Learn Hardcore Swedish: Förresten, kan du avboka mötet? - By the way, can you cancel the meeting?

Förresten means “by the way/incidentally.” It’s a casual, conversational sentence adverb that introduces a new topic or an afterthought. In more formal contexts you might see för övrigt; you can also use på tal om det (“speaking of which”). Note the difference between förresten (one word, “by the way”) and för resten (two words), which literally means “for the rest/the remainder.”

Is the comma after Förresten required?

It’s optional but very common because förresten functions like a parenthetical. Both Förresten, kan du … and Förresten kan du … are acceptable. The comma aids readability.

Why is there no att before avboka?

After Swedish modal verbs (e.g., kan, vill, ska, måste, bör, får), you use the bare infinitive: kan avboka, not kan att avboka. So Kan du avboka …? is the correct form.

How does the word order work in this yes/no question?

Swedish yes/no questions start with the verb (V1): Kan du avboka mötet? = Verb (kan) + Subject (du) + Infinitive (avboka) + Object (mötet). A statement order (Du kan avboka mötet?) can also be used as a checking/echo question in speech, but the neutral written question uses inversion.

Is Kan du … polite enough? How can I make it softer?

Among colleagues or friends, Kan du avboka mötet? is fine. To soften it, use:

Skulle du kunna avboka mötet (åt mig), tack? (more polite)
Har du möjlighet att avboka mötet? Avoid Var snäll och avboka … with adults; it can sound old‑fashioned or patronizing. Adding tack helps a lot in Swedish.

Should I say avboka or ställa in for “cancel a meeting”?

Ställa in mötet = cancel the meeting (the event won’t happen). Typical if you’re the organizer.
Avboka mötet = cancel a booking/appointment. Fine for external appointments; for internal meetings many still say ställa in for canceling the event.
If you’re canceling your own attendance, say lämna återbud (e.g., Jag måste lämna återbud till mötet).

Is boka av interchangeable with avboka?

Yes: boka av (particle verb) and avboka (prefixed verb) are both common and mean the same in most contexts. Register-wise, avboka can feel a bit more neutral in writing, boka av a bit more colloquial. With the particle verb, keep the particle with the verb: boka av mötet, boka av det (not boka det av).

Why is it mötet and not möte?

Möte is an ett‑word: ett möte (a meeting). The definite singular is mötet (the meeting), formed with the suffix -et. Plurals: möten (meetings), mötena (the meetings). We use the definite form because you’re referring to a specific meeting.

How do I pronounce the tricky vowels here?

ö in Förresten / mötet: a rounded sound like French “eu” (as in “peur”). Think “fur-RES-ten,” “MEU-tet.”
u in du: a long fronted rounded vowel (/ʉː/), somewhere between “oo” and “ee,” with rounded lips.
o in boka: a long “oo” sound (“BOO-ka”). Swedish stress is on the first syllable in förresten and mötet, and on bo in avboka (av-BO-ka).

Should I use du or Ni when addressing someone?

Use du in almost all modern contexts, including professional ones, unless you’re writing very formal customer-facing text or addressing multiple people (ni for plural). The polite singular Ni is rare and can feel stiff.

Can I soften the request with a negative, like Kan du inte …?

Yes. Kan du inte avboka mötet? often comes across as a gentle suggestion (“Couldn’t you cancel the meeting?”) rather than confrontational. Tone and context matter; in writing, add tack to keep it friendly.

Could I drop the subject and just write Avboka mötet?

As a direct imperative, yes: Avboka mötet. That’s a command. A polite command is Avboka mötet, tack. But if you want a question/request, keep the subject: Kan du avboka mötet?

How do I say “for me” or “on my behalf” here?

Use åt for doing someone a favor/on their behalf: Kan du avboka mötet åt mig? You may hear för mig, but åt mig is clearer for “on my behalf.”

Is the capitalization and punctuation correct?

Yes. Förresten is capitalized because it starts the sentence; kan is lowercase after the comma; end with a question mark. So: Förresten, kan du avboka mötet?

How might someone reply politely in Swedish?

Positive: Självklart, jag fixar det. / Visst, jag avbokar det nu.
Negative/hedged: Tyvärr, jag hinner inte just nu. / Jag kan inte, men jag kan göra det i eftermiddag.