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### Abstract Nouns with -else and -dom

In Swedish, you can create new abstract nouns to discuss society, philosophy, and emotions by adding suffixes to verbs and adjectives. Two of the most common are *-else* and *-dom*. 

Nouns ending in *-else* or *-dom* are almost always *en* words.

- **-else**: Attached to verbs to describe an action, state, or result. For example, *att förstå* (to understand) becomes *en förståelse* (an understanding).
- **-dom**: Attached to adjectives (and sometimes verbs) to describe a condition or abstract concept. For example, *fattig* (poor) becomes *en fattigdom* (poverty).

Notice how both suffixes are used in their definite forms in this sentence:

{{item:924862}}

### Conditions and Concepts: -dom

The suffix *-dom* turns descriptive states into tangible concepts. Consider the adjectives *vis* (wise) and *rik* (rich), which become *visdom* (wisdom) and *rikedom* (wealth). It can also be added to verb roots, such as forming *lärdom* (lesson learned) from *lära* (to learn/teach).

{{item:924866}}

{{item:924869}}

### Actions and Results: -else

The suffix *-else* turns actions into nouns. For instance, *att övertyga* (to convince) gives us *övertygelse* (conviction), and *att skapa* (to create) gives us *skapelse* (creation). 

{{item:924875}}

It also forms nouns for feelings, such as *besvikelse* (disappointment):

{{item:924878}}

When discussing broad, overarching concepts—like "creation," "poverty," or "understanding"—in a general sense, Swedish frequently uses the definite *-en* form, as seen in the examples above.

Abstract noun suffixes (-else, -dom)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The definite ending (barnet, hunden)

Indefinite articles and -ar verbs (en, ett)

Basic word order

Singular adjectives (stor, stort)

Plural adjectives (-a)

Sentence negation (inte)

Yes/No questions

Basic question words (vad, vem, var)

Regular Group 2 verbs (-er)

Short verbs and irregulars (har, gör)

The infinitive marker (att)

Modal verbs (kan, vill, måste, får)

Future intention (ska)

Time adverbs (imorgon, igår)

Word order inversion

Adverbs of frequency (ibland, aldrig)

Everyday things (dörren, stolen, tåget)

Definite suffix spelling changes

Plural nouns Group 1 and 2 (-or, -ar)

Plural nouns Group 3 (-er, -r)

Neuter indefinite plurals

Definite plural suffixes (-na, -a, -en)

Object pronouns (mig, dig, oss)

Reflexive pronouns (sig)

Expanded question words (när, varför)

Which and what (vilken, vilket, vilka)

Coordinating conjunctions (men, eller, för)

Prepositions of place (i, på, till, från)

Quantifiers (mycket, många)

Indefinite pronouns (någon, något, några)

First and second person possessives (min, din, vår, er)

Third person possessives (hans, hennes, dess, deras)

Reflexive possessives (sin, sitt, sina)

The genitive (-s)

Adjectives before singular nouns

Adjectives before plural nouns (-a)

Double definiteness (den, det, de)

Demonstratives (den här, det här, de här)

The imperative mood

Past tense of vara and ha (var, hade)

Possessives for names (-s)

Definite plural adjectives (de ... -a)

Genitive case for names (-s)

Numbers 1 to 10 (en, två, tre...)

Numbers 11 to 20 (elva till tjugo)

Counting by tens to 100 (trettio, fyrtio...)

Days of the week (måndag, tisdag...)

Months of the year (januari, februari...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (första, andra...)

Greetings and politeness (hej, tack, förlåt)

Particle verbs of direction (gå ut, komma in)

Simple past: Group 1 (-ade)

Simple past: Group 2a (-de)

Simple past: Group 2b (-te)

Simple past: Group 3 (-dde)

Simple past: Group 4

Present perfect: Groups 1 and 2 (har)

Present perfect: Groups 3 and 4

Past perfect (hade)

Future predictions (kommer att)

Future with present tense

The adjective small (liten, litet, små)

Demonstratives of distance (den där, det där, de där)

Negative pronouns (ingen, inget, inga)

Universal pronouns (all, allt, alla)

The generic pronoun (man, en)

Possessive generic pronoun (ens)

Reciprocal pronoun (varandra)

Qualitative pronouns (sådan, sådant, sådana)

Habitual time expressions (på)

Specific past time expressions (i)

Past time expressions (för ... sedan)

Future time expressions (om)

Location and motion adverbs (här/hit, där/dit)

Consequences (så)

Correlative conjunctions (både ... och)

Either and neither (antingen ... eller, varken ... eller)

Verbs of opinion and belief (tycker, tror, tänker)

Subordinate clauses (att, om)

Time clauses (när, innan, medan)

Clauses of cause (eftersom, därför att)

Negation in subordinate clauses (inte)

V2 word order inversion

Relative clauses as subjects (som)

Relative clauses as objects (som)

Relative clauses for places (där)

Adverbs from adjectives (-t)

Adjective comparative and superlative (-are, -ast)

Question	Answer
the understanding	förståelsen
the poverty	fattigdomen
The understanding increased while the poverty decreased.	Förståelsen ökade medan fattigdomen minskade.
the phenomenon	företeelsen
It is hard to understand the phenomenon.	Det är svårt att förstå företeelsen.
the wisdom	visdomen
The wisdom was shared by the old man.	Visdomen delades av den gamla mannen.
the lesson (learned from experience)	lärdomen
the wealth	rikedomen
She remembers the lesson, whereas he only remembers the wealth.	Hon minns lärdomen, medan han bara minns rikedomen.
We hope that the poverty will disappear soon.	Vi hoppas att fattigdomen ska försvinna snart.
He lost the wealth because he was careless.	Han förlorade rikedomen eftersom han var slarvig.
the conviction	övertygelsen
The conviction was created by the society.	Övertygelsen skapades av samhället.
the creation	skapelsen
We share the conviction that the creation is beautiful.	Vi delar övertygelsen att skapelsen är vacker.
the disappointment	besvikelsen
The disappointment was huge when the phenomenon ended.	Besvikelsen var enorm när företeelsen slutade.
I hope that the disappointment disappears.	Jag hoppas att besvikelsen försvinner.
The phenomenon was discussed by the researcher.	Företeelsen diskuterades av forskaren.
Since we have studied the phenomenon, we understand the problem.	Eftersom vi studerat företeelsen förstår vi problemet.
The whole creation breathes while the phenomenon changes.	Hela skapelsen andas medan företeelsen förändras.
The one who has found the wisdom is often calm.	Den som hittat visdomen är ofta lugn.
The wisdom was appreciated by the leader.	Visdomen uppskattades av ledaren.
the forgiveness	förlåtelsen
Love needs understanding and forgiveness.	Kärleken behöver förståelsen och förlåtelsen.
Forgiveness is the important lesson.	Förlåtelsen är den viktiga lärdomen.