When discussing the verb “kasta,” meaning “to throw,” at a C1 level, it’s useful to delve into its nuances and common phrasal uses beyond a simple direct translation. While the core meaning remains 'to throw,' its application can be more figurative or context-dependent in advanced Swedish. Consider how “kasta” can be used reflexively, such as in “kasta sig” (to throw oneself), which can imply hurrying or diving into something, for example, “Han kastade sig in i arbetet” (He threw himself into the work). Additionally, it appears in various idiomatic expressions where the act of throwing isn't literal. For instance, “kasta bort” means to throw away or waste, as in “kasta bort tid” (to waste time), highlighting a more abstract application of the verb.
§ What does 'kasta' mean and when do people use it?
The Swedish verb 'kasta' (pronounced KAH-stah) is your go-to word for 'to throw'. It's a fundamental verb that you'll hear and use frequently in everyday Swedish. Just like in English, 'to throw' can mean a few different things, and 'kasta' covers most of them.
- DEFINITION
- To propel something through the air with force, typically with the hand and arm. It can also mean to discard or get rid of something.
Let's break down the common uses of 'kasta'.
- Physical act of throwing: This is the most direct and common meaning. Whether you're throwing a ball, a stick for a dog, or a stone into water, 'kasta' is the verb you'll use.
Jag ska kasta bollen till dig. (I will throw the ball to you.)
Kan du kasta den här pinnen? (Can you throw this stick?)
- To discard or throw away: This is another very common usage. When you're talking about putting something in the trash, recycling, or generally getting rid of it, 'kasta' is the verb.
Jag måste kasta soporna. (I need to throw out the trash.)
Ska vi kasta de gamla tidningarna? (Should we throw away the old newspapers?)
- Figurative uses: While less common at the A2 level, 'kasta' can also be used in some figurative expressions, similar to English.
Han kastade en blick på mig. (He threw a glance at me.)
In summary, 'kasta' is a versatile verb. Its primary meanings are about physically throwing something and discarding something. Pay attention to the context, and you'll quickly get the hang of which meaning is intended.
Understanding these basic uses will help you navigate many daily conversations in Swedish. Keep practicing with examples, and you'll soon be using 'kasta' like a native speaker.
Next, we'll look at how 'kasta' changes depending on the tense.
How Formal Is It?
"Kasta skräpet i papperskorgen. (Throw the trash in the bin.)"
"Vill du kasta bollen? (Do you want to throw the ball?)"
"Slängde du nycklarna där? (Did you chuck the keys over there?)"
"Kasta bollen till hunden! (Throw the ball to the dog!)"
"Jag måste kasta i mig lite mat. (I need to wolf down some food.)"
Aussprachehilfe
- Mispronouncing the 'a' sound (should be like the 'a' in 'father').
- Not stressing the first syllable.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Kasta bollen till mig, tack.
Throw the ball to me, please.
Verb 'kasta' in imperative form.
Han kastade sten i vattnet.
He threw a stone into the water.
Verb 'kasta' in past tense (preteritum).
Varför vill du kasta bort den gamla stolen?
Why do you want to throw away the old chair?
Pharsal verb 'kasta bort' meaning 'to throw away'.
Hon kastade ett öga på klockan.
She cast an eye at the clock.
Idiomatic expression 'kasta ett öga' meaning 'to glance'.
Jag måste kasta ut soporna.
I have to throw out the garbage.
Pharsal verb 'kasta ut' meaning 'to throw out'.
De kastade ankar i hamnen.
They cast anchor in the harbor.
Idiomatic expression 'kasta ankar' meaning 'to anchor'.
Han kastade sig på sängen.
He threw himself onto the bed.
Reflexive verb 'kasta sig' meaning 'to throw oneself'.
Man ska inte kasta pärlor för svin.
One should not cast pearls before swine.
Proverb, 'kasta pärlor för svin' meaning 'to waste something valuable on those who won't appreciate it'.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"Kasta yxan i sjön"
Give up, throw in the towel
Jag har försökt lösa det här problemet i timmar, men nu kastar jag yxan i sjön. (I've been trying to solve this problem for hours, but now I'm giving up.)
neutral"Kasta pärlor för svin"
To cast pearls before swine (to offer something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate it)
Att försöka förklara klassisk musik för honom är som att kasta pärlor för svin. (Trying to explain classical music to him is like casting pearls before swine.)
neutral"Kasta sten i glashus"
To live in a glass house and throw stones (to criticize others for faults you share)
Du ska inte kasta sten i glashus när du själv är sen varje dag. (You shouldn't throw stones in a glass house when you're late every day yourself.)
neutral"Kasta ur sig"
To blurt out, to say something impulsively
Hon kastade ur sig ett skämt som inte var särskilt passande. (She blurted out a joke that wasn't very appropriate.)
neutral"Kasta sig in i"
To throw oneself into (to get involved enthusiastically)
Han kastade sig in i arbetet med full energi. (He threw himself into the work with full energy.)
neutral"Kasta ett öga på"
To cast an eye on, to quickly look at
Kan du kasta ett öga på det här dokumentet innan jag skickar det? (Can you cast an eye on this document before I send it?)
