Vi väntar på bussen vid parkeringen.

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Breakdown of Vi väntar på bussen vid parkeringen.

• vid: at
• vänta på: to wait for
• bussen: the bus

Questions & Answers about Vi väntar på bussen vid parkeringen.

Why is it väntar på and not väntar för or just väntar bussen?

In Swedish, vänta på is a fixed combination that means to wait for (someone/something). The preposition på is required here.

• Vi väntar på bussen = We are waiting for the bus.
• You cannot say *vi väntar bussen in this sense (that sounds wrong or very unusual).
• *vänta för does not mean wait for in Swedish.

There is a form vänta någon (without på), but it means to expect someone or to wait for someone in a more formal or old-fashioned style, and it’s mainly used with people, not things:

• Läkaren väntar dig klockan tre. = The doctor is expecting you at three.

For everyday “wait for X”, always learn the chunk vänta på X.

How can väntar mean “are waiting”? Why is there no word like “are” (e.g. är)?