Learn Swedish: Jag gillar smidiga mobiler, men de är dyra. - I like convenient mobiles, but they are expensive.

The suffix -ig is used to turn verbs or nouns into adjectives, often meaning 'having the quality of'. Smidig comes from the verb smida (to forge or shape). Over time, it came to mean flexible, smooth, or convenient. The extra -a at the end is there because it describes a plural noun.

Why do both smidiga and dyra end with an -a in this sentence?

Adjectives in Swedish must match the number of the noun they describe. Since mobiler is plural, the adjective before it becomes smidiga. The same rule applies after the verb: the pronoun de (they) is plural, so the adjective describing it becomes dyra.

Does smidig only describe objects like phones?

No, it is a very versatile word! When describing things or plans, it means convenient, hassle-free, or smooth. When describing people or animals, it means agile, physically flexible, or easy to cooperate with.

Is de pronounced the way it is spelled in this sentence?

No, in standard spoken Swedish, the pronoun de (they) is almost always pronounced as dom. When you read this sentence aloud, you should say 'men dom är dyra'.