Learn Swedish: Är du nervös, eller känner du dig trygg? - Are you nervous, or do you feel safe?

In Swedish, the verb känna on its own means "to know (a person)" or "to physically touch". When you want to talk about experiencing an emotion or state, you must use the reflexive verb känna sig (literally "to feel oneself"). Because the subject here is du (you), the matching reflexive pronoun is dig.

Could I use a Group 3 verb like må (to feel) here instead of känner sig?

Not quite! While må translates to "feel", it is only used for your overall health or well-being (like jag mår bra, meaning "I feel fine"). When you want to say you feel a specific emotion or condition—like being safe (trygg) or nervous (nervös)—you need to use känna sig.

Why is the verb känner placed before du in the second half of the sentence?

The word eller (or) connects two independent clauses. Because the whole sentence is asking a question, both halves use question word order. In Swedish yes/no questions, the verb must come first, which is why känner jumps in front of du.

What is the difference between trygg and säker if they both translate to "safe"?