Breakdown of Vilken underbar tårta!
vilken
which (en) / what a (en-word, exclamatory)
tårtan
the cake (layered, with cream/frosting)
underbar
wonderful
Questions & Answers about Vilken underbar tårta!
Why do we use vilken here to say "what a", instead of vad?
While vad means "what" in regular questions, Swedish uses vilken (for en-words), vilket (for ett-words), or vilka (for plurals) to make exclamations like "What a...!". We use vilken here because tårta is an en-word (en tårta).
Why is there no word for "a" in the Swedish sentence?
In English, we say "What a wonderful cake!", but in Swedish, vilken covers both words. Adding an extra en (like Vilken en underbar tårta!) is incorrect.
Why is the adjective underbar and not underbara?
Exclamatory phrases with vilken, vilket, or vilka are always followed by the indefinite (basic) forms of the adjective and noun. Because tårta is a singular en-word, the adjective takes its basic en-word form, underbar.
What is the difference between en tårta and en kaka?
En tårta is specifically a fancy, decorated layer cake, like you would serve at a birthday or wedding. En kaka is a broader word that can mean a simple, un-frosted sponge cake, or a smaller baked good like a cookie or biscuit.
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