Breakdown of Vänta på mig!
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
mig
me
vänta
to wait / to expect (a baby)
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Questions & Answers about Vänta på mig!
Why does the command form Vänta end in an -a here? I thought commands were just the stem of the verb.
It actually is the stem! The verb att vänta (to wait) belongs to a very common group of Swedish verbs whose stems naturally end in an -a. Because of this, the imperative (command) form looks exactly the same as the infinitive (dictionary) form.
Why do we use på instead of för to mean "for"?
Prepositions rarely translate perfectly between languages. In Swedish, you literally "wait on" someone. The verb vänta almost always pairs with the preposition på when you are waiting for a person, a bus, or an event.
How is mig pronounced in this sentence?
Even though it is spelled mig, it is pronounced like the English word "may" (often written as mej to show the pronunciation). This is standard for almost all spoken Swedish.
Would I change the word Vänta if I am yelling at a group of people instead of just one person?
Nope! In modern Swedish, the command form vänta is used whether you are talking to one person, a group of friends, or a formal acquaintance. It never changes.