Bedeutung
To succumb or yield to something.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Swedish workplace culture, 'att ge vika' is often part of the 'MBL' (Co-determination Act) process where employers and unions negotiate. Yielding is seen as a tool for stability. The phrase is used identically, but often with a slightly more rugged connotation regarding nature and survival in harsh winters. In international negotiations, Swedes are known for being flexible but may use 'ge vika' in internal debriefs to describe when they felt they compromised too much. Classic authors like Vilhelm Moberg use 'ge vika' to describe the psychological breaking point of pioneers and farmers facing starvation.
Use in Writing
Use 'ge vika för' in your B2/C1 writing exams to describe societal changes. It sounds much more professional than 'ändra sig'.
Preposition Alert
Always use 'för'. Never use 'till' or 'mot' with 'ge vika'.
Bedeutung
To succumb or yield to something.
Use in Writing
Use 'ge vika för' in your B2/C1 writing exams to describe societal changes. It sounds much more professional than 'ändra sig'.
Preposition Alert
Always use 'för'. Never use 'till' or 'mot' with 'ge vika'.
The Ice Metaphor
Swedes love nature metaphors. Using 'ge vika' for abstract things makes you sound more like a native speaker who understands the Nordic environment.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'ge vika för'.
Isen var för tunn och ______ ______ ______ mannens tyngd.
The sentence is in the past tense, so we use 'gav'. The correct preposition is 'för'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a political context?
A) Han gav vika för sina kläder. B) Partiet gav vika för väljarnas krav. C) Bron gav vika för bilen.
B describes a political party yielding to voters, which is a perfect figurative use.
Match the situation with the correct Swedish sentence.
1. Structural failure, 2. Temptation, 3. Peer pressure
Taket (roof) is structural, chokladen is temptation, grupptrycket is peer pressure.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ska du verkligen köpa den dyra mobilen? B: Ja, jag kan inte låta bli. Jag ______ ______ ______ begäret.
The speaker is currently yielding to their desire (begäret).
In which situation would you NOT use 'ge vika för'?
A) A bridge collapsing. B) A person losing a tennis match 6-0. C) A politician changing their mind after a protest.
Losing a sports match is 'förlora'. 'Ge vika' implies yielding to pressure, not just being outplayed.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Yielding Synonyms
Aufgabensammlung
5 AufgabenIsen var för tunn och ______ ______ ______ mannens tyngd.
The sentence is in the past tense, so we use 'gav'. The correct preposition is 'för'.
A) Han gav vika för sina kläder. B) Partiet gav vika för väljarnas krav. C) Bron gav vika för bilen.
B describes a political party yielding to voters, which is a perfect figurative use.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
Taket (roof) is structural, chokladen is temptation, grupptrycket is peer pressure.
A: Ska du verkligen köpa den dyra mobilen? B: Ja, jag kan inte låta bli. Jag ______ ______ ______ begäret.
The speaker is currently yielding to their desire (begäret).
A) A bridge collapsing. B) A person losing a tennis match 6-0. C) A politician changing their mind after a protest.
Losing a sports match is 'förlora'. 'Ge vika' implies yielding to pressure, not just being outplayed.
🎉 Ergebnis: /5
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but it usually refers to their will or their stance, not their physical body (unless they are literally collapsing).
Not exactly. 'Ge upp' is 'to quit'. 'Ge vika' is 'to yield to a specific pressure'.
It is neutral to formal. You can use it in a newspaper or a serious conversation.
The past tense is 'gav vika'. Example: 'Han gav vika för trycket.'
Yes, 'vika sig för' is a common alternative, but 'ge vika för' is slightly more formal.
In a physical sense, yes. In a figurative sense, it means someone changed their mind or stopped resisting.
Yes, to describe a defense that finally lets the other team score.
No, that is just 'vika tvätt'. No 'ge' involved.
The opposite is 'att stå emot' (to resist) or 'att hålla stånd' (to hold one's ground).
Extremely common, especially in headlines about politics and accidents.
Verwandte Redewendungen
ge efter för
synonymTo give in to something.
vika sig
similarTo fold/yield.
stå emot
contrastTo resist.
kapitulera
builds onTo surrender completely.
backa
similarTo back down.
