Questions & Answers about Vad synd! Filmen var tråkig.
Why do we use vad here to mean "what a"?
In Swedish exclamations, vad is often used before an adjective or abstract noun to mean "what a" or "how". Vad synd is a fixed everyday phrase that translates to "what a pity" or "what a shame".
Does the word synd mean "shame" or "sin"?
It can mean both! In everyday conversation, especially in the phrase vad synd, it means a pity or a shame. In a religious context, it means a sin.
Why does the sentence use tråkig instead of tråkigt?
The adjective tråkig describes filmen (the film). Because film is an en word (en film), the adjective stays in its basic form. If we were talking about an ett word, we would add the -t and say tråkigt.
I thought tråkig meant "sad". Does it mean "boring" here?
Tråkig can actually mean both depending on the context. When describing a movie, book, or a lecture, it means "boring". If you are talking about bad news (tråkiga nyheter), it means "sad" or "unfortunate".