Sometimes, just hoping isn't enough. When you are waiting for a stroke of luck or practicing a bit of superstition, you might want to express a dramatic, desperate wish.
| I am not superstitious, but I avoid black cats. | Jag är inte skrockfull, men jag undviker svarta katter. |
The Auxiliary Verb måtte
To express a strong hope or a desperate wish, Swedish uses the optative modal auxiliary verb måtte. This is an old-fashioned, highly expressive word that translates to "May...!" in English (as in "May luck be on our side!").
Because måtte is a modal verb, it works together with a bare infinitive. To form a standalone wish, place måtte at the very beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject, and then the infinitive verb.
- Formula: Måtte
- subject + bare infinitive + ...!
| May the amulet protect the one who has it! | Måtte amuletten beskydda den som har den! |
| May I find a four-leaf clover before the sun goes down! | Måtte jag hitta en fyrklöver innan solen går ner! |
Wishing for Magic and Luck
This dramatic phrasing is perfect for invoking spells or leaving things up to chance. Notice how the sentence structure remains consistently verb-first, driving home the urgency of the wish.
| May chance help us find each other! | Måtte slumpen hjälpa oss att hitta varandra! |
| May the spell work when we begin the ritual! | Måtte trollformeln fungera när vi börjar ritualen! |