Skulden minskar efter delbetalningen.

Skulden is the definite singular form of skuld, which means debt.

• en skuld = a debt
• skulden = the debt

In Swedish, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun, instead of being a separate word like the in English.

So:

• Skulden minskar = The debt is decreasing / decreases

For the same reason: delbetalningen is the definite singular form of delbetalning.

• en delbetalning = a partial payment / an installment payment
• delbetalningen = the partial payment

So efter delbetalningen means after the partial payment or after the installment payment.

Swedish often uses the definite form when referring to a specific thing that is already understood from the context.

Minskar is the present tense of the verb minska, meaning to decrease, to get smaller, or to be reduced.

Examples:

• Skulden minskar. = The debt decreases / is decreasing.
• Priset minskar. = The price decreases.

One useful thing for English speakers: Swedish verbs do not change depending on the subject.

So you get:

• jag minskar
• du minskar
• skulden minskar

The verb form stays the same in the present tense.

Swedish often uses the simple present where English might use either the simple present or the present progressive.

So:

• Skulden minskar can mean:
  • The debt decreases
  • The debt is decreasing

Swedish does not normally form an -ing tense the way English does. The plain present tense often covers both meanings.

Efter means after. It is a preposition.

In efter delbetalningen, it tells you after what event or point in time the debt decreases.

Examples:

• efter mötet = after the meeting
• efter jobbet = after work
• efter delbetalningen = after the partial payment

So the sentence structure is straightforward:

• Skulden = the debt
• minskar = decreases
• efter delbetalningen = after the partial payment

Yes. Swedish very often combines words into compound nouns.

Here:

• del = part / partial
• betalning = payment

Together:

• delbetalning = partial payment or sometimes installment payment

English often writes these as two words, but Swedish commonly writes them as one word.

This is extremely common in Swedish, so learners should get used to looking for smaller parts inside longer nouns.

This is the normal Swedish word order for a basic main clause:

subject + verb + adverbial

So here:

• Skulden = subject
• minskar = verb
• efter delbetalningen = time-related prepositional phrase

That gives:

• Skulden minskar efter delbetalningen.

This is very similar to normal English word order:

• The debt decreases after the partial payment.

Yes. That is also correct.

Swedish follows the V2 rule in main clauses, which means the finite verb usually comes in the second position.

So if you move Efter delbetalningen to the front, the verb must still come second:

• Efter delbetalningen minskar skulden.

This version puts more focus on after the partial payment.

Compare:

• Skulden minskar efter delbetalningen. = neutral statement
• Efter delbetalningen minskar skulden. = emphasis on the timing

Skuld is an en word.

So its forms are:

• en skuld = a debt
• skulden = the debt
• skulder = debts
• skulderna = the debts

Likewise, delbetalning is also an en word:

• en delbetalning
• delbetalningen

Learning whether a noun is en or ett is very important, because it affects articles and adjective forms.

Yes, depending on context.

A delbetalning can mean:

• a payment that covers only part of a total amount
• a payment made as one of several installments

In financial contexts, it is often understood as an installment payment. In a more general context, it may simply mean partial payment.

So the exact English translation depends on the situation, but the Swedish word works naturally in both types of context.

A very literal breakdown would be:

• Skulden = the debt
• minskar = decreases / is decreasing
• efter = after
• delbetalningen = the partial payment / the installment payment

So, word for word:

The debt decreases after the partial payment.

That literal structure matches the Swedish sentence quite closely, which makes this a nice example for learners.