Questions & Answers about Vad häftigt!
Why do we use "Vad" here when the English translation says "How"?
In Swedish exclamations, vad is used directly before an adjective or adverb to mean "How...!". So, Vad häftigt! literally translates to "What cool!" but is the natural way to say "How cool!" in Swedish.
Why couldn't I say "Hur häftigt!" since "hur" means "how"?
You use hur with adjectives when asking a question, like Hur stort är det? (How big is it?). But when you are making an exclamatory statement to express a strong reaction, you must use vad.
Why is it "häftigt" with a "-t" instead of just "häftig"?
Because this is a general exclamation not referring to a specific en-word noun. When describing a general situation or event, adjectives take the neuter -t ending. You'll see this in other common phrases like Vad roligt! (How fun!) or Vad tråkigt! (How boring!).
Are there other meanings for the word "häftig"?
Yes! While it is very commonly used as slang for "cool" or "awesome", its more formal meaning is "intense", "fierce", or "sudden". For example, a häftig storm means a fierce storm.
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