Breakdown of Jag råkade avslöja hemligheten.
jag
I
hemligheten
the secret
avslöja
to reveal
råka
to happen to
Questions & Answers about Jag råkade avslöja hemligheten.
Why isn't there an att (to) before avslöja?
The verb råka works like a modal verb here. Even though it translates to "happened to" or "accidentally", it takes a bare infinitive in Swedish. So you say råkade avslöja without the infinitive marker att, just like you would with verbs like kan or måste.
Does råkade always mean "accidentally", or can it just mean "happened to" by chance?
It can mean both! Depending on the context, råka can mean making a mistake (accidentally revealing a secret) or just a pure coincidence (happening to see a friend in town). Here, because revealing a secret is usually a mistake, "accidentally" is the most natural English translation.
Is there a connection between avslöja and the word for "veil"?
Yes, good eye! The noun en slöja means a veil. By adding the prefix av- (off/away), you get avslöja, which literally means to "unveil". It is the standard Swedish word for revealing a secret, exposing a lie, or uncovering the truth.
Could I express this without using råkade, for example by using an adverb?
Yes, you could use the phrase av misstag (by mistake). The sentence would then be Jag avslöjade hemligheten av misstag. However, using råka as a semi-modal helper verb is incredibly common in spoken Swedish and often sounds much more natural for accidental actions.
Learn Jag råkade avslöja hemligheten and more in Swedish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free