Noun Compounds and Linking Letters
When combining two nouns to make a new word, you cannot always just push them together. Often, the first word changes its form slightly to link smoothly with the second word.
This "glue" is usually an added letter (like -a- or -s-), a dropped vowel, or a vowel that changes into an -o-.
Adding a Linking Vowel (-a-)
Some root words add an -a- when they become the first half of a compound. For example, gud (god) + saga (tale) becomes gudasaga, and berg (mountain) + kung (king) becomes bergakung.
| Myths are old but exciting. | Gudasagor är gamla men spännande. |
| The mountain king hid the gold in the mountain. | Bergakungen gömde guldet i berget. |
Words Ending in -a (Dropping or Changing to -o-)
If the first noun in a compound naturally ends in -a, it rarely keeps it. It will usually either drop the vowel completely, or change it to an -o-.
For example, häxa (witch) drops its -a before konst (art/craft) to become häxkonst (witchcraft).
| The art of witchcraft is difficult but fascinating. | Häxkonsten är svår men fascinerande. |
On the other hand, saga (fairy tale) changes its -a to an -o- before väsen (creature) to become sagoväsen (fairy tale creature).
| This fairy tale creature is very shy. | Det här sagoväsendet är mycket blygt. |
Adding a Linking -s-
The letter -s- is the most common linking "glue" in Swedish. You will frequently see it joining nouns, especially when the first word ends in a consonant.
For example, kärlek (love) and dryck (potion) combine with an -s- to form kärleksdryck. Similarly, skog (forest) adds an -s- to become skogsrå (forest spirit).
| He gave her the love potion. | Han gav henne kärleksdrycken. |
| The forest spirit is beautiful but cold. | Skogsrået är vackert men kallt. |