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B1 verb 10 Min. Lesezeit

låna

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Erklärung låna in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn 'låna' as a basic request word. It is one of the first verbs used to interact with others. You use it in simple sentences like 'Jag lånar en bok' (I borrow a book). At this stage, you don't need to worry too much about the 'lend' versus 'borrow' distinction, as most contexts will be about borrowing things from others. You learn the present tense 'lånar' and the polite phrase 'Får jag låna...?' (May I borrow...?). This level focuses on immediate needs and simple social interactions. You might use it at a library or with a classmate. The focus is on the action of taking something temporarily and the basic grammar of Group 1 verbs, which are very regular and easy to conjugate.

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At the A2 level, you begin to distinguish between borrowing and lending by introducing 'låna ut'. You learn that 'ut' changes the direction of the action. You also start using the past tense 'lånade' to talk about things you did yesterday. 'Igår lånade jag en cykel' (Yesterday I borrowed a bike). You become more comfortable with prepositions like 'av' (from). You understand that 'låna av en vän' means borrowing from a friend. You also start to see 'låna' in different contexts, such as at a bank or a library. Your sentences become slightly more complex, incorporating time expressions and basic conjunctions. You are expected to know the four main forms: låna, lånar, lånade, lånat.

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At the B1 level, you master the nuances of 'låna' in various everyday situations. You can handle the ambiguity of the word by using context and particles effectively. You use 'låna ut' consistently when you mean 'to lend'. You also begin to use the perfect tenses: 'Jag har lånat ut min bil' (I have lent out my car). At this level, you understand the cultural context of borrowing in Sweden, such as the importance of returning items on time. You can discuss financial topics like 'bolån' (mortgages) and understand the difference between 'låna' and 'hyra'. You can also use 'låna' in more abstract ways, like 'låna ett öra' (borrow an ear/listen). Your vocabulary expands to include related nouns like 'låntagare' (borrower) and 'långivare' (lender).

At the B2 level, you use 'låna' with complete confidence in both formal and informal settings. You are familiar with more complex sentence structures, including passive forms like 'Böckerna lånades ut snabbt' (The books were lent out quickly). You can participate in debates about economic issues involving 'statslån' (state loans) or interest rates. You understand idiomatic expressions and can use 'låna' metaphorically without hesitation. You are aware of the subtle differences between 'låna', 'leasa', and 'hyra' in professional contexts. Your ability to use the verb in subordinate clauses and with various modal verbs is well-developed. You also recognize the word in literature and more sophisticated media, where it might be used to describe cultural appropriation or the borrowing of ideas between artists.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'låna' is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You understand the historical etymology of the word and how it relates to other Germanic languages. You can use 'låna' in high-level academic or legal discussions, such as those involving 'låneavtal' (loan agreements) or 'immateriella rättigheter' (intellectual property). You are sensitive to the register of the word and can choose alternatives like 'försträcka' in legal texts if necessary. You can analyze how 'låna' is used in complex rhetorical structures. Your understanding of the word includes its role in Swedish compound words and its various prefixes and suffixes. You can discuss the philosophical implications of 'borrowed time' or 'borrowed identity' in Swedish with nuance and precision.

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At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'låna' and all its related forms. You can appreciate and use the word in its most subtle and poetic senses. You are familiar with archaic or dialectal uses of the word that might appear in classical Swedish literature. You can navigate the most complex financial and legal documents involving loans with ease. You can also play with the word in creative writing, using its dual meaning to create puns or double meanings. Your understanding of 'låna' is integrated into a deep knowledge of Swedish culture, history, and social structures. You can explain the linguistic evolution of the word to others and provide detailed comparisons with how similar concepts are expressed in other languages.

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låna in 30 Sekunden

Låna means both 'borrow' and 'lend' in Swedish.
Use 'låna ut' specifically to mean 'lend'.
It is a regular Group 1 verb: låna, lånar, lånade, lånat.
Commonly used at libraries, banks, and in social requests.

