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B2 verb 9 min de lecture

motivera

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces motivera en 30 secondes

Explication motivera in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn Swedish. You might encounter the word 'motivera' in very simple contexts, usually related to feelings or basic classroom instructions. You probably won't use the word yourself very often, but you might see it in a textbook. At this stage, think of 'motivera' as a word that means 'to give a reason' or 'to make someone want to do something.' For example, if a teacher asks 'Varför?' (Why?), they are essentially asking you to 'motivera' your answer. You might learn the adjective form 'motiverad' (motivated) to describe how you feel about learning Swedish. 'Jag är motiverad' means 'I am motivated.' At A1, the focus is on recognizing the word and understanding that it is related to the 'why' behind an action. You should focus on the present tense: 'Han motiverar mig' (He motivates me). Avoid the complex legal or academic meanings for now; just associate the word with the idea of 'energy' or 'reasons.' It is a long word, but its similarity to 'motivate' in English makes it easier to remember. Just remember that in Swedish, the stress is on the last syllable: mo-ti-VE-ra.

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As an A2 learner, you are building your vocabulary for everyday life and work. You will start to see 'motivera' in more practical settings. For instance, in a job advertisement, you might read that the employer is looking for someone who can 'motivera sina kollegor' (motivate their colleagues). You should also be able to use the word in simple sentences to explain your choices. If you are taking the SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) exams, you might be asked to 'motivera ditt val av bild' (justify your choice of picture). This means you need to say 'Jag valde den här bilden för att...' (I chose this picture because...). At this level, you should be comfortable with the past tense 'motiverade.' For example: 'Hon motiverade varför hon ville byta jobb' (She explained why she wanted to change jobs). You are beginning to see the dual nature of the word: both the 'encouragement' side and the 'explanation' side. You should also start using the reflexive form 'motivera sig' in simple contexts, such as 'Det är svårt att motivera sig att städa' (It is hard to motivate oneself to clean).

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At the B1 level, you can handle more complex topics and express opinions. 'Motivera' becomes a key tool for you to participate in discussions. You are expected to not just state an opinion, but to 'motivera' it. This means providing a logical flow of reasons. You might use it in a work meeting: 'Jag vill motivera mitt förslag med följande tre punkter...' (I want to justify my proposal with the following three points...). You will also encounter the noun 'motivering' (motivation/justification) more frequently. You might hear about a 'prismotivering' (the reasoning for an award). At B1, you should also be aware of the difference between 'motivera' and 'inspirera.' You understand that 'motivera' often involves a specific goal or a logical necessity. You are also starting to use more advanced grammatical structures, like using 'motivera' followed by an 'att'-clause or a 'varför'-clause. Your vocabulary is expanding to include related words like 'självdisciplin' (self-discipline) and 'drivkraft' (driving force), which often appear alongside 'motivera.'

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At the B2 level, which is the level of this word, you should have a firm grasp of 'motivera' in all its nuances. You are expected to use it fluently in professional and academic writing. You understand that in Swedish, 'motivera' is the standard word for 'to justify' in a formal context, and you avoid overusing 'justifiera.' You can use the passive form 'motiveras' to describe complex social or psychological phenomena: 'Många beslut i politiken motiveras av kortsiktiga vinster' (Many decisions in politics are justified by short-term gains). You are also sensitive to the 'myndighetssvenska' (official Swedish) aspect of the word. You know that if a decision is 'välmotiverat' (well-justified), it is based on solid evidence and logic. In your own writing, you use 'motivera' to introduce the rationale for your arguments. You are also able to discuss the concept of 'motivation' in a more abstract way, distinguishing between 'inre motivation' (intrinsic motivation) and 'yttre motivation' (extrinsic motivation). This level requires you to use the word with precision and to understand its weight in formal documentation.

At the C1 level, your use of 'motivera' is sophisticated and natural. You use it to navigate complex legal, scientific, or philosophical texts where the 'motivering' of a theory or a court ruling is central. You understand the subtle rhetorical differences between 'motivera,' 'underbygga,' 'belägga,' and 'rättfärdiga.' You might use 'motivera' in a C1-level essay to critique a lack of transparency: 'Författaren underlåter att motivera sina antaganden, vilket försvagar argumentationen' (The author fails to justify their assumptions, which weakens the argument). You are also aware of the word's history and its connection to other words in the 'motiv' family. You can use 'motivera' in highly formal settings, such as when writing a formal appeal against a government decision, where you must 'motivera din överklagan' (justify your appeal). Your understanding of the word includes its use in psychological research, where 'motiverande samtal' (Motivational Interviewing) is a specific therapeutic technique. At this level, the word is not just a vocabulary item; it is a tool for precise and high-level communication.

