Bedeutung
Short for best friend.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The '-is' suffix is a hallmark of 'Folkhems-svenska' (the Swedish of the people). It reflects an egalitarian society where language is simplified to be inclusive and friendly. In Swedish schools, having a 'bästis' is a major part of social development. Teachers often talk about 'bästisar' when discussing social dynamics in the classroom. Sweden is one of the most digitally connected countries. 'Bästis' is a staple of 'SMS-språk' (text speak) because it is short and carries high emotional value. Many famous Swedish children's books, like 'Eva & Adam', revolve around the 'bästis' relationship, highlighting its importance in the culture.
The '-is' rule
You can spot many informal Swedish words by the '-is' ending. It always makes the word more casual.
Gender Neutral
Bästis works for all genders. You don't need to change it for men or women.
Bedeutung
Short for best friend.
The '-is' rule
You can spot many informal Swedish words by the '-is' ending. It always makes the word more casual.
Gender Neutral
Bästis works for all genders. You don't need to change it for men or women.
Plural form
If you have a group of very close friends, call them 'mina bästisar'.
Social Media
Use #bästis on Instagram to find real-world examples of how Swedes use the word.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'bästis'.
Jag och min ______ har känt varandra hela livet.
We need the singular indefinite form after the possessive 'min'.
Which sentence is most appropriate for a casual Instagram post with a friend?
Choose the best option:
'Bästis' is the perfect casual, warm term for social media.
Match the Swedish word with its English equivalent.
Match the pairs:
These are the standard levels of friendship in Swedish.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Vem är tjejen på fotot? B: Det är min ______.
The speaker is referring to one person (tjejen).
In which situation should you NOT use 'bästis'?
Select the situation:
It is too informal for a professional introduction to a superior.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formal vs. Informal
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenJag och min ______ har känt varandra hela livet.
We need the singular indefinite form after the possessive 'min'.
Choose the best option:
'Bästis' is the perfect casual, warm term for social media.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are the standard levels of friendship in Swedish.
A: Vem är tjejen på fotot? B: Det är min ______.
The speaker is referring to one person (tjejen).
Select the situation:
It is too informal for a professional introduction to a superior.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, while it's very common for kids, adults use it frequently in casual settings or to describe lifelong friends.
Usually no. It's almost always platonic. Use 'älskling' or 'partner' for romantic relationships.
It is 'en bästis'.
The plural is 'bästisar'.
Not at all! It's very sweet and friendly, just too informal for work.
No, that would mean 'my bestie friend'. Just say 'min bästis'.
Say 'mina bästisar'.
Yes, especially among teenagers and on social media.
'Kompis' is a general friend; 'bästis' is your absolute best friend.
Yes! Many Swedes call their pets their 'bästis'.
Yes, 'min bästa vän' is the neutral/formal version.
Yes, it is a universal Swedish word.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Bästa kompis
synonymBest buddy
Barndomsvän
similarChildhood friend
Polare
similarBuddy/Pal
Hjärtevän
specialized formHeart-friend
Själsfrände
similarSoulmate
Bekant
contrastAcquaintance