The Swedish verb låna is a fascinating pillar of the Swedish language, primarily because it encompasses a dual meaning that often confuses English speakers. While English distinguishes between 'borrow' (taking) and 'lend' (giving), Swedish uses the single root 'låna' for both directions of the transaction. Understanding 'låna' requires paying close attention to the prepositions and particles that accompany it, as these define the flow of the object being shared.

The Directional Core: When you are the recipient, you 'lånar' something av (from) someone. When you are the provider, you 'lånar ut' (lend out) something till (to) someone. This distinction is vital for clarity in everyday Swedish conversation.
Everyday Reciprocity: In Swedish culture, the concept of 'låna' is deeply tied to social trust. Whether it is a neighbor asking for a cup of sugar or a student borrowing a book from the 'bibliotek' (library), the word implies a temporary transfer with an unspoken or explicit agreement of return.

Kan jag få låna din penna ett tag? (Can I borrow your pen for a while?)

Beyond physical objects, 'låna' extends into the financial realm. When you take a mortgage, you 'lånar pengar' from a bank. Here, the word takes on a more formal, contractual tone. Swedes are generally quite private about finances, but the verb remains the standard term for all types of credit and loans. The versatility of 'låna' makes it one of the top 500 most useful verbs for a learner to master early on.

Banken ville inte låna ut mer pengar till projektet. (The bank did not want to lend more money to the project.)

Metaphorical Borrowing: You can also 'låna' an ear (låna någons öra) or 'låna' features from another language. It suggests a temporary appropriation of attention or style, mirroring the English usage of 'borrowing' an idea.

Får jag låna ditt öra i fem minuter? (May I borrow your ear for five minutes?)

Using låna correctly involves mastering its conjugation and its relationship with prepositions. As a Group 1 verb (the most common and predictable group), it follows the standard pattern: låna, lånar, lånade, lånat. This predictability makes it a great verb for beginners to practice their past and present tense formations.

The Present Tense (Lånar): Used for current actions or habitual behaviors. 'Jag lånar ofta böcker på biblioteket' (I often borrow books at the library). It describes a recurring state or an action happening right now.
The Past Tense (Lånade): Used for completed actions in the past. 'Igår lånade jag hans bil' (Yesterday I borrowed his car). Note how the word order shifts in Swedish when the sentence starts with a time expression (V2 rule).

Hon har lånat ut sin lägenhet över sommaren. (She has lent out her apartment over the summer.)

When constructing sentences, the most important decision is whether to add 'ut'. Without 'ut', the sentence is often ambiguous but usually defaults to 'borrow'. However, in formal writing and clear speech, 'låna ut' is strictly used for 'to lend'. The person receiving the item is introduced with the preposition 'till' (to), while the person providing it is introduced with 'av' or 'från' (from).

Vi lånade verktyg från grannen för att laga staketet. (We borrowed tools from the neighbor to fix the fence.)

The Supine Form (Lånat): Used with 'har' or 'hade' to form perfect tenses. 'Jag hade redan lånat boken när han ringde' (I had already borrowed the book when he called). This form is essential for discussing experiences and past relevance.

Har du någonsin lånat ut något som du aldrig fick tillbaka? (Have you ever lent out something that you never got back?)

In more complex sentences at the B1 level, you might see 'låna' used in passive constructions, though it is less common than the active voice. 'Boken lånades flitigt under hela året' (The book was borrowed frequently throughout the year). Here, the focus is on the object rather than the person borrowing it.

You will encounter låna in a vast array of social and professional settings in Sweden. From the quiet halls of a 'stadsbibliotek' to the high-stakes environment of a 'bankkontor', the word is ubiquitous. Understanding the context helps you determine whether it refers to a casual favor or a binding financial agreement.

At the Library (Biblioteket): This is the most common place for the word. You'll see signs like 'Låna här' (Borrow here) on self-service machines. Librarians will ask, 'Vill du låna om den här?' (Do you want to renew/re-borrow this?).
Banking and Finance (Banken): When discussing 'bolån' (home loans) or 'privatlån' (private loans), 'låna' is the core verb. You might hear a bank advisor say, 'Hur mycket behöver ni låna?' (How much do you need to borrow?).

