Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Swedish phrase for the most basic human need: drinking water.
- Means: To consume water for hydration.
- Used in: Restaurants, gyms, and daily health conversations.
- Don't confuse: 'Dricka' (verb) with 'Dryck' (noun/drink).
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
Staying hydrated.
Contexte culturel
Tap water is of such high quality that buying bottled water is often seen as an unnecessary environmental burden. Similar to Sweden, Finland has vast freshwater resources and a culture that values the purity of 'dricka vatten' from nature. In Norway, drinking water from mountain streams is common during 'fjellturer' (mountain hikes), but one must be careful of 'harepest' (tularemia). The '8 glasses a day' rule is well-known in Sweden, often discussed in the context of 'dricka vatten' for skin health.
Free Water
In Swedish restaurants, if you order a meal, tap water is almost always included or available for a very small fee. Just ask for 'en karaff kranvatten'.
The 'Dricka' Trap
Remember that 'dricka' is irregular. Don't say 'drickade' for the past tense; it's 'drack'.
Free Water
In Swedish restaurants, if you order a meal, tap water is almost always included or available for a very small fee. Just ask for 'en karaff kranvatten'.
The 'Dricka' Trap
Remember that 'dricka' is irregular. Don't say 'drickade' for the past tense; it's 'drack'.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'dricka' (present tense).
Jag är törstig, så jag _______ vatten.
The present tense of 'dricka' is 'dricker'.
Which sentence is correct for 'I drank water yesterday'?
Igår _______ jag vatten.
'Drack' is the past tense (preteritum) form.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are basic variations of the phrase and its components.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Är du törstig? B: Ja, jag måste _______.
If you are thirsty (törstig), you need to drink water.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Types of Water to Drink
Source
- • Kranvatten
- • Källvatten
- • Sjövatten
Style
- • Stilla vatten
- • Kolsyrat vatten
- • Isvatten
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesJag är törstig, så jag _______ vatten.
The present tense of 'dricka' is 'dricker'.
Igår _______ jag vatten.
'Drack' is the past tense (preteritum) form.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are basic variations of the phrase and its components.
A: Är du törstig? B: Ja, jag måste _______.
If you are thirsty (törstig), you need to drink water.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsYes, tap water in Sweden is among the safest and cleanest in the world. You can drink it from any kitchen or bathroom tap unless there is a specific sign saying otherwise.
Vatten is an 'ett-word' (ett vatten). However, in a restaurant, you might hear people say 'en vatten' as shorthand for 'en flaska vatten' (a bottle of water).
You ask for 'kolsyrat vatten' or simply 'bubbelvatten'.
'Dricka' is neutral. 'Supa' is slang for drinking large amounts of alcohol to get drunk. Never use 'supa' when talking about water!
Expressions liées
släcka törsten
similarto quench one's thirst
dricksvatten
specialized formpotable water
vattenhål
figurativewatering hole
vattna
builds onto water (plants/animals)
Où l'utiliser
At a Restaurant
Servitör: Vad vill du dricka?
Gäst: Jag vill bara dricka vatten, tack.
At the Gym
Tränare: Glöm inte att dricka vatten!
Motionär: Ja, jag dricker hela tiden.
In the Office
Kollega: Ska vi ta en kaffe?
Jag: Nej tack, jag ska bara dricka lite vatten.
Hiking in Nature
Vän: Kan man dricka vattnet här?
Vandrare: Ja, det är rent fjällvatten.
With a Doctor
Läkare: Hur mycket vatten dricker du per dag?
Patient: Jag försöker dricka två liter.
At Home with Kids
Förälder: Drick vatten nu, det är varmt ute.
Barn: Men jag vill ha saft!
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a 'Drink' in a 'Vat' (Vatten) of water.
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant blue Swedish flag where the yellow cross is actually a stream of pouring water that you are leaning in to drink.
Rhyme
Dricka vatten, hela natten. (Drink water, all night long.)
Story
You are hiking in the Swedish mountains. You are so thirsty you can't speak. You find a crystal clear stream. You whisper 'dricka... vatten...' and as you drink, you feel the power of the Vikings returning to your veins.