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At the C2 level, you have a near-native or native-like command of 'motivera.' You can use it with stylistic flair and perfect precision in any context. You might use it in a literary analysis to discuss a character's 'motiveringar' (motives/justifications) or in a high-level legal brief where the 'domskäl' (reasons for a judgment) are meticulously 'motiverade.' You understand the word's deepest connotations, including its potential for irony or sarcasm (e.g., 'Han lyckades motivera sitt fusk på ett nästan imponerande sätt' - He managed to justify his cheating in an almost impressive way). You are also comfortable with the most technical aspects of the word, such as its use in mathematics or logic to describe the steps of a proof. At C2, you don't just use the word correctly; you use it to influence and persuade, recognizing that a well-placed 'motivera' can signal authority and intellectual rigor. You are also a master of the word family, using 'omotiverad' (unmotivated/unjustified) to describe everything from a lazy student to an 'omotiverat våld' (unprovoked/unjustified violence).

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

motivera en 30 secondes

Motivera is a B2-level Swedish verb that means both 'to motivate' (psychologically) and 'to justify' (logically). It is a Group 1 regular verb.
In formal contexts, it is the primary word used to explain the rationale behind decisions, laws, or academic arguments, often replacing English 'justify'.
It is frequently used in leadership, education, and legal settings, emphasizing the importance of providing the 'why' behind any action or thought.
Common forms include the present 'motiverar', past 'motiverade', and the adjective 'motiverad', which can mean both 'excited' and 'well-founded'.

The Swedish verb motivera is a versatile and essential term in the Swedish language, primarily used to describe the act of providing reasons for an action or stimulating interest and enthusiasm in someone. Derived from the Latin word movere, meaning 'to move,' the word carries the inherent sense of putting something into motion, whether that is a physical action, a mental state, or a logical argument. In contemporary Swedish, it functions in two distinct but related spheres: the psychological realm of inspiration and the logical realm of justification.

Psychological Context: In this sense, motivera refers to the process of encouraging someone to act or to feel enthusiastic about a task. It is frequently used in leadership, education, and sports. For example, a coach might motivera their team before a big game, or a teacher might seek ways to motivera students to read more. It is about tapping into internal or external drivers to achieve a goal.

Det är viktigt att chefen kan motivera sina anställda under tuffa perioder.

Logical and Formal Context: In more formal or academic settings, motivera means to justify or provide the rationale for a decision, an opinion, or a scientific finding. When a Swedish government agency makes a decision, they are legally required to motivera that decision, meaning they must explain the legal and factual basis for it. In an essay, a student might be asked to motivera their choice of methodology. This usage is much more common in Swedish than the English 'motivate' is in similar contexts, where English speakers might prefer 'justify' or 'explain.'

Furthermore, the word is central to Swedish 'myndighetssvenska' (official language). If you receive a rejection for a building permit, the document will contain a section where the authorities motiverar the rejection. Understanding this dual nature is key to reaching B2 and C1 levels of Swedish proficiency. While an A1 learner might only know it as 'to motivate,' a high-level learner recognizes the weight it carries in professional and legal documentation. It is a word that bridges the gap between the heart (enthusiasm) and the head (logic).

Du måste motivera varför du söker just den här tjänsten i ditt personliga brev.

In summary, use motivera when you want to describe the spark that gets someone moving, but also use it when you need to lay out the evidence and reasoning for a particular stance. It is a powerful verb that demands clarity and purpose from the speaker.

Using motivera correctly involves understanding its grammatical patterns and its common objects. As a regular first-conjugation verb (Group 1), it follows the standard pattern: motiverar, motiverade, motiverat. However, the complexity lies in the structures that follow it.