Jag ska gå till biblioteket och låna några deckare. (I'm going to the library to borrow some crime novels.)

In social circles, 'låna' is the oil that greases the wheels of Swedish 'grannsämja' (neighborly harmony). It is very common to borrow tools, garden equipment, or even 'en kopp kaffe' (a cup of coffee - though usually, this means a cup of sugar or milk for the coffee). In these settings, the word is used with a light, friendly tone.

Kan jag låna toaletten? (Can I use the bathroom? - Literally: Can I borrow the toilet?)

The Workplace (Arbetsplatsen): Colleagues often 'lånar' chargers, staplers, or meeting rooms. 'Är det okej om jag lånar den här stolen?' (Is it okay if I borrow this chair?) is a phrase you will hear daily in any Swedish office.

Finally, in the digital age, 'låna' is used for digital media. Streaming services sometimes use the term for temporary access to movies or e-books. Even in the 'delningsekonomi' (sharing economy), 'låna' remains the go-to word for non-monetary exchanges between peers.

For English speakers, the most frequent error when using låna stems from the fact that English has two distinct words ('borrow' and 'lend') while Swedish uses one. This structural difference creates several pitfalls that can lead to confusion or unnatural-sounding sentences.

Mistake 1: Forgetting 'ut' (Lend vs. Borrow): If you want to say 'I lent him my car,' and you say 'Jag lånade honom min bil,' it sounds like you borrowed the car from him. To mean 'lend,' you MUST say 'Jag lånade ut min bil till honom.'
Mistake 2: Preposition Confusion (Av vs. Till): Learners often mix up 'av' (from) and 'till' (to). Remember: Låna av someone (Borrow) and Låna ut till someone (Lend).

Incorrect: Jag lånade boken till henne.
Correct: Jag lånade ut boken till henne. (I lent the book to her.)

Another common mistake is confusing 'låna' with 'hyra' (to rent). While both involve temporary use, 'hyra' specifically implies a financial transaction for a service or property (like an apartment or a car from a company). 'Låna' is generally for items where no money is exchanged, or for financial loans (mortgages) where the 'item' is money itself.

Incorrect: Jag lånade en lägenhet i Stockholm.
Correct: Jag hyrde en lägenhet i Stockholm. (I rented an apartment.)

Mistake 3: Word Order with 'ut': In Swedish, the particle 'ut' usually comes immediately after the verb. 'Han lånade ut boken' is correct. Putting 'ut' at the end of the sentence like in some English phrasal verbs ('He lent the book out') is incorrect in Swedish.

Lastly, be careful with the word 'lån' (the noun). A 'lån' is a loan. People sometimes try to use 'låna' as a noun, but Swedish strictly separates the verb 'låna' from the noun 'lån'. 'Jag tog ett lån' (I took a loan) is the correct way to express the noun form.

To truly master Swedish, you need to know when låna is the right choice and when another word might be more precise. Swedish has several verbs that deal with temporary possession or the transfer of goods, each with its own specific nuance.

Hyra (To Rent): Use 'hyra' when money is involved for the temporary use of something, like an apartment, a car, or a DVD. 'Vi hyr en stuga' (We are renting a cabin).
Leasa (To Lease): A more formal or business-oriented version of 'hyra', often used for cars or office equipment. It implies a longer-term contract.

Ska vi hyra en film eller låna en på biblioteket? (Should we rent a movie or borrow one at the library?)

If you are giving something away permanently, the word is 'ge' (give) or 'skänka' (donate/give as a gift). Using 'låna' when you don't expect the item back can cause confusion. Conversely, 'få' (get/receive) is used for the permanent receipt of an item. 'Jag fick en bok' means the book is now yours; 'Jag lånade en bok' means you have to return it.

Han skänkte bort sina gamla kläder. (He gave away/donated his old clothes.)

Använda (To Use): Sometimes 'låna' is used where English would use 'use'. For example, 'låna telefonen' (use the phone). However, if you are discussing the function of a tool, 'använda' is more appropriate. 'Jag använder hammaren' (I am using the hammer).