In Other Languages
Most Germanic languages use a very similar structure (Drink water / Wasser trinken). Romance languages use a verb + noun structure as well (Beber agua / Boire de l'eau).
Word Web
Défi
Try to ask for a glass of water in Swedish at three different places today (or simulate it).
Review the past tense 'drack' after 3 days, as it's the trickiest part.
Prononciation
Short 'i' sound followed by a long 'k' sound.
Short 'a' sound, double 't' (stop), and a neutral 'en'.
Spectre de formalité
Jag önskar intaga en mängd vatten. (General need for hydration)
Jag ska dricka lite vatten. (General need for hydration)
Jag ska svepa lite vatten. (General need for hydration)
Ska bara hinka lite kranjuice. (General need for hydration)
From Old Norse 'drekka' and 'vatn'. The verb 'drekka' is derived from Proto-Germanic '*drinkan', while 'vatn' comes from Proto-Indo-European '*wed-'.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'vatten' is related to the English word 'wet' and the Greek word 'hydros'.
Notes culturelles
Tap water is of such high quality that buying bottled water is often seen as an unnecessary environmental burden.
“I Sverige dricker vi kranvatten.”
Similar to Sweden, Finland has vast freshwater resources and a culture that values the purity of 'dricka vatten' from nature.
“Juoda vettä (Finnish equivalent).”
In Norway, drinking water from mountain streams is common during 'fjellturer' (mountain hikes), but one must be careful of 'harepest' (tularemia).
“Drikke vann fra bekken.”
The '8 glasses a day' rule is well-known in Sweden, often discussed in the context of 'dricka vatten' for skin health.
“Drick vatten för din hy.”
Amorces de conversation
Hur mycket vatten dricker du varje dag?
Dricker du kranvatten eller köper du vatten på flaska?
Vad brukar du dricka när du är riktigt törstig?
Erreurs courantes
Jag vill ta vatten.
Jag vill dricka vatten. / Jag vill ha vatten.
L1 Interference
Jag drackar vatten.
Jag dricker vatten.
L1 Interference
Jag vill dricka en vatten.
Jag vill dricka vatten. / Jag vill ha ett glas vatten.
L1 Interference
Kan jag dricka kranen?
Kan jag dricka ur kranen?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
Beber agua
Spanish uses 'tomar' more frequently than Swedish uses 'ta' in this context.
Boire de l'eau
The mandatory use of the partitive article in French.
Wasser trinken
Word order in infinitive clauses.
水を飲む (Mizu o nomu)
SOV word order and particle usage in Japanese.
يشرب الماء (Yashrab al-ma')
Use of the definite article for general concepts.
喝水 (Hē shuǐ)
Tonal pronunciation in Chinese.
물을 마시다 (Mul-eul masida)
Honorifics and object markers.
Beber água
Pronunciation of the 'r' in 'beber'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Vatten, en så'n underbar dryck”
A famous Swedish song celebrating the simplicity and necessity of water.
“Kan du dricka lite vatten och lugna ner dig?”
A character telling another to drink water to calm down during an argument.
Facile à confondre
In some languages, you 'eat' soup, but if it's in a cup, Swedes might say 'dricka'.
Use 'äta' if it's in a bowl with a spoon, 'dricka' if it's in a mug.
Learners might say 'dricka vatten till blommor'.
'Vattna' is the specific verb for plants.
Questions fréquentes (4)
Yes, tap water in Sweden is among the safest and cleanest in the world. You can drink it from any kitchen or bathroom tap unless there is a specific sign saying otherwise.
practical tipsVatten is an 'ett-word' (ett vatten). However, in a restaurant, you might hear people say 'en vatten' as shorthand for 'en flaska vatten' (a bottle of water).
grammar mechanicsYou ask for 'kolsyrat vatten' or simply 'bubbelvatten'.
usage contexts'Dricka' is neutral. 'Supa' is slang for drinking large amounts of alcohol to get drunk. Never use 'supa' when talking about water!
comparisons
