Learn Swedish: Varför är de gamla knivarna här?

In Swedish, when a definite noun like knivarna (the knives) has an adjective in front of it, you have to add an extra "the" word before the adjective. This is called the double definite. You use the plural article de, the adjective gamla, and the definite plural noun knivarna.

How should I pronounce the word de in this sentence?

Even though it is spelled de, it is almost always pronounced like the English word "dom". This is the plural word for "the" (and also "they"), and saying "dom" is the standard way to pronounce it in everyday spoken Swedish.

Why is it gamla instead of gammal?

Because we are talking about multiple knives, the adjective needs a plural ending. The root word gammal (old) changes slightly when you add the required -a ending, dropping an "m" and an "a" to become gamla. You also always use this -a form after the definite article de.

How is the word knivarna built from the base word for "knife"?