Transitive Usage with People: When the object is a person, the meaning is usually 'to inspire.' The structure is simply [Subject] + motiverar + [Object]. For example: 'Musiken motiverar mig att träna hårdare' (The music motivates me to train harder). Here, the focus is on the influence exerted on the individual.

Läraren lyckades motivera hela klassen att delta i projektet.

Transitive Usage with Decisions or Actions: When the object is an abstract concept like a 'beslut' (decision), 'val' (choice), or 'påstående' (claim), the meaning shifts to 'to justify.' The structure is [Subject] + motiverar + [Decision]. For example: 'Regeringen motiverade lagförslaget med hänvisning till säkerhetsläget' (The government justified the bill with reference to the security situation).

One of the most common mistakes for English speakers is using 'justifiera' instead of 'motivera'. While 'justifiera' exists in Swedish, it is much rarer and often implies a sense of making excuses or rationalizing something potentially wrong. 'Motivera' is the neutral, standard word for professional justification. Another important construction is the reflexive 'motivera sig', which means to motivate oneself. For instance: 'Det är svårt att motivera sig själv att gå upp klockan fem på morgonen' (It is hard to motivate oneself to get up at five in the morning).

Kan du motivera varför vi ska investera i det här företaget?

In passive constructions, 'motiveras' is frequently used to describe what drives a phenomenon. 'Beslutet motiverades av ekonomiska skäl' (The decision was motivated/justified by economic reasons). This passive form is a staple of journalistic and academic Swedish. Finally, pay attention to the adjective derived from the past participle: 'motiverad'. It can mean 'justified' (en motiverad misstanke - a justified suspicion) or 'motivated' (en motiverad elev - a motivated student).

The word motivera is ubiquitous in Swedish society, but its flavor changes depending on the setting. In the Swedish workplace, you will hear it during 'utvecklingssamtal' (performance reviews). A manager might ask, 'Vad motiverar dig i ditt arbete?' (What motivates you in your work?). This is a standard question aimed at understanding employee engagement.

In the Legal and Administrative Sphere: Swedish law places a high value on transparency. Therefore, 'motiveringsskyldighet' (the obligation to provide reasons) is a fundamental principle. If you listen to Swedish news (Sveriges Radio or SVT), you will often hear reporters ask politicians: 'Hur motiverar ni den här skattehöjningen?' (How do you justify this tax hike?). The word here is used to demand accountability.

Domstolen måste motivera sin dom i detalj.

In Education and Pedagogy: Teachers in Sweden spend a lot of time discussing how to 'motivera eleverna'. Because the Swedish school system emphasizes 'lustfyllt lärande' (joyful learning), the act of motivera is seen as a primary pedagogical task. It isn't just about discipline; it is about creating a desire to learn.

You will also encounter 'motivera' in self-help and fitness contexts. Podcasts like 'Träningspasset' or 'Framgångspodden' frequently use the word when discussing how to reach personal goals. In these contexts, it is often paired with 'disciplin'. They might say, 'Motivation kommer och går, men du måste kunna motivera dig själv även när det är tråkigt' (Motivation comes and goes, but you must be able to motivate yourself even when it is boring).

Det är svårt att motivera en lönesänkning för personalen.

Lastly, in the digital age, you'll see 'motivera' on social media, particularly in 'LinkedIn-svenska'. Influencers and business leaders post about 'hur man motiverar sitt team på distans' (how to motivate your team remotely). Whether in a courtroom or a gym, 'motivera' is the word Swedes use to talk about the 'why' behind the 'do'.

Even advanced learners of Swedish can stumble when using motivera, often because of its deceptive similarity to English or its specific Swedish nuances. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid.

Mistake 1: Over-reliance on 'Justifiera': English speakers often translate 'justify' directly to 'justifiera'. While 'justifiera' is a Swedish word, it is rarely used for neutral explanations. If you say 'Jag ska justifiera mitt val', it sounds like you are defending a mistake or trying to make an excuse. Use 'motivera' for standard professional or logical justification.

Fel: Han försökte justifiera sitt svar på provet.
Rätt: Han försökte motivera sitt svar på provet.

Mistake 2: Confusing 'Motivera' with 'Argumentera': 'Argumentera' means to argue or present a case, usually involving a debate. 'Motivera' is about providing the underlying reasons. You 'argumenterar för en sak' (argue for something) but you 'motiverar ett beslut' (justify a decision). 'Motivera' is the explanation of the internal logic, whereas 'argumentera' is the external act of persuasion.

