Indefinite spatial adverbs (någonstans)

Location, Direction, and Origin

Swedish makes a strict distinction between location (where you are), direction (where you are going), and origin (where you are coming from). When talking about an unspecified place like "somewhere", the adverb changes depending on the motion involved.

  • Use någonstans for a static location.
  • Use någonvart for a destination or direction of movement.
  • Use någonstans ifrån for the origin of a movement or sound.
The GPS shows that we are somewhere in the forest.
Gps:en visar att vi är någonstans i skogen.
If the forest were not so dense, we would get somewhere.
Om skogen inte var så tät, skulle vi komma någonvart.
We got to hear a sound from somewhere.
Vi fick höra ett ljud någonstans ifrån.

Nowhere

The same location versus direction logic applies when talking about "nowhere" or "not anywhere".

  • Use ingenstans when something is located nowhere.
  • Use ingenvart when a movement or action leads nowhere.
The cache is nowhere here.
Gömman finns ingenstans här.
This coordinate leads us nowhere.
Den här koordinaten leder oss ingenvart.

Somewhere Else

If you are searching for a hidden geocache and need to check "somewhere else", use the phrase någon annanstans. In modern Swedish, this phrase conveniently acts as both a location and a direction, so you do not need to memorize a separate directional form.

The cache must be located somewhere else.
Gömman måste ligga någon annanstans.
The coordinate points somewhere else.
Koordinaten pekar någon annanstans.
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