Dropping Vowels
When a Swedish noun ends in an unstressed -el, -er, or -en, adding a full definite suffix would create an awkward string of syllables (like cykelen or papperet). To make them easier to pronounce, these words drop a vowel in their definite form.
En-words: Just add -n
For en-words ending in -el or -er, the rule is simple: instead of adding the full -en suffix, they just take -n. The spelling of the noun itself doesn't change.
| Indefinite | Definite |
|---|---|
| en nyckel (a key) | nyckeln (the key) |
| en syster (a sister) | systern (the sister) |
| I do not find the key today. | Idag hittar jag inte nyckeln. |
| The sister and the daughter are coming home soon. | Systern och dottern kommer hem snart. |
Ett-words: Drop the stem vowel
For ett-words ending in -el, -er, or -en, the change happens inside the word itself. They drop the e in their final syllable before adding the standard -et suffix.
| Indefinite | Definite |
|---|---|
| ett papper (a paper) | pappret (the paper) |
| ett tecken (a sign) | tecknet (the sign) |
| We want the sugar for the coffee. | Vi vill ha sockret till kaffet. |
| Do you see the sign? | Ser du tecknet? |
Putting It Together
Let's look at a few more examples where these spelling rules apply. Notice how dropping the extra vowels helps the sentences flow more smoothly!
| She finds the paper and the key. | Hon hittar pappret och nyckeln. |
| The daughter sees the bird in the tree. | Dottern ser fågeln i trädet. |
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