Another mistake is using the wrong preposition. In Swedish, you motiverar something *med* (with) something. 'Han motiverade sitt beslut *med* att han var trött' (He justified his decision with [the fact] that he was tired). English speakers often try to use 'genom att' or 'för', which can sound clunky or incorrect depending on the sentence structure.

Fel: Hon motiverade beslutet för ekonomiska problem.
Rätt: Hon motiverade beslutet med ekonomiska problem.

Finally, be careful with the word 'motivation'. While it is the noun form, Swedes often prefer the verb form in speech. Instead of saying 'Min motivation är låg', a native speaker might say 'Jag känner mig inte motiverad' or 'Det är svårt att motivera sig'. Using the verb makes the language feel more active and natural.

To truly master motivera, you should understand the words that surround it in the Swedish vocabulary. Depending on the nuance you want to convey, there are several alternatives that might be more precise.

Rättfärdiga vs. Motivera: 'Rättfärdiga' is closer to the English 'justify' in a moral or defensive sense. If you do something wrong and try to make it seem right, you are 'rättfärdigar' your actions. 'Motivera' is much more neutral and is used for logical reasoning. You motivera a budget, but you might try to rättfärdiga a lie.

Det går inte att rättfärdiga våld, men man kan motivera behovet av självförsvar.

Inspirera vs. Motivera: 'Inspirera' is about sparking creativity or a feeling. It is often more passive or ethereal. 'Motivera' is more focused on action and result. An artist is inspired (inspirerad) to paint, but an athlete is motivated (motiverad) to win the race. Motivera often implies a specific goal or 'drive'.

Other useful alternatives include 'förklara' (to explain) and 'skäl' (reasons). If 'motivera' feels too formal, you can say 'ange skäl för' (give reasons for). In academic writing, you might see 'belägga' (to provide evidence for) or 'underbygga' (to support/substantiate). For example: 'Han underbyggde sitt påstående med statistik' (He substantiated his claim with statistics). While 'motivera' is a great all-rounder, using these specific alternatives will make your Swedish sound more sophisticated.

Vi måste förklara processen, men vi måste också motivera varför den är nödvändig.

In summary, choose 'motivera' for logical justification and goal-oriented encouragement. Choose 'rättfärdiga' for moral defense, 'inspirera' for creative sparks, and 'peppa' for high-energy coaching.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word is a 'cognate' with English 'motivate', but its usage in Swedish to mean 'justify' is much more formal and legally binding than in English. In Sweden, you don't just 'explain' a law; you 'motiverar' it.

Guide de prononciation

UK /mʊtɪˈveːra/

US /moʊtɪˈveɪrə/

The stress is on the last syllable: mo-ti-VE-ra.

Rime avec

planera studera fundera leverera diskutera fungera producera analysera

Erreurs fréquentes

Stressing the first syllable (like in English 'motivate').
Pronouncing the 'o' as an English 'o' instead of the Swedish 'u' sound.
Treating the 'e' as a silent letter.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Easy to recognize because of English 'motivate', but nuances in legal texts can be tricky.

Écriture 4/5

Requires understanding of when to use it instead of 'justifiera' or 'förklara'.

Expression orale 3/5

Pronunciation is key, especially the stress on the last syllable.

Écoute 3/5

Common in news and workplace discussions.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

varför beslut skäl vilja göra

Apprends ensuite

rättfärdiga argumentera belägga incitament drivkraft

Avancé

myndighetsutövning förvaltningsrätt intresseavvägning bevisbörda

Grammaire à connaître

Verb Group 1 (ar-verbs)

Motivera, motiverar, motiverade, motiverat.

Reflexive Verbs

Att motivera sig (själv).

Subordinate Clauses with 'att'

Han motiverade beslutet med att det var billigast.

Passive -s form

Beslutet motiveras i rapporten.

Prepositional objects

Motivera något med något.

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Exemples par niveau

Han motiverar mig.

He motivates me.

Simple present tense.

Jag är motiverad att lära mig svenska.

I am motivated to learn Swedish.

Adjective 'motiverad'.

Musiken motiverar barnen.

The music motivates the children.

Subject + verb + object.

