Describing Dimensions
In English, we say someone is "two meters tall" or a wall is "ten millimeters thick." Swedish uses this exact same structure. To describe physical measurements, simply use the pattern: [Number] + [Unit of measurement] + [Adjective].
| The baby is sixty centimeters long. | Bebisen är sextio centimeter lång. |
| The baby's toy is ten millimeters thick. | Bebisens leksak är tio millimeter tjock. |
Adjective Agreement
Even though the adjective comes at the very end of a measurement phrase, it still describes the subject of the sentence. This means the adjective must agree with the subject in number and gender.
If you are measuring something plural, the adjective must take its plural -a ending (such as tjocka for thick or höga for tall).
| These walls are only two millimeters thick. | De här väggarna är bara två millimeter tjocka. |
| The cathedral's new pillars are thirty meters tall. | Katedralens nya pelare är trettio meter höga. |
Stating Age
Age in Swedish uses the exact same formula. Instead of physical units like centimeters, use år (years) followed by the adjective gammal (old).
| The pyramid is four thousand years old. | Pyramiden är fyra tusen år gammal. |
Area and Ett-Words
To talk about the total area of a space, use the unit kvadratmeter (square meters) paired with the adjective stor (big).
Just like with plural nouns, you must pay attention to the subject's gender. If the space you are measuring is an ett-word (like ett rum, a room), the adjective takes its ett-word -t ending to become stort.
| The pillar is ten meters tall and the room is one hundred square meters big. | Pelaren är tio meter hög och rummet är hundra kvadratmeter stort. |