Breakdown of Han vill utbilda sig till läkare.
han
he
vilja
to want to
till
to (direction, destination)
läkaren
the doctor
Questions & Answers about Han vill utbilda sig till läkare.
Why is sig needed after utbilda?
The verb utbilda on its own means to educate or train someone else. To say you are getting an education or training for a career, the verb becomes reflexive: utbilda sig (literally educating oneself). This fits the pattern of reflexive verbs that describe acquiring a new status or skill.
Why do we use the preposition till before the profession?
In Swedish, the preposition till is used with professions to express what someone is aiming to become. When you study, train, or educate yourself for a specific career, you use phrases like utbilda sig till, plugga till, or läsa till followed by the job title.
Why is there no en before läkare?
As a quick refresher, Swedish drops the indefinite article (en or ett) when stating someone's profession, role, or nationality after verbs of being or becoming. Even though we say 'a doctor' in English, Swedish just uses the bare noun läkare.
Could I say Han vill träna till läkare instead?
No, träna is strictly used for physical workouts or practicing a repetitive physical skill, like playing a sport or an instrument. When referring to academic studies, formal education, or career training, you must use utbilda sig.