Kan du motivera ditt svar?

Can you justify your answer?

Auxiliary verb 'kan' + infinitive.

Vi motiverar varandra.

We motivate each other.

Reflexive pronoun 'varandra'.

Hon motiverar sitt val.

She justifies her choice.

Simple present tense.

Det är bra att motivera elever.

It is good to motivate students.

Infinitive form with 'att'.

Varför är du motiverad?

Why are you motivated?

Question with 'Varför'.

Hon motiverade varför hon kom sent.

She explained/justified why she arrived late.

Past tense 'motiverade' with 'varför'-clause.

Jag måste motivera mig själv att träna.

I must motivate myself to exercise.

Reflexive 'motivera mig själv'.

Tränaren motiverade laget före matchen.

The coach motivated the team before the match.

Past tense.

Du behöver motivera din ansökan.

You need to justify/explain your application.

Verb 'behöva' + infinitive.

Han motiverade sitt beslut med att han var trött.

He justified his decision by saying he was tired.

Motivera + med + att-clause.

Hur motiverar du det här priset?

How do you justify this price?

Question with 'Hur'.

De motiverade barnen med glass.

They motivated the children with ice cream.

Motivera + med + noun.

Det är svårt att motivera sig på vintern.

It is hard to motivate oneself in the winter.

Impersonal 'det är' + infinitive.

Han motiverade sin åsikt på ett bra sätt.

He justified his opinion in a good way.

Adverbial phrase 'på ett bra sätt'.

Företaget måste motivera uppsägningarna.

The company must justify the layoffs.

Modal verb 'måste'.

Vad är det som motiverar dig mest i livet?

What is it that motivates you most in life?

Relative clause 'som motiverar'.

Hon motiverade sitt val av utbildning.

She justified her choice of education.

Compound noun 'utbildning'.

Vi försöker motivera personalen att arbeta mer effektivt.

We are trying to motivate the staff to work more efficiently.

Infinitive 'att arbeta'.

Beslutet var svårt att motivera för allmänheten.

The decision was hard to justify to the public.

Preposition 'för' (to/for).

De motiverade sin närvaro med att de var inbjudna.

They justified their presence by saying they were invited.

Passive participle 'inbjudna'.

Det är viktigt att kunna motivera sina handlingar.

It is important to be able to justify one's actions.

Possessive pronoun 'sina'.

Regeringen motiverar lagförslaget med säkerhetsskäl.

The government justifies the bill with security reasons.

Formal usage.

Hur ska vi motivera den här investeringen?

How shall we justify this investment?

Future with 'ska'.

Läraren använde olika metoder för att motivera eleverna.

The teacher used different methods to motivate the students.

Purpose clause 'för att'.

Han motiverade sitt avslag med bristande resurser.

He justified his rejection with a lack of resources.

Formal noun 'avslag'.

Det är svårt att motivera en så hög lön.

It is difficult to justify such a high salary.

Adjective 'hög' with 'lön'.

Studien motiverar varför mer forskning behövs.

The study justifies why more research is needed.

Scientific context.

Hon motiverade sin ansökan på ett övertygande sätt.

She justified her application in a convincing way.

Adjective 'övertygande'.

Beslutet motiveras i bilagan till protokollet.

The decision is justified in the appendix to the minutes.

Passive voice 'motiveras'.

Domstolen motiverade domen utförligt.

The court justified the verdict extensively.

Legal context, adverb 'utförligt'.

Författaren motiverar sitt val av perspektiv i förordet.

The author justifies their choice of perspective in the preface.

Literary context.

Kan man motivera ett sådant ingrepp i den personliga integriteten?

Can one justify such an interference with personal integrity?

Ethical/Legal question.

Han motiverade sin kritik med hänvisning till tidigare forskning.

He justified his criticism with reference to previous research.

Academic phrase 'med hänvisning till'.

Det krävs en stark motivering för att ändra grundlagen.

A strong justification is required to change the constitution.

Noun 'motivering'.

Rapporten motiverar behovet av strukturella reformer.

The report justifies the need for structural reforms.

Political/Economic context.

Hon motiverade sin avgång med personliga skäl.

She justified her resignation with personal reasons.

Formal noun 'avgång'.

Beslutet motiverades utifrån ett strikt ekonomiskt perspektiv.

