Meaning
To clean up liquid or moisture.
Cultural Background
Swedes are very particular about wooden floors. Leaving water on them can cause damage, so 'torka upp' is taught to children very early. In shared office kitchens, there is a strong 'do it yourself' culture. Leaving a spill for the cleaning staff is considered rude. In 'förskola' (preschool), children are encouraged to help 'torka upp' their own spills to build independence. The concept of 'ordning' (order) extends to the physical state of the home. A spill is a disruption of 'ordning'.
The Stress Rule
If you don't stress 'upp', Swedes might not understand that you are talking about cleaning a spill. The particle is the key!
Floor Safety
In Sweden, 'torka upp' is often a safety warning. If someone says 'Torka upp!', they might mean the floor is slippery.
Meaning
To clean up liquid or moisture.
The Stress Rule
If you don't stress 'upp', Swedes might not understand that you are talking about cleaning a spill. The particle is the key!
Floor Safety
In Sweden, 'torka upp' is often a safety warning. If someone says 'Torka upp!', they might mean the floor is slippery.
Fika Etiquette
If you spill during fika, always offer to torka upp yourself. It's polite!
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing particle to complete the phrasal verb.
Jag spillde mjölk på golvet, så jag måste torka ___ det.
We use 'upp' because we are removing a spilled liquid from a surface.
Which sentence is correct for cleaning a spill?
Välj rätt mening:
'Torka upp' is the specific phrasal verb for removing spilled liquid.
Match the action to the correct verb.
Du har duschat och det är vatten på hela badrumsgolvet. Vad gör du?
Removing standing water from a floor is 'torka upp'.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
What to Torka Upp
Liquids
- • Vatten
- • Mjölk
- • Kaffe
- • Juice
Practice Bank
3 exercisesJag spillde mjölk på golvet, så jag måste torka ___ det.
We use 'upp' because we are removing a spilled liquid from a surface.
Välj rätt mening:
'Torka upp' is the specific phrasal verb for removing spilled liquid.
Du har duschat och det är vatten på hela badrumsgolvet. Vad gör du?
Removing standing water from a floor is 'torka upp'.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, for dust we use 'torka av' or 'damma'. 'Torka upp' is strictly for liquids.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, at work, or in a store.
'Torka upp' is for a volume of liquid. 'Torka bort' is for removing a mark or a small stain.
Yes, usually: 'Jag torkar upp det.' But you can also say 'Jag torkar upp på golvet.'
No, for clothes we say 'torka kläder' or 'hänga tvätt'.
'Torka upp' works, or you can be more specific with 'svabba upp'.
In speech and normal writing, it's always 'torka upp'. 'Upptorka' is not used.
Yes, 'torka upp tårar' is possible, though 'torka bort tårar' is more common.
A 'trasa' (cloth), 'hushållspapper' (paper towel), or 'mopp' (mop).
Yes, phrasal verbs are a big part of the B1/B2 Swedish exams (SFI/Tisus).
Related Phrases
torka av
similarto wipe off a surface
torka bort
similarto wipe away a spot
suga upp
specialized formto soak up
svabba
specialized formto mop
