Bedeutung
Picking up a call.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Swedes are very tech-savvy but also value 'telefontid' (phone time). It is common for businesses to have very specific hours when they answer the phone. In Finland-Swedish, the usage is identical, but the tone might be slightly more formal when answering. In Swedish offices, 'att svara i telefon' is often a shared responsibility. There is a culture of 'alla hjälps åt' (everyone helps out). Many young Swedes consider it stressful to 'svara i telefon' from unknown numbers due to the prevalence of telemarketers.
The 'i' Rule
Whenever you use a communication device in Swedish (radio, TV, phone), the preposition is almost always 'i'.
Don't say 'Svara telefonen'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. It sounds very 'Swenglish'.
Bedeutung
Picking up a call.
The 'i' Rule
Whenever you use a communication device in Swedish (radio, TV, phone), the preposition is almost always 'i'.
Don't say 'Svara telefonen'
This is the most common mistake for English speakers. It sounds very 'Swenglish'.
Definite vs Indefinite
Use 'svara i telefon' for the general skill/task, and 'svara i telefonen' when a specific phone is ringing right next to you.
Identify Yourself
When you 'svarar i telefon', it's polite to say your name immediately so the caller knows who they are talking to.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing preposition.
Jag kan inte svara ___ telefon just nu.
In Swedish, you always answer 'i' (in) the phone.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct way to say 'He answered the phone'.
'Svarade' is the past tense, and 'i' is the correct preposition.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Det ringer i din mobil! B: Åh, kan du ____?
When a phone rings, the appropriate action is to 'svara' (answer).
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are in a meeting and your phone rings. What do you say?
You are responding to an incoming call, so 'svara' is correct.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenJag kan inte svara ___ telefon just nu.
In Swedish, you always answer 'i' (in) the phone.
Choose the correct way to say 'He answered the phone'.
'Svarade' is the past tense, and 'i' is the correct preposition.
A: Det ringer i din mobil! B: Åh, kan du ____?
When a phone rings, the appropriate action is to 'svara' (answer).
You are in a meeting and your phone rings. What do you say?
You are responding to an incoming call, so 'svara' is correct.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, but you still need the preposition: 'Svara i mobilen'.
No, it is neutral and used in all contexts.
'Svara i' is for phones. 'Svara på' is for questions, emails, or 'samtal' (calls). You can say 'Svara på ett samtal' but 'Svara i telefon'.
You can say 'Jag tar det' or 'Jag svarar'.
Yes, as an imperative to someone else, but it can sound a bit rude if not said with a nice tone.
Historically, you were 'in' the connection or 'in' the apparatus. It's a linguistic fossil.
If a specific phone is ringing, 'telefonen' is more natural. If talking about the duty of answering phones, 'telefon' is fine.
You can still say 'svara i telefon' if it's on a phone, but 'svara i datorn' or just 'svara' is also common.
It means 'pick up the receiver'. It's more literal and slightly dated, but still understood.
Say 'Jag kan inte svara i telefon just nu'.
Yes, but identifying yourself is more traditionally Swedish.
It means to actively decline a call (to click the 'end' button).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Prata i telefon
similarTo talk on the phone
Ringa någon
contrastTo call someone
Lägga på
contrastTo hang up
Sitta i telefon
specialized formTo be busy on a call
Svara på ett samtal
synonymTo answer a call