The decision was justified from a strictly economic perspective.

Prepositional phrase 'utifrån ett... perspektiv'.

Filosofen försöker motivera existensen av objektiv moral.

The philosopher attempts to justify the existence of objective morality.

Philosophical context.

Valet av metod måste motiveras i relation till forskningsfrågan.

The choice of method must be justified in relation to the research question.

Academic rigor.

Han motiverade sin politiska helomvändning med ändrade förutsättningar.

He justified his political U-turn with changed conditions.

Compound 'helomvändning'.

Det är svårt att motivera de enorma skillnaderna i levnadsvillkor.

It is difficult to justify the enormous differences in living conditions.

Social critique.

Myndigheten har brustit i sin skyldighet att motivera beslutet.

The authority has failed in its obligation to justify the decision.

Legal 'skyldighet'.

Hon motiverade sitt handlande genom att åberopa nödvärn.

She justified her actions by invoking self-defense.

Legal term 'åberopa nödvärn'.

Texten motiverar varför det rådande paradigmet måste utmanas.

The text justifies why the prevailing paradigm must be challenged.

Intellectual discourse.

Beslutet motiverades med en komplex vägning av olika intressen.

The decision was justified by a complex weighing of different interests.

Advanced abstract noun 'vägning'.

Collocations courantes

motivera ett beslut

motivera sina anställda

motivera ett val

svårt att motivera

väl motiverad

motivera sig själv

motivera med hänvisning till

starkt motiverad

motivera en löneförhöjning

motivera sitt svar

Phrases Courantes

Motivera mera!

— A playful or encouraging phrase often used in sports or self-help to encourage more effort.

Kom igen nu, motivera mera!

En väl motiverad dom

— A legal term for a court verdict that has clear and detailed reasoning.

Hovrätten lämnade en väl motiverad dom.

Inre motivation

— Psychological term for motivation that comes from within.

Inre motivation är ofta mer hållbar än yttre.

Motiverande samtal

— A specific counseling method (Motivational Interviewing).

Läkaren använde motiverande samtal för att hjälpa patienten sluta röka.

Hålla motivationen uppe

— To keep one's spirits or drive high over a long period.

Det är svårt att hålla motivationen uppe under mörka vintrar.

Bristande motivation

— A lack of drive or interest.

Problemet beror ofta på bristande motivation.

Motivera förslaget

— To provide the arguments for a suggestion.

Kan du motivera förslaget ytterligare?

En motiverad gissning

— An educated guess (a guess backed by some logic).

Det var en motiverad gissning baserad på erfarenhet.

Motivera sin närvaro

— To justify why one is present in a certain place.

Han kunde inte motivera sin närvaro på brottsplatsen.

Hitta motivationen

— To find the spark or reason to do something.

Jag måste hitta motivationen att börja träna igen.

Souvent confondu avec

motivera vs justifiera

English speakers use this too much. In Swedish, 'motivera' is the standard for neutral justification.

motivera vs argumentera

Argumentera is the act of debating; motivera is providing the underlying reasons.

motivera vs motionera

Sounds similar but means 'to exercise' or 'to put forward a formal motion'.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Ha kött på benen"

— To have enough facts or evidence to support (motivera) an argument.

Du måste ha mer kött på benen om du ska motivera det här för chefen.

Informal/Idiomatic

"Tala för sin vara"

— To argue for or justify one's own interests or position.

Hon motiverade beslutet väl, men hon talade förstås för sin vara.

Neutral

"Gå till botten med"

— To investigate thoroughly to find the real reasons (motiveringar).

Vi måste gå till botten med vad som motiverar det här beteendet.

Neutral

"Sälja in något"

— To persuade someone, often by motivating why something is good.

Han försökte sälja in idén genom att motivera den med ökad vinst.

Business/Informal

"Stå för sitt kast"

— To take responsibility for one's actions and be able to justify them.

Om du fattar det beslutet måste du kunna motivera det och stå för ditt kast.

Neutral

"Lägga korten på bordet"

— To be completely honest about one's reasons and motives.

Nu får du lägga korten på bordet och motivera varför du gjorde så.

Informal

"Vända kappan efter vinden"

— To change one's justifications based on what is popular (opposite of consistent motivering).

