B1 Jerga Informal

ha bra koll

have good control

Significado

To be well-prepared.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In Swedish 'flat' hierarchies, a manager won't usually say 'I command you'. They will ask 'Har du koll?' as a way to ensure responsibility is taken without being authoritarian. Among younger Swedes, 'ha koll' is often linked to social capital—knowing the right music, the right clothes, or the latest memes. Swedes value 'förutsägbarhet' (predictability). Having 'koll' is seen as a civic duty to keep things running smoothly. Sweden is one of the most digitized countries. 'Ha koll' is now frequently used regarding BankID, digital mail (Kivra), and apps.

🎯

Use 'Stenkoll' for extra points

If you want to sound really Swedish, use 'stenkoll' (stone-check) when you are 100% sure. It's a very common and expressive word.

⚠️

Don't forget 'PÅ'

The most common mistake is forgetting the preposition 'på'. Always link 'koll' to the object with 'på'.

Significado

To be well-prepared.

🎯

Use 'Stenkoll' for extra points

If you want to sound really Swedish, use 'stenkoll' (stone-check) when you are 100% sure. It's a very common and expressive word.

⚠️

Don't forget 'PÅ'

The most common mistake is forgetting the preposition 'på'. Always link 'koll' to the object with 'på'.

💬

The Humble 'Dålig Koll'

Swedes often say 'Jag har lite dålig koll' even if they know a fair amount. It's a way to be humble and avoid being blamed if they are wrong.

💡

Koll vs. Kolla

Remember: 'Koll' is the noun (knowledge), 'Kolla' is the verb (to look/check).

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing preposition.

Jag har inte så bra koll ___ den nya tekniken.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

The idiom 'ha koll' always takes the preposition 'på'.

Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I know what's going on' in a casual Swedish office?

How do you say you are informed?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Jag har koll på läget.

'Ha koll på läget' is the most idiomatic and natural choice.

Match the 'koll' variation with its meaning.

Match the following:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Stenkoll = 100% knowledge; Noll koll = Clueless; Dålig koll = Weak knowledge; Full koll = Complete control

Swedish uses prefixes and adjectives to change the intensity of 'koll'.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Vet du när vi ska träffas? B: Nej, jag har faktiskt ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ingen koll

The context 'Nej' (No) implies the speaker does not know, so 'ingen koll' is correct.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Koll vs. Kontroll

Koll (Informal)
Daily life
Knowledge
Social
Kontroll (Formal)
Legal
Physical power
Technical

Common 'Koll' Collocations

💼

Work

  • Budgeten
  • Deadline
  • Projektet
🎉

Social

  • Festen
  • Vännerna
  • Snacket
🔧

Practical

  • Nycklarna
  • Tiderna
  • Vägen

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the missing preposition. Fill Blank B1

Jag har inte så bra koll ___ den nya tekniken.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta:

The idiom 'ha koll' always takes the preposition 'på'.

Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I know what's going on' in a casual Swedish office? Choose B1

How do you say you are informed?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Jag har koll på läget.

'Ha koll på läget' is the most idiomatic and natural choice.

Match the 'koll' variation with its meaning. Match B1

Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Stenkoll = 100% knowledge; Noll koll = Clueless; Dålig koll = Weak knowledge; Full koll = Complete control

Swedish uses prefixes and adjectives to change the intensity of 'koll'.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

A: Vet du när vi ska träffas? B: Nej, jag har faktiskt ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: ingen koll

The context 'Nej' (No) implies the speaker does not know, so 'ingen koll' is correct.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Not at all! It's very friendly and common. However, saying 'Har du ingen koll?!' (Don't you have any clue?!) can be rude depending on your tone.

Yes, it's actually great for interviews to show you are 'on top of things' in a modern, professional way. 'Jag har bra koll på branschen' sounds very good.

'Veta' is just to know a fact. 'Ha koll' implies you understand the context and can manage the information.

It's better to say 'ha bra koll' or 'ha mycket bra koll'. 'Mycket koll' sounds slightly unnatural.

Yes, it is a universal Swedish expression used from Malmö to Kiruna.

Yes, you can say 'Systemet har koll på alla användare' (The system keeps track of all users).

The most common opposites are 'ha dålig koll' or 'ha noll koll'.

Yes, it is listed in the SAOL (Swedish Academy Dictionary) as an informal noun.

Yes, it means 'Are you keeping an eye on him?' or 'Do you know what he's up to?'.

Prepositions are often arbitrary in idioms. In this case, 'på' suggests a surface or oversight, which fits the meaning of 'koll'.

Frases relacionadas

🔗

ha stenkoll

specialized form

To have absolute, perfect knowledge.

🔄

ha koll på läget

synonym

To have a handle on the situation.

🔗

hålla koll

similar

To keep an eye on something.

🔗

tappa kollen

contrast

To lose track of things.

🔗

kolla upp

builds on

To check something out / research.

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