Meaning
To stop believing that something will work out.
Cultural Background
Swedes often use this phrase with a sense of 'vemod' (melancholy), a cultural feeling of beautiful sadness often found in Swedish music and nature. In Finland-Swedish, the phrase is used similarly, but might be influenced by the Finnish 'sisu' (extreme persistence), making the act of 'giving up' feel even more significant. While Americans might say 'never give up' as a constant mantra, Swedes might be more comfortable 'giving up hope' if the facts show a situation is truly 'hopplös'. In international business contexts in Sweden, 'ge upp hoppet om en deadline' is a common way to signal that a project needs to be rescheduled.
The 'Om' Rule
Always use 'om' to connect the phrase to the thing you are losing hope about. 'Ge upp hoppet om [sak]'.
Don't over-dramatize
Using this for very small things can make you sound sarcastic or overly emotional.
Meaning
To stop believing that something will work out.
The 'Om' Rule
Always use 'om' to connect the phrase to the thing you are losing hope about. 'Ge upp hoppet om [sak]'.
Don't over-dramatize
Using this for very small things can make you sound sarcastic or overly emotional.
The Swedish Stoic
Swedes might not say they've 'given up hope' out loud very often; it's a heavy admission.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'ge'.
Igår ______ de upp hoppet om att hitta skatten.
The sentence starts with 'Igår' (yesterday), so we need the preteritum form 'gav'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct word order.
The particle 'upp' must follow the verb 'gett' and precede the object 'hoppet'.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are standard idiomatic translations.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Tror du att de vinner? B: Nej, det är för sent. Jag har ______.
In this context, losing hope for a win is best expressed with 'gett upp hoppet'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Hope Phrases
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIgår ______ de upp hoppet om att hitta skatten.
The sentence starts with 'Igår' (yesterday), so we need the preteritum form 'gav'.
Choose the correct word order.
The particle 'upp' must follow the verb 'gett' and precede the object 'hoppet'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are standard idiomatic translations.
A: Tror du att de vinner? B: Nej, det är för sent. Jag har ______.
In this context, losing hope for a win is best expressed with 'gett upp hoppet'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is becoming common due to English influence, but 'ge upp hoppet om någon' is the grammatically correct Swedish form.
Usually, yes, but it can be positive if it means letting go of an unrealistic expectation that was causing stress.
'Ge upp' feels more like a final decision, while 'tappa' feels like the hope just disappeared or was lost.
The past tense (preteritum) is 'gav'. Example: 'Han gav upp hoppet'.
Yes, to indicate that a strategy or project is no longer considered viable.
Yes, 'ge upp hoppet om någon' means you no longer believe they will succeed or behave well.
It is neutral. You can use it in a newspaper or with a friend.
The opposite is 'att hysa hopp' or 'att ha hopp'.
Yes, in this idiom, the definite form is required.
No, the particle 'upp' must come before the object 'hoppet'.
Related Phrases
tappa sugen
similarTo lose one's appetite/desire for something.
ge upp
builds onTo quit or surrender.
förlora hoppet
synonymTo lose hope.
hysa hopp
contrastTo harbor or hold hope.