Han motiverar alltid sina åsikter efter vad som är populärt för stunden.

Critical

"Ha rent mjöl i påsen"

— To have nothing to hide (making it easier to motivera actions).

Han kunde motivera allt han gjort eftersom han hade rent mjöl i påsen.

Informal

"Se mellan fingrarna"

— To overlook something (often because a good motivering was provided).

Chefen såg mellan fingrarna eftersom han motiverade sin sena ankomst så väl.

Neutral

"Slå huvudet på spiken"

— To give the perfect justification or reason.

Där slog du huvudet på spiken när du motiverade varför vi misslyckades.

Informal

Facile à confondre

motivera vs motionera

Similar sound and spelling.

Motionera means to exercise physically or to propose something in parliament. Motivera is about reasons and drive.

Jag gillar att motionera, men jag måste motivera mig att gå till gymmet.

motivera vs montera

Similar ending and rhythm.

Montera means to assemble or install (like IKEA furniture).

Jag ska montera bokhyllan.

motivera vs moderera

Similar Latin root and length.

Moderera means to moderate (a debate or a speed).

Hon ska moderera debatten.

motivera vs motverka

Starts with 'mot-'.

Motverka means to counteract or prevent.

Vi måste motverka mobbning.

motivera vs notera

Rhyming ending.

Notera means to note or notice.

Vänligen notera datumet.

Structures de phrases

Jag är [adjective].

Jag är motiverad.

Han motiverade [noun].

Han motiverade beslutet.

Det är svårt att motivera [noun].

Det är svårt att motivera kostnaden.

[Noun] motiveras av [noun].

Valet motiveras av säkerhetsskäl.

Kan du motivera varför [clause]?

Kan du motivera varför du gjorde så?

Med hänvisning till [noun] motiveras [noun].

Med hänvisning till lagen motiveras avslaget.

[Noun] brast i sin skyldighet att motivera...

Kommunen brast i sin skyldighet att motivera beslutet.

Ett väl motiverat [noun] utgör grunden för...

Ett väl motiverat ställningstagande utgör grunden för debatten.

Famille de mots

Noms

motivation (drive)

motivering (justification/reasoning)

motiv (motive/reason)

motiveringsskyldighet (legal obligation to justify)

Verbes

motivera (to motivate/justify)

demotivera (to demotivate)

Adjectifs

motiverad (motivated/justified)

motiverande (motivating)

välmotiverad (well-justified)

omotiverad (unmotivated/unjustified)

Apparenté

drivkraft

anledning

skäl

argument

incitament

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very high in professional, academic, and administrative Swedish.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'justifiera' for a work decision. → Jag motiverar mitt beslut.
'Justifiera' sounds like you are making excuses for something wrong. 'Motivera' is the professional choice.
Stressing the first syllable: MO-ti-ve-ra. → mo-ti-ve-RA.
Swedish verbs ending in -era almost always have the stress on the final syllable.
Saying 'motivera om' instead of 'motivera varför'. → Han motiverade varför han gjorde det.
'Om' (about/if) is usually not used after motivera in this context.
Confusing 'motivera' with 'motionera'. → Jag ska motionera (exercise).
These words sound similar but have completely different meanings.
Using 'motivera' as an intransitive verb (without an object). → Jag motiverar beslutet.
You must motivera *something* or *someone*.

Astuces

Use the Passive for Objectivity

In reports, use 'beslutet motiverades' instead of 'jag motiverade beslutet' to sound more professional and objective.

Learn the Adjective 'Omotiverad'

This is a great word for 'unjustified' (e.g., omotiverat våld) or 'unmotivated' (e.g., en omotiverad elev).

Transparency is Key

In Sweden, providing a 'motivering' is seen as a sign of respect and transparency. Never skip the 'why'.

The Swedish 'U' Sound

The first syllable 'mo-' uses the Swedish 'o' which sounds like a short 'u'. Don't use the English 'o' sound.

Academic Justification

When writing a thesis, use 'motivera' to explain why you chose a specific theory or limit your study.

Encouraging Others

Use 'motivera' when talking about coaching or teaching. 'Det är min uppgift att motivera dem.'

Personal Letters

In your 'personligt brev', use 'Jag vill motivera varför jag är rätt person för jobbet'.

