Breakdown of Nu fattar jag vad du menar.
jag
I
du
you (singular)
vad
what
mena
to mean (intend to say)
fatta
to get it, to grasp (informal)
Questions & Answers about Nu fattar jag vad du menar.
Why is it fattar jag instead of jag fattar?
Because Swedish uses the V2 rule, meaning the verb must be the second block of information in a main clause. Since the sentence starts with the time word Nu, the verb fattar has to come next, swapping places with the subject jag.
Is fattar the standard word for understand?
It is a very common, casual word that translates perfectly to the English word get in the sense of understanding. The standard, more neutral word is förstår, but you will hear fattar constantly in casual spoken Swedish.
Could I use betyder instead of menar here?
No, because menar is used when a person means or intends something. You use betyder when asking what a word, symbol, or situation means. Since the sentence is about what a person (du) means, menar is the correct choice.
Why is the word order vad du menar and not vad menar du?
Because vad du menar is not a direct question here; it is a subordinate clause (a dependent part of the sentence) acting as the object of what you understand. In Swedish subordinate clauses, the subject (du) comes before the verb (menar), unlike in a direct question.
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