Breakdown of Vad syftar du på när du talar om oväsendet?
du
you (singular)
vad
what
på
on / at / for (wait for) / in (believe in)
när
when
Questions & Answers about Vad syftar du på när du talar om oväsendet?
Why is the preposition på separated from Vad in the first clause?
Just like in English, Swedish often leaves the preposition at the end of the clause when asking a question. This is called preposition stranding. Instead of asking På vad syftar du? (To what are you referring?), you place the preposition på after the verb and subject: Vad syftar du på? (What are you referring to?).
What is the base verb for syftar, and how does på change its meaning?
The base verb is att syfta, which usually means to aim (like aiming at a target) or to have a purpose. However, when you add the preposition på to create the phrasal verb att syfta på, the meaning changes to 'to refer to' or 'to allude to'.
How is the word oväsendet formed?
It is the definite form (meaning 'the noise') of the ett-word ett oväsen (a noise or racket). To make it definite, you add -det to the end, creating oväsendet. The prefix o- in Swedish often implies something negative, so here it turns ett väsen (which can mean a creature or a sound) into a disturbing noise.
Could I use pratar instead of talar in this sentence?