Listen for the 'Why'

When you hear 'motivera' on the news, prepare to hear a list of reasons starting with 'för det första...', 'för det andra...'

Reflexive Usage

Practice saying 'Jag måste motivera mig själv' to talk about your study habits.

Motivera vs. Justifiera

Always lean toward 'motivera' in Swedish. 'Justifiera' is very rare and often carries negative connotations.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'Motive' for a 'Verb' (Action). To 'motivera' is to give the motive for the action.

Association visuelle

Imagine a judge hitting a gavel (justifying a verdict) while a coach cheers (motivating a team). Both are 'motivera'.

Word Web

Motiv Motivation Motiverad Beslut Skäl Driva Förklara Rättfärdiga

Défi

Try to write three sentences: one justifying a choice, one encouraging a friend, and one describing your own motivation for learning Swedish.

Origine du mot

From French 'motiver', which comes from 'motif' (motive).

Sens originel : To provide a motive or reason for something.

Indo-European (via Latin 'motivus' and 'movere').

Contexte culturel

Be careful not to sound defensive when 'motiverar' a mistake; sometimes 'be om ursäkt' (apologize) is better.

In English, 'motivate' is often used for inspiration, while 'justify' is used for logic. In Swedish, 'motivera' covers both, which can lead to translation confusion.

Motiverande samtal (Motivational Interviewing) is a very popular method in Swedish healthcare. The 'Nobelprismotivering' is the official text explaining why a laureate won. Swedish law 'Förvaltningslagen' mandates that authorities must motivera their decisions.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Job Application

Jag vill motivera min ansökan...
Det som motiverar mig är...
Mina främsta drivkrafter är...
En väl motiverad kandidat.

Academic Writing

Valet av metod motiveras av...
I detta kapitel motiveras teorin...
Det är svårt att motivera antagandet...
En utförlig motivering.

Sports and Fitness

Hur motiverar du dig själv?
Tränaren motiverar laget.
Hitta din inre motivation.
Håll motivationen uppe!

Legal/Official Decisions

Beslutet ska motiveras.
Bristande motivering.
Motivera med stöd av lag.
En skriftlig motivering.

General Discussion

Kan du motivera det?
Det går inte att motivera.
Jag motiverade mitt val.
Han är väldigt motiverad.

Amorces de conversation

"Vad är det som motiverar dig mest i ditt nuvarande jobb?"

"Hur brukar du motivera dig själv när du känner dig trött?"

"Kan du motivera varför vi borde resa till just den staden?"

"Tycker du att lärare är bra på att motivera sina elever idag?"

"Hur skulle du motivera en löneförhöjning för din chef?"

Sujets d'écriture

Skriv om en gång när du var tvungen att motivera ett svårt beslut för någon annan.

Vad motiverar dig att lära dig svenska? Skriv ner dina tre viktigaste skäl.

Reflektera över skillnaden mellan att bli motiverad av rädsla och att bli motiverad av glädje.

Hur motiverar du dina inköp? Är du en impulsiv köpare eller planerar du väl?

Beskriv en person som har lyckats motivera dig att förändra något i ditt liv.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, absolutely. It is the official term for providing the legal reasoning behind a verdict. A judge must 'motivera' why a certain sentence was given.

Yes, it is very common. You might hear it when friends discuss why they chose a certain car or why they are feeling lazy (lack of motivation).

Generally, 'motivation' refers to the internal drive (e.g., 'Jag har ingen motivation'), while 'motivering' refers to the actual explanation or justification (e.g., 'Här är min motivering till beslutet').

You say 'Jag är motiverad.' If you want to say 'It motivates me,' you say 'Det motiverar mig.'

No, that is 'montera.' 'Motivera' is only for reasons, drive, and justifications.

It can be both. It is the standard word in formal contexts for 'justify,' but it is also used informally to mean 'encourage' or 'explain.'

Usually 'med' (with) or 'för' (to/for). For example: 'Motivera beslutet med fakta' or 'Motivera beslutet för personalen.'

It is a clear and professional word. It implies that there is logic or a goal involved.

Yes, in a passive sense. 'Priset motiveras av kvaliteten' (The price is justified by the quality).

Yes, both come from the Latin 'movere' (to move). A motor moves a car; motivation moves a person.

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