Bedeutung
Asking for the price of an item.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Swedes value honesty and transparency. Prices are usually fixed, and asking 'Vad kostar den?' is a straightforward request for information, not usually the start of a long negotiation. This is the one place where 'Vad kostar den?' might lead to a small discount if you buy multiple items. It's a beloved summer tradition. With the rise of Swish, the answer to 'Vad kostar den?' is often followed by the seller showing a QR code. There is a cultural expectation that prices should be 'lagom' (just right/fair). If something is perceived as too expensive, a Swede might just say 'Oj!' and walk away.
The 'Den' Default
If you aren't sure of the gender, 80% of Swedish nouns are 'en' words, so 'den' is a statistically safe bet!
Silent 'D'
Don't over-pronounce the 'd' in 'Vad'. It makes you sound like a robot. Keep it soft: 'Vah'.
Bedeutung
Asking for the price of an item.
The 'Den' Default
If you aren't sure of the gender, 80% of Swedish nouns are 'en' words, so 'den' is a statistically safe bet!
Silent 'D'
Don't over-pronounce the 'd' in 'Vad'. It makes you sound like a robot. Keep it soft: 'Vah'.
Politeness
Always start with 'Ursäkta' (Excuse me) or 'Hej' (Hello) before asking the price to be polite.
Adding 'här'
Adding 'här' (here) makes it 'Vad kostar den här?' which is very natural when touching an object.
Teste dich selbst
You are pointing at a bag (en väska). Which question is correct?
___ kostar den?
'Vad' is used to ask 'what' or 'how much' in the context of price.
Complete the sentence for an 'en' word.
Vad kostar ____?
'Den' is the correct pronoun for 'en' nouns.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
Kund: Ursäkta, vad kostar den här boken? Expedit: ____ kostar 150 kronor.
Since the customer asked about 'boken' (en-word), the reply must use 'den'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
You want to know the price of a specific 'en' noun.
This is the specific phrase for inquiring about the price of an 'en' noun.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Den vs Det in Price Questions
Aufgabensammlung
4 Aufgaben___ kostar den?
'Vad' is used to ask 'what' or 'how much' in the context of price.
Vad kostar ____?
'Den' is the correct pronoun for 'en' nouns.
Kund: Ursäkta, vad kostar den här boken? Expedit: ____ kostar 150 kronor.
Since the customer asked about 'boken' (en-word), the reply must use 'den'.
You want to know the price of a specific 'en' noun.
This is the specific phrase for inquiring about the price of an 'en' noun.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, but it's very informal and can sound a bit abrupt. 'Vad kostar den?' is much more complete and polite.
A dog is 'en hund', so you would say 'Vad kostar den?'.
No! Swedish verbs don't change for plural. 'Vad kostar de?' is correct for multiple items.
It is spelled 'Vad' but pronounced like 'Vah'. The 'd' is silent.
A house is 'ett hus', so you should say 'Vad kostar det?'.
Ask 'Är den på rea?'.
Not at all. It's a standard, neutral way to ask for information in Sweden.
The past tense is 'kostade'. 'Vad kostade den?' (How much did it cost?).
Say 'Vad kostar den här?'.
Rarely in stores, but often at 'Loppis' (flea markets).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Vad kostar det?
similarHow much is it? (General/Ett-words)
Hur mycket kostar den?
similarHow much does it cost?
Vad går den på?
specialized formWhat does it run for?
Pris?
specialized formPrice?
Det är dyrt
contrastIt is expensive
Det är billigt
contrastIt is cheap