In summary, choose 'låna' for the act of sharing without payment, 'hyra' for sharing with payment, and 'ge' for permanent transfer. Mastering these distinctions will make your Swedish sound much more natural and precise.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

Because 'låna' covers both borrowing and lending, it reflects an older Germanic view of exchange as a single reciprocal event rather than two separate actions.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈloːna/

US /ˈloʊnə/

Stress is on the first syllable: LÅ-na.

Reimt sich auf

måna spåna håna skåna våna dåna fåna gråna

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'å' like 'ah' (it should be 'oh').
Making the 'a' at the end too long.
Incorrectly stressing the second syllable.
Confusing the vowel with 'o' (lona) or 'u' (luna).
Missing the distinct Swedish pitch accent.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize in text due to its frequency.

Schreiben 4/5

Difficult to remember to add 'ut' for lending.

Sprechen 3/5

The 'å' sound requires practice for English speakers.

Hören 2/5

Usually clear in context.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

ge ta bok pengar vän

Als Nächstes lernen

hyra lämna tillbaka skuld ränta bank

Fortgeschritten

försträcka kreditera amortera borgenär

Wichtige Grammatik

Group 1 Verbs

låna -> lånar -> lånade -> lånat

Particle Verbs

låna ut (lend)

Prepositions of Origin

låna AV någon

V2 Word Order

Igår lånade jag...

Definite vs Indefinite

låna EN bok vs låna BOKEN

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Jag vill låna en bok.

I want to borrow a book.

Present infinitive after 'vill'.

Får jag låna din penna?

May I borrow your pen?

Polite request using 'får jag'.

Han lånar en cykel.

He is borrowing a bicycle.

Simple present tense.

Vi lånar pengar.

We are borrowing money.

Subject + verb + object.

Kan du låna mig en krona?

Can you lend me a crown?

Informal use where 'ut' is omitted but implied.

Hon lånar en boll.

She is borrowing a ball.

Third person singular.

De lånar socker av grannen.

They borrow sugar from the neighbor.

Use of 'av' for 'from'.

Jag lånar datorn nu.

I am borrowing the computer now.

Definite noun 'datorn'.

Igår lånade jag en film.

Yesterday I borrowed a movie.

Past tense 'lånade' with V2 word order.

Ska du låna ut din bil?

Are you going to lend out your car?

Future with 'ska' + 'låna ut'.

Jag har lånat en tröja av henne.

I have borrowed a sweater from her.

Present perfect tense.

Hon lånade ut sin bok till mig.

She lent her book to me.

Past tense with 'ut' and 'till'.

Vi lånade verktyg förra veckan.

We borrowed tools last week.

Past tense with time expression.

Kan jag få låna din laddare?

Can I please borrow your charger?

Common polite construction.

Han lånar aldrig ut sina saker.

He never lends out his things.

Negative sentence with 'aldrig'.

De lånade pengar till en ny lägenhet.

They borrowed money for a new apartment.

Use of 'till' to indicate purpose.

Jag lånade ut paraplyet till en främling.

I lent the umbrella to a stranger.

Clear use of 'låna ut' for lending.

Har du lånat böckerna på biblioteket?

Have you borrowed the books at the library?

Perfect tense with definite plural.

Banken lånade ut pengar till företaget.

The bank lent money to the company.

Financial context.

Det är viktigt att lämna tillbaka det man har lånat.

It is important to return what one has borrowed.

Subordinate clause with supine.

Jag lånade hans öra i några minuter.

I borrowed his ear for a few minutes.

Idiomatic usage.

Vi lånade ut stugan till våra vänner över helgen.

We lent the cabin to our friends over the weekend.

Compound context.

Många studenter lånar pengar för att studera.

Many students borrow money to study.

General statement.

Hon lånade en klänning till festen.

She borrowed a dress for the party.

Purpose indicated by 'till'.

Boken har lånats ut till många olika personer.

The book has been lent out to many different people.

Passive supine form.

Sverige lånade stora summor under krisen.