neutral"Kasta loss"
To cast off (a boat), to start something new (figurative)
Det är dags att kasta loss och ge sig ut på nya äventyr. (It's time to cast off and embark on new adventures.)
neutral"Kasta skit på någon"
To badmouth someone, to spread negative rumors
Det är inte schysst att kasta skit på sina kollegor. (It's not fair to badmouth your colleagues.)
informal"Kasta omkull"
To throw down, to overturn
Vinden var så stark att den höll på att kasta omkull träden. (The wind was so strong that it was about to throw down the trees.)
neutral"Kasta in handduken"
To throw in the towel, to give up
Efter flera försök fick han till slut kasta in handduken. (After several attempts, he finally had to throw in the towel.)
neutralHäufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTo conjugate 'kasta' in the present tense, you add '-r' to the stem. So it becomes kastar. For example, 'Jag kastar bollen' (I throw the ball).
The past tense (preteritum) of 'kasta' is regular. You add '-ade' to the stem, making it kastade. For instance, 'Hon kastade stenen' (She threw the stone).
Yes, 'kasta' is commonly used for throwing away trash or discarding things. You can say 'Kasta skräpet' (Throw away the trash) or 'Jag kastar gamla kläder' (I throw away old clothes).
Absolutely! A common one is 'kasta bort' which means 'to throw away' or 'to waste'. For example, 'Kasta inte bort maten!' (Don't throw away the food!)
The imperative form of 'kasta' is simply the stem: kasta. So, 'Kasta bollen hit!' (Throw the ball here!).
For 'to throw up', you would use 'kasta upp'. For example, 'Jag mår illa och måste kasta upp' (I feel sick and have to throw up).
Yes, it can. 'Kasta sig' means 'to throw oneself' or 'to dive'. For example, 'Han kastade sig i vattnet' (He threw himself into the water).
Both 'kasta' and 'slänga' mean 'to throw'. 'Kasta' is generally more neutral, while 'slänga' often implies a more casual or sometimes forceful throw, often with the intention of getting rid of something. You could 'kasta en boll' (throw a ball) or 'slänga skräp' (throw away trash).
The supine form of 'kasta' is kastat. This is used with 'har' (have) to form the present perfect tense. For example, 'Jag har kastat bollen' (I have thrown the ball).
No, you cannot use 'kasta' for 'throwing a party' in Swedish. For 'to throw a party', you would typically say 'ha en fest' (to have a party) or 'ordna en fest' (to arrange a party).
Teste dich selbst 24 Fragen
Jag ska ___ bollen till dig. (I will ___ the ball to you.)
The verb 'kasta' means 'to throw', which fits the context of throwing a ball.
Kan du ___ skräpet i papperskorgen? (Can you ___ the trash in the bin?)
To 'kasta' means to 'throw' or 'discard', which is appropriate for putting trash in a bin.
Barnen gillar att ___ snöbollar. (The children like to ___ snowballs.)
'Kasta' is the correct verb for throwing snowballs.
Han vill ___ en sten i vattnet. (He wants to ___ a stone in the water.)
'Kasta' means 'to throw', which is what you do with a stone in water.
Var försiktig så du inte ___ något! (Be careful so you don't ___ anything!)
Here, 'kastar' (the present tense of 'kasta') means 'throw', which makes sense in the context of being careful not to throw something.
Vi ska ___ bort de gamla kläderna. (We are going to ___ away the old clothes.)
'Kasta bort' means 'to throw away', which is suitable for old clothes.
Vilket ord betyder 'to throw'?
The word 'kasta' means 'to throw' in Swedish.
Han vill ___ bollen till sin vän. (He wants to ___ the ball to his friend.)
In this sentence, 'kasta' is the correct verb to complete the meaning 'to throw the ball'.
Vad gör du när du inte vill ha något längre och lägger det i soporna?
To 'kasta det' (throw it away) is what you do with something you don't want and put in the trash.
Ordet 'kasta' är ett substantiv.
'Kasta' is a verb, meaning 'to throw', not a noun.
Du kan kasta en boll.
Yes, it is common to 'kasta' (throw) a ball.
Att 'kasta' betyder att behålla något.
No, 'kasta' means to throw, which is the opposite of keeping something.
He threw the ball to his friend.
The wind tossed the branches back and forth.
Don't throw away food that is still good.
Read this aloud:
Jag ska kasta skräpet i sopkorgen.
Focus: ska kasta skräpet
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hon kastade en blick på klockan.
Focus: kastade en blick
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
De bestämde sig för att kasta loss och segla iväg.
Focus: kasta loss och segla
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means: 'Please do not throw your dirty feet on the table.' It's a humorous and idiomatic way of telling someone to keep their feet off the table, often used in a lighthearted manner, implying a 'throwing' motion in the sense of putting them up carelessly.
This means: 'He tried to throw himself from all hopelessness.' 'Kasta sig från' can be used metaphorically to mean to escape or distance oneself from something overwhelming like despair.
This means: 'She tried to shed light on the problem.' 'Kasta ljus över något' is an idiom meaning to illuminate or clarify an issue.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
