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B2 verb 10 min de lecture

avböja

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces avböja en 30 secondes

Explication avböja in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn how to say 'no'. While 'avböja' is a complex word, you can think of it as a very fancy way of saying 'nej tack' (no thank you). You probably won't use this word yourself yet, but you might see it on a formal invitation. Imagine you are invited to a big party and there is a button that says 'Avböj'—that means 'I cannot come'. At this stage, focus on the fact that 'av-' often means 'away' and 'böja' means 'to bend'. So, you are 'bending away' from an invitation. It is much more polite than just saying 'nej'. In simple Swedish: 'Avböja betyder att säga nej på ett fint sätt.'

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At the A2 level, you are beginning to handle more social situations. You should recognize 'avböja' as a formal alternative to 'tacka nej'. You might see it in short emails or on official websites. For example, if a website asks if you want to receive a newsletter, and you click a button to decline, the word 'avböja' might be used. You can start to understand that Swedish has different levels of politeness. While you still use 'nej tack' with your friends, you are learning that 'avböja' is what adults use in professional life. It is a 'weak' verb, which means it follows a regular pattern: avböja, avböjer, avböjde. Try to remember the phrase 'avböja en inbjudan' (decline an invitation) as a single block of meaning.

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At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'avböja' in your own writing, especially in formal letters or emails. If you are writing a practice email to a landlord or a job recruiter, using 'avböja' instead of 'tacka nej' will significantly improve the impression you make. You should also be able to understand its use in news reports. When you hear 'Han avböjde att kommentera' on the radio, you should immediately know that someone refused to give a statement. You are starting to see the difference between 'avböja' (polite decline) and 'vägra' (stubborn refusal). Practice using it with 'tyvärr' (unfortunately) to sound naturally Swedish: 'Jag måste tyvärr avböja'.

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At the B2 level, 'avböja' should be a regular part of your vocabulary. You understand the nuances of register—knowing exactly when to use 'avböja' versus 'avslå' or 'avvisa'. You can use it fluently in sentences with different tenses and moods. You are comfortable with the pattern 'avböja att [verb]' and can use it to describe complex social or professional interactions. You also recognize common collocations like 'avböja vänligt men bestämt'. Your writing shows that you can maintain a formal tone by choosing 'avböja' in the right contexts. You understand that this word is part of the Swedish 'diplomatic' toolkit, allowing you to say no without causing offense or 'dålig stämning'.

At the C1 level, you use 'avböja' with precision and stylistic flair. You might use it in the passive voice ('erbjudandet avböjdes') to sound more objective in a report. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how it fits into the broader family of Swedish verbs starting with the prefix 'av-'. You can distinguish between 'avböja' and more obscure synonyms like 'försmå' or 'rata' in literary contexts. You are also aware of how the word is used in legal or high-level political discourse. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from that of a native speaker, and you can even use it ironically or for specific rhetorical effects in advanced debates.

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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'avböja'. You understand its every nuance, from its use in 19th-century literature to modern-day corporate jargon. You can explain the subtle differences between 'avböja', 'avvisa', 'avslå', 'förkasta', and 'bestrida' to others. You are sensitive to the rhythm of the sentence and know exactly where 'avböja' fits for the best prosodic effect. You can use the word in complex legal, philosophical, or technical arguments without hesitation. For you, 'avböja' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a tool for navigating the highest levels of Swedish society, academia, and professional life with absolute linguistic confidence.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

avböja en 30 secondes

A formal verb meaning to decline or refuse politely.
Commonly used for invitations, offers, and declining to comment in news.
More professional and distant than the casual 'tacka nej'.
Follows the weak verb pattern: avböja, avböjer, avböjde, avböjt.

The Swedish verb avböja is a sophisticated and essential term for anyone aiming to reach a B2 level of proficiency or higher. At its core, it means to decline or refuse an offer, an invitation, a proposal, or even a question, but it carries a weight of formality and politeness that simpler words like 'nej' (no) or 'vägra' (refuse) do not possess. When you use avböja, you are not just saying no; you are signaling a professional or socially graceful boundary. In Swedish culture, where conflict is often avoided and politeness is a pillar of social interaction, knowing how to 'avböja' correctly is a vital social skill. It is the linguistic equivalent of a gentle hand gesture pushing something away, rather than a slammed door.

Formal Context: This word is most frequently encountered in professional correspondence, official press releases, and formal social invitations. For instance, a politician might decline to comment on a sensitive issue, or a CEO might decline a merger proposal.
Social Nuance: While 'tacka nej' is the standard way to say 'no thank you' to a coffee invite among friends, 'avböja' is what you use when the stakes are slightly higher or the relationship is more distant.