Sweden borrowed large sums during the crisis.

Formal/Economic context.

Att låna pengar utan ränta är ovanligt.

Borrowing money without interest is unusual.

Infinitive as subject.

Hon lånade inspiration från naturen till sin konst.

She borrowed inspiration from nature for her art.

Abstract usage.

Företaget lånade ut personal till dotterbolaget.

The company lent staff to the subsidiary.

Professional context.

Kan man verkligen låna lycka?

Can one really borrow happiness?

Philosophical question.

Han lånade ut sin expertis till projektet.

He lent his expertise to the project.

Metaphorical lending.

De lånade medel från fonden för att finansiera bygget.

They borrowed funds from the fund to finance the construction.

Formal vocabulary 'medel'.

Författaren lånar flitigt element från grekisk mytologi.

The author frequently borrows elements from Greek mythology.

Literary analysis.

Lånevillkoren måste granskas noggrant före underskrift.

The loan terms must be scrutinized carefully before signing.

Formal/Legal compound noun.

Att låna ut sitt namn till en produkt kan vara riskabelt.

Lending one's name to a product can be risky.

Idiomatic professional usage.

Staten lånade upp kapital på den internationella marknaden.

The state borrowed capital on the international market.

Particle verb 'låna upp'.

Språket lånar ord från engelskan i allt högre grad.

The language borrows words from English to an increasing degree.

Linguistic context.

Han lånade ut sin röst till den animerade karaktären.

He lent his voice to the animated character.

Specific professional context.

Vi lånade oss till den här idén utan att tänka efter.

We lent ourselves to this idea without thinking it through.

Reflexive metaphorical usage.

Lånetiden har överskridits med flera veckor.

The loan period has been exceeded by several weeks.

Formal compound 'lånetiden'.

Regeringen tvingades låna för att täcka budgetunderskottet.

The government was forced to borrow to cover the budget deficit.

Complex socio-economic context.

I dikten lånar döden en gestalt av en gammal man.

In the poem, death borrows the form of an old man.

High literary style.

Man bör inte låna ut sig till tvivelaktiga verksamheter.

One should not lend oneself to questionable activities.

Reflexive moral usage.

Lånefinansiering har blivit en hörnsten i modern ekonomi.

Loan financing has become a cornerstone of modern economics.

Advanced technical terminology.

Han lånade drag av sin far i sättet att tala.

He borrowed traits from his father in his way of speaking.

Nuanced character description.

Att låna ut sitt förtroende är en dyrbar handling.

Lending one's trust is a precious act.

Philosophical/Abstract.

Projektet lånade tyngd åt den vetenskapliga debatten.

The project lent weight to the scientific debate.

Rhetorical usage.

Genom att låna från framtiden skapar vi en ekologisk skuld.

By borrowing from the future, we create an ecological debt.

Complex metaphorical argument.

Synonyme

hyra leasa använda försträcka nyttja låna upp panta kreditera

Gegenteile

ge återlämna sälja behålla

Häufige Kollokationen

låna pengar

låna en bok

låna ut

låna av någon

låna till

få låna

låna om

låna öra till

låna ut sig

låna inspiration

Häufige Phrasen

Får jag låna...?

— The standard polite way to ask to borrow something.

Får jag låna din penna?

Låna ut till

— Specifically used to mean 'to lend to'.

Jag lånade ut min tröja till henne.

Låna av

— Specifically used to mean 'to borrow from'.

Jag lånade pengar av banken.

Låna toaletten

— The standard way to ask to use the bathroom.

Ursäkta, får jag låna toaletten?

Låna på banken

— To take a loan from the bank.

Vi lånade på banken för att renovera.

Låna tid

— To take some time for something.

Kan jag låna lite av din tid?

Låna ut sitt namn

— To endorse something or lend one's reputation.

Kändisen lånade ut sitt namn till kampanjen.

Låna kläder

— To borrow clothes, a very common social activity.

Vi brukar låna kläder av varandra.

Låna om

— To renew a library loan.

Glöm inte att låna om boken!

