Word
Du måste ta på dig mössan.
Meaning
You must put on your beanie.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Du måste ta på dig mössan.
du
you (singular)
måste
to have to, must
ta på sig
to put on (clothes)
mössan
the beanie
Questions & Answers about Du måste ta på dig mössan.
Why does the sentence use mössan (the beanie) instead of din mössa (your beanie)?
In Swedish, when talking about clothing or body parts that belong to the subject, you typically use the definite form (mössan) rather than a possessive pronoun (din). Because the sentence already establishes that you are putting it on yourself (dig), it is perfectly obvious whose beanie it is!
Why is dig needed in this sentence?
The verb phrase for "to put on (clothes)" is reflexive in Swedish: att ta på sig. Since the subject is du (you), the reflexive pronoun must match it, becoming dig. If you left out dig, ta på would just mean "to touch".
Could I change the word order and say ta mössan på dig instead?
No, because ta på is a particle verb. In Swedish, the verb (ta) and its stressed particle (på) generally stick together, followed by the reflexive pronoun (dig) and then the object (mössan). The set pattern is always ta på sig något.
What is the difference between a mössa and a hatt?
A mössa is a soft, usually knitted winter hat or beanie, which is essential everyday wear in Sweden during the colder months. A hatt, on the other hand, is a stiffer hat with a brim, like a fedora or a sun hat.