Vi pratar om nyheten.

We are talking about the news.

Breakdown of Vi pratar om nyheten.

• vi: we
• prata: to talk
• om: about
• nyheten: the news

Questions & Answers about Vi pratar om nyheten.

Why is om used after pratar?

In Swedish, prata om is the standard way to say “talk about.” The preposition om carries the meaning “about” here.

• Compare: prata med (talk to/with someone), prata i telefon (talk on the phone), prata på (keep on talking).
• Examples: Vi pratar om dig. / Jag pratade med henne.

Why is it nyheten (singular definite) and not nyheterna or nyheter?

Because Swedish treats “news” as countable items.

• en nyhet = a news item
• nyheten = the news item (definite singular)
• nyheter = news items (plural), news in general
• nyheterna = the news items; also commonly “the TV news” as a program

How do I say “the news” like a TV newscast or “news” in general?

• TV newscast: nyheterna. Example: Vi tittar på nyheterna.
• News in general (non-specific): nyheter. Example: Vi pratar om nyheter i allmänhet.
• A specific news item: nyheten. Example: Vi pratar om nyheten.

Does pratar mean both “talk” and “are talking”?

Yes. Swedish present tense covers both simple and progressive meanings. Context or adverbs show if it’s happening now:

• Ongoing now: Vi pratar om nyheten nu/just nu.
• Habitual: Vi pratar ofta om nyheter.

Can I use talar instead of pratar?

Yes. tala is a bit more formal: Vi talar om nyheten. Note: tala om [något] för [någon] means “to tell [someone] [something]”:

• Jag talade om nyheten för henne. = I told her the news.

What’s the word order rule here?

Swedish main clauses are verb-second (V2). With the subject first, you get S–V–(other stuff): Vi pratar om nyheten. If you put something else first, the finite verb still goes second and the subject inverts:

• Nu pratar vi om nyheten.
• Idag pratar vi om nyheten.

How do I negate this sentence?

Place inte after the finite verb:

• Vi pratar inte om nyheten. With something first (V2 still applies): Nu pratar vi inte om nyheten.

Can the om-phrase go first for emphasis?

Yes, for focus/contrast you can front it and invert:

• Om nyheten pratar vi. This is correct but sounds marked/formal. Neutral: Vi pratar om nyheten.

How do I refer back to nyheten with a pronoun?

Since nyhet is an en-word (common gender), use den:

• Vi pratar om den. (We’re talking about it = the news item.) Swedish also often uses neutral det as a general “it,” especially for whole situations:
• Vi pratar om det som hände.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

Approximation:

• Vi = “vee”
• pratar = “PRAH-tar” (long a as in “father,” tapped/trilled r)
• om = “om” (short o)
• nyheten = “NYU-heh-ten” (Swedish y is like French “u”/German “ü”) Primary stress is on pratar and nyheten’s first syllable.

What are the key forms of prata?

• Infinitive: (att) prata
• Present: pratar
• Past (preterite): pratade
• Supine (with har/hade): pratat (e.g., har pratat)
• Imperative: prata!

Is diskuterar a good synonym?

Yes, but note the pattern:

• Standard: Vi diskuterar nyheten. (no preposition)
• Many say diskuterar om in speech, but it’s avoided in formal writing. Colloquial: Vi snackar om nyheten. More formal: Vi samtalar om nyheten.

How do I ask “What are you talking about?” in Swedish?

• Vad pratar ni om? (you plural) / Vad pratar du om? (you singular)
• Yes/no question: Pratar ni om nyheten? Question word or fronted element occupies first position; the verb stays second.

Can om end up at the end, like “the thing we are talking about”?

Yes. Preposition stranding is common:

• Det är nyheten (som) vi pratar om.
• Det är det vi pratar om. Adding som is optional here.