Statsministern valde att avböja att svara på frågor om den nya budgeten vid dagens pressträff.

The word is derived from the prefix 'av-' (off/away) and the verb 'böja' (to bend). Etymologically, it suggests the act of 'bending away' from a path or an offer. This visual metaphor helps in understanding its usage: you are not breaking something (like 'vägra' might imply), but rather steering clear of it. In modern Swedish, it is almost exclusively used for abstract things like invitations, suggestions, and comments. You wouldn't 'avböja' a physical object like a sandwich if a friend hands it to you; in that case, you would 'tacka nej'. However, if a company offers you a position, you might 'avböja' the offer in your formal response letter.

Vi tvingas tyvärr avböja er förfrågan om sponsring på grund av budgetbegränsningar.

Media Usage: Journalists often write that a celebrity or spokesperson 'avböjde att kommentera' (declined to comment), which is a standard phrase in Swedish news reporting.

Understanding the difference between 'avböja' and its synonyms is key to mastering B2 Swedish. While 'vägra' implies a refusal based on principle or stubbornness (often quite harsh), 'avböja' implies a refusal based on circumstances, preference, or professional boundaries. It is the word of choice for diplomatic communication. Furthermore, 'avböja' is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object: you decline *something*. That something is often an infinitive phrase (to do something) or a noun (an invitation).

Using avböja correctly requires attention to word order and context. As a weak verb of the second conjugation (2b), its forms are: avböja (infinitive), avböjer (present), avböjde (past), avböjt (supine). It follows the standard Swedish sentence structure, but because it is often used in formal writing, it frequently appears in subordinate clauses or with auxiliary verbs like 'måste' (must), 'välja att' (choose to), or 'tvingas' (be forced to).

Efter moget övervägande har vi beslutat att avböja inbjudan till konferensen.

One of the most common patterns is avböja + att + verb. This is used when you are declining to perform a specific action. For example, 'avböja att delta' (decline to participate) or 'avböja att uttala sig' (decline to express oneself/comment). Another common pattern is avböja + noun, where the noun is usually something offered like an 'inbjudan' (invitation), 'erbjudande' (offer), or 'förslag' (proposal).

The 'Polite Refusal' Pattern: Subject + [hjälpverb] + tyvärr + avböja + [objekt]. Example: 'Jag måste tyvärr avböja din inbjudan.'

In more advanced usage, you might see 'avböja' used in the passive voice or within relative clauses. For instance: 'Erbjudandet, som senare avböjdes av styrelsen, var mycket generöst' (The offer, which was later declined by the board, was very generous). Note that in the passive, the 'a' at the end changes to 'es' in the past tense or 'as' in the present. Mastering these shifts is essential for B2/C1 learners who want to write professional reports or academic papers in Swedish.

Hon avböjde vänligt men bestämt alla försök till hjälp.

Another important aspect is the adverbial support. You will often see 'avböja' paired with 'vänligt' (kindly), 'artigt' (politely), or 'bestämt' (firmly). These adverbs define the tone of the refusal. 'Vänligt men bestämt' is a very common Swedish idiom meaning 'kindly but firmly', used when you want to ensure there is no room for negotiation while still being civil.

If you are living in Sweden, you might not hear 'avböja' every day in the grocery store or at the gym, but you will definitely encounter it in the 'Ekot' news broadcasts on Sveriges Radio or in the pages of 'Dagens Nyheter'. It is a staple of the Swedish media landscape. Whenever a journalist reaches out to a public figure for a comment on a scandal or a new policy, and that person refuses to talk, the report will inevitably say: 'Personen har avböjt att kommentera'. This specific phrase is so common it has become a linguistic trope in Swedish journalism.

Polisen avböjer att gå in på detaljer kring den pågående utredningen.

In the corporate world, 'avböja' is the standard verb used in rejection letters. If you apply for a job and don't get it, the email might start with: 'Vi tackar för ditt intresse, men vi måste tyvärr avböja din ansökan denna gång'. Similarly, in B2B (business-to-business) interactions, if a company receives a proposal that doesn't fit their current strategy, they will 'avböja förslaget'. It sounds much more professional than saying 'Vi vill inte ha det' (We don't want it).

Legal and Official Documents: In legal contexts, a judge might 'avböja ett yrkande' (decline a motion/claim) if it lacks legal grounds. This highlights the word's role in formal decision-making processes.

