Jag har ont i örat idag.

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Breakdown of Jag har ont i örat idag.

• i: in
• idag: today
• örat: the ear

Questions & Answers about Jag har ont i örat idag.

Why does Swedish say har ont instead of using a verb like hurt?

Because ha ont is the normal Swedish way to say that something hurts.

• Jag har ont = I am in pain / It hurts
• Then you add the body part:
  • Jag har ont i örat = My ear hurts / I have pain in my ear

So even though English often uses hurt as a verb, Swedish usually uses ha ont as a fixed expression.

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What exactly is ont here?

Ont is the form used in the expression ha ont.

You do not need to analyze it too literally every time; it is best learned as a chunk:

• ha ont = to be in pain / to hurt

You will also see it in other sentences:

• Jag har ont i huvudet. = I have a headache / My head hurts
• Hon har ont i ryggen. = Her back hurts

So for learners, the safest approach is: memorize ha ont as one common pattern.

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Why is it i örat?