Låna pengar räntefritt

— To borrow money without interest.

Han fick låna pengar räntefritt av sina föräldrar.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

låna vs hyra

Hyra involves payment (renting), while låna is usually free or involves a financial loan.

låna vs leasa

Leasa is a formal long-term rental, usually for business equipment or cars.

låna vs använda

Använda means to use. You borrow (låna) something to use (använda) it.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Låna någons öra"

— To get someone to listen to you.

Får jag låna ditt öra en sekund?

Neutral

"Låna fjädrar"

— To take credit for someone else's work (often 'pryda sig med lånta fjädrar').

Han prydde sig med lånta fjädrar i sin presentation.

Literary

"Leva på lånad tid"

— To be in a situation that is expected to end soon, often used for health.

Efter olyckan kändes det som om han levde på lånad tid.

Serious

"Låna ut sig till något"

— To participate in something, often something negative or questionable.

Han ville inte låna ut sig till deras lögner.

Formal

"Låna drag av"

— To resemble or take characteristics from something.

Huset lånar drag av gammal arkitektur.

Descriptive

"Låna glans åt"

— To make something look better by association.

Hennes närvaro lånade glans åt festen.

Literary

"Låna röst åt"

— To speak for someone or represent a cause.

Hon lånade sin röst åt de röstlösa.

Poetic

"Låna kraft"

— To get energy or strength from something.

Jag lånar kraft från skogen.

Personal

"Låna sig till"

— To be suitable for something.

Materialet lånar sig väl till skulptur.

Technical

"Låna öga åt"

— To look at something briefly.

Låna ett öga åt den här rapporten.

Informal

Leicht verwechselbar

låna vs låna

Covers both borrow and lend.

Use 'låna ut' for lend.

Jag lånade ut min bok.

låna vs låna ut

Learners forget the 'ut'.

Must have 'ut' to mean 'lend'.

Han lånade ut pengar.

låna vs hyra

Both are temporary.

Hyra = money, Låna = free/loan.

Jag hyrde en film.

låna vs få

In English 'get' can be temporary.

Få usually implies permanent receipt in Swedish.

Jag fick en present.

låna vs lån

Noun vs Verb.

Lån is the noun, Låna is the verb.

Jag tog ett lån.

Satzmuster

Jag vill låna [Noun].

Jag vill låna en bok.

Får jag låna din [Noun]?

Får jag låna din penna?

Jag lånade [Noun] av [Person].

Jag lånade en cykel av Per.

Kan du låna ut [Noun] till mig?

Kan du låna ut din bil till mig?

Jag har lånat [Noun] på biblioteket.

Jag har lånat böcker på biblioteket.

Det lönar sig inte att låna till [Action].

Det lönar sig inte att låna till konsumtion.

Att låna ut sitt namn till [Noun]...

Att låna ut sitt namn till projektet var ett misstag.

[Noun] lånar drag av [Noun].

Musiken lånar drag av folkmusik.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

lån (loan)

låntagare (borrower)

långivare (lender)

låneavtal (loan agreement)

bolån (mortgage)

Verben

utlåna (to lend out - formal)

inlåna (to borrow - rare/formal)

Adjektive

lånad (borrowed)

lånefinansierad (loan-financed)

Verwandt

bibliotek

ränta

skuld

bank

kredit

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely frequent in both spoken and written Swedish.

Häufige Fehler

Jag lånade boken till honom. → Jag lånade ut boken till honom.
Without 'ut', it sounds like you borrowed it for him or from him.
Kan jag låna din toalett? → Kan jag låna toaletten?
In Swedish, we usually say 'the' toilet, not 'your' toilet.
Jag lånade en lägenhet. → Jag hyrde en lägenhet.
Use 'hyra' if you paid money for it.
Han lånar från mig. → Han lånar av mig.
'Av' is more common than 'från' when borrowing from people.
Jag lånade ut av honom. → Jag lånade av honom.
Don't use 'ut' if you are the one receiving the item.

Tipps

The 'Ut' Rule

Always add 'ut' when you are the source of the item. It prevents confusion immediately.

