʉ], like a tight “oo” with lips rounded and tongue fronted. Natural rhythm groups words: Vi tar | en kort fika | nu.

How do I negate it?

Place inte after the finite verb:

Neutral “not now”: Vi tar inte en fika nu or more idiomatically Vi fikar inte nu.
“No fika at all”: Vi tar ingen fika nu.
If you say Vi tar inte en kort fika nu, it can imply “not a short one (maybe a longer one instead).”

Could I use ha instead of ta?

Ta en fika is the most idiomatic for deciding to take one.
Ha fika is also common, especially for scheduled breaks: Vi har fika klockan tio.
Göra en fika is not used for “have a fika.” (göra fika can mean “make/prepare fika” in some contexts.)

What does Vi tar oss en kort fika nu mean?

It’s a colloquial variant with the reflexive pronoun (ta sig): “We’ll treat ourselves to a short fika now.” It adds a slightly cozy/indulgent feel but is otherwise equivalent.

How can I turn it into a polite suggestion?

Ska vi ta en kort fika nu? (Shall we…?)
Ska vi ta en snabb/kort fika?
Ska vi ta en kort fikapaus nu? (a touch more neutral/formal)

Are there more formal or neutral alternatives to using fika?

Yes:

Vi tar en kort paus nu.
Vi tar en kort rast nu.
Vi tar en kort kafferast nu. (traditional)
Vi tar en kort fikapaus nu. (still very Swedish but a bit more formal than just “fika”)

How can I emphasize the shortness or the immediacy?

Shortness: Vi tar bara en kort fika nu. / Vi tar en riktigt kort fika nu.
Immediacy: Nu tar vi en kort fika. Combine both: Nu tar vi bara en kort fika.

Is there a progressive form like “We are taking…”?

Swedish normally uses simple present for ongoing actions: Vi tar en kort fika nu or the activity verb: Vi fikar nu. You wouldn’t say Vi håller på att ta en fika here unless you mean you are literally in the middle of initiating it (uncommon).