Meaning
Not falling asleep.
Cultural Background
During Midsummer, it is a tradition to stay awake all night to see the sun barely dip below the horizon. This is called 'att vaka in midsommar'. The 'Uppesittarkväll' on December 23rd is a popular TV event where people stay awake late to finish Christmas preparations. In the dark winter, Swedes use 'ljusterapi' (light therapy) to help them stay awake and fight seasonal depression. Swedish gamers are world-renowned (e.g., DreamHack), and 'hålla sig vaken' is a key part of the LAN-party vocabulary.
Remember the 'sig'
Always check who is staying awake and change the pronoun (mig, dig, sig, oss, er).
Don't use 'stanna'
Avoid saying 'stanna vaken'. It's a common mistake for English speakers.
Meaning
Not falling asleep.
Remember the 'sig'
Always check who is staying awake and change the pronoun (mig, dig, sig, oss, er).
Don't use 'stanna'
Avoid saying 'stanna vaken'. It's a common mistake for English speakers.
Plural agreement
If it's 'vi' or 'de', remember to use 'vakna' with an -a at the end.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun (mig, dig, sig, oss, er).
Vi måste hålla ___ vakna.
Since the subject is 'Vi' (we), the reflexive pronoun must be 'oss' (us).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
How do you say 'I am trying to stay awake'?
Swedish requires the reflexive pronoun 'mig' and the verb 'hålla'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Är du trött? B: Ja, men jag måste ______ vaken till klockan tio.
Speaker B is talking about themselves, so 'hålla mig' is correct.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all related but distinct actions regarding sleep.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesVi måste hålla ___ vakna.
Since the subject is 'Vi' (we), the reflexive pronoun must be 'oss' (us).
How do you say 'I am trying to stay awake'?
Swedish requires the reflexive pronoun 'mig' and the verb 'hålla'.
A: Är du trött? B: Ja, men jag måste ______ vaken till klockan tio.
Speaker B is talking about themselves, so 'hålla mig' is correct.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all related but distinct actions regarding sleep.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsYes, but 'Jag är vaken' just means 'I am awake'. 'Jag håller mig vaken' implies you are trying to stay that way.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends.
Use 'hålla oss vakna' for 'us' or 'hålla er vakna' for 'you all'.
Related Phrases
hålla sig uppe
similarTo stay up late
vara vaken
similarTo be awake
vaka
specialized formTo keep a vigil
dygna
informal alternativeTo stay awake for 24 hours
väcka
contrastTo wake someone up
somna
contrastTo fall asleep