Polite Requests

Start with 'Får jag...' to sound much more natural when asking to borrow something.

Noun vs Verb

Remember 'lån' (noun) and 'låna' (verb). Don't mix them up in sentences.

Library Love

Libraries are free and popular in Sweden. 'Låna' is a key word there.

Listen for 'Av'

If you hear 'låna av', someone is definitely borrowing.

V2 Rule

If you start with 'Igår', remember the verb 'lånade' comes second.

Money vs Objects

The word is the same for money and objects, which is simpler than English!

The 'å' Sound

Keep your lips tight and round. It's a deep sound.

The Loan-a Word

Låna looks like 'Loan-a'. It's the action of a loan.

Reflexive Use

'Låna sig till' is a great way to say 'lend oneself to' in a formal way.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'Loan' (lån). When you 'låna', you are dealing with a loan, whether you take it or give it.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a library card. It says 'LÅNA' on it. You use it to take books (borrow) and the library uses it to give them to you (lend).

Word Web

Lån Ränta Bank Bok Vän Tillbaka Ge Ta

Herausforderung

Try to use 'låna' in a sentence about a library, then one about a bank, and finally one about a friend.

Wortherkunft

From Old Swedish 'lana', which comes from Proto-Germanic '*laihwnijan'. It is related to the English word 'loan' and 'lend'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To grant or give temporarily.

Germanic

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when borrowing money from friends in Sweden; it is often preferred to use 'Swish' for immediate payment rather than long-term borrowing.

English speakers must unlearn the borrow/lend split and focus on the preposition 'av' vs 'ut till'.

The song 'Lånade vingar' (Borrowed wings). Swedish banking laws (Lagen om bank- och finansieringsrörelse). Astrid Lindgren books often feature children borrowing things.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Library

Var kan jag låna?
Hur länge får jag låna?
Jag vill låna om.
Mitt lånekort fungerar inte.

Bank

Jag vill låna till ett hus.
Vad är räntan om jag lånar?
Hur mycket får jag låna?
Lånevillkoren är bra.

Social

Får jag låna din laddare?
Tack för att jag fick låna den.
Jag lånade den av min bror.
Kan du låna ut en tia?

Work

Får jag låna din häftapparat?
Vi lånar konferensrummet.
Han lånade ut sin dator.
Vem lånade min penna?

Home

Kan jag låna lite socker?
Låna inte ut mina saker!
Jag lånade dammsugaren av grannen.
Varför lånade du min tröja?

Gesprächseinstiege

"Har du någonsin lånat ut något som du aldrig fick tillbaka?"

"Brukar du låna böcker på biblioteket eller köper du dem hellre?"

"Tycker du det är okej att låna pengar av vänner?"

"Vad är det konstigaste du har lånat av en granne?"

"Skulle du låna ut din bil till vem som helst?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Skriv om en gång när du lånade något som var väldigt viktigt för dig.

Reflektera över skillnaden mellan att låna och att äga saker.

Beskriv ditt favoritbibliotek och vad du brukar låna där.

Skriv en dialog där någon ber om att få låna pengar på ett artigt sätt.

Vad tycker du om idén att vi borde låna mer saker av varandra istället för att köpa nytt?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It means both! However, to be clear, Swedes use 'låna' for borrow and 'låna ut' for lend. Without 'ut', it usually defaults to borrow.

You say 'Får jag låna din penna?' or 'Kan jag få låna din penna?'.

Use 'av' for borrowing from someone (låna av dig) and 'till' for lending to someone (låna ut till dig).

Yes, it belongs to Group 1. It conjugates: låna, lånar, lånade, lånat.

Only if you are staying there for free. If you are paying, use 'hyra'.

It is a housing loan, commonly known as a mortgage in English.

You say 'Jag lånade ut pengar till honom'.

Yes, 'Kan jag låna en minut?' means 'Can I have a minute of your time?'.

It means to renew a loan, specifically used for library books.

Not heavily, but 'låna' can be used playfully, like 'låna en kyss' (borrow a kiss).

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