You will also hear it in high-society or formal social settings. If someone is invited to a royal wedding or a Nobel banquet and cannot attend, the official response is to 'avböja inbjudan'. In these circles, using 'tacka nej' might feel slightly too casual, whereas 'avböja' fits the gravity of the event. Even in more mundane but formal situations, like a wedding invitation you receive in the mail, the RSVP card might have a checkbox for 'avböjer' alongside 'accepterar'.

Trots flera påstötningar har författaren valt att avböja alla intervjuförfrågningar.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning avböja is using it in contexts that are too casual. Since 'decline' can sometimes be used somewhat informally in English, learners might try to 'avböja' a slice of cake at a friend's house. In Swedish, this sounds incredibly stiff and almost robotic. If you are in a casual setting, always use 'tacka nej'. Using 'avböja' with friends can make you sound like you are reading from a legal contract.

Mistake: Over-Formality: Wrong: 'Jag avböjer din kaka.' (I decline your cake.) Correct: 'Nej tack, det är bra.' or 'Jag tackar nej till kakan.'

Another common error is confusing avböja with avslå. While both mean to refuse or reject, 'avslå' is much stronger and is usually used for official applications, motions, or requests in a hierarchical setting (e.g., a government agency rejecting a permit). 'Avböja' is more about declining an offer or invitation that was extended to you. You 'avslå' an application (downward power dynamic), but you 'avböja' an invitation (sideways or upward social dynamic).

Kom ihåg: Man avböjer en inbjudan, men myndigheten avslår en ansökan.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the prepositional use. Unlike some other Swedish verbs, 'avböja' does not typically require a preposition before its object. You simply 'avböjer något'. However, if you are declining *to do* something, you must include 'att' (to), as in 'avböja att delta'. Forgetting the 'att' is a common B1/B2 level mistake. Finally, avoid using 'avböja' when you mean 'neka' (to deny). If someone accuses you of a crime, you 'nekar' (deny the charge), you don't 'avböja' it. 'Avböja' is for offers, 'neka' is for facts or accusations.

To truly enrich your Swedish vocabulary, you need to understand where avböja sits in the spectrum of refusal. Swedish has several words for saying 'no', each with its own register and nuance. Understanding these will help you choose the right word for the right situation.

Tacka nej: The most common, neutral way to decline. Used for coffee, parties, and small favors. 'Jag tackar nej till kaffet.'
Vägra: A strong refusal, often implying resistance or a clash of wills. 'Han vägrade lyda order.' (He refused to obey orders.)
Avslå: Formal and bureaucratic. Used when a request or application is formally turned down. 'Ansökan om bygglov avslogs.'

Jämförelse:
1. Jag tackar nej (Neutral/Friendly)
2. Jag avböjer (Formal/Professional)
3. Jag vägrar (Strong/Defiant)

Other alternatives include avvisa, which means to reject or dismiss. This is often used for romantic advances or ideas that are seen as invalid. 'Hon avvisade hans inviter' (She rejected his advances). Then there is förkasta, which is even stronger, meaning to discard or completely reject an idea or theory as worthless. 'Forskarna förkastade den gamla teorin'. As you can see, avböja is the gentlest of the formal refusal verbs.

In some contexts, you might also use nobba. This is a more colloquial, journalistic word for 'rejecting' or 'snubbing'. You might see headlines like 'Hollywood-stjärnan nobbade rollen' (The Hollywood star snubbed/turned down the role). It's more colorful than 'avböja' and common in tabloid news (like Aftonbladet or Expressen). However, in your own writing, 'avböja' will always make you sound more educated and precise.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

It shares the same 'bending' root as the English word 'bow' (as in to bow down).

Guide de prononciation

UK /ɑːvˈbœjːa/

US /ɑvˈbɔɪə/

Stress on the first syllable 'av'.

Rime avec

dröja slöja tröja höja plöja smörja börja stödja

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'ö' like 'o'.
Stressing the second syllable 'böja'.
Missing the 'v' sound in 'av'.
Pronouncing 'j' like the English 'j' (it should be like 'y' in 'yes').
Shortening the long 'ö' sound.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Common in news and formal texts, easy to recognize.

Écriture 4/5

Requires knowledge of formal register and correct verb conjugation.

Expression orale 4/5

Hard to use naturally without sounding overly formal in casual settings.

Écoute 3/5

Very common in media broadcasts.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

nej tacka böja inbjudan erbjudande

Apprends ensuite

avslå avvisa förkasta bestrida medge

Avancé

etikettsbrott yttrandefrihet diplomati förhandling

Grammaire à connaître

Weak Verb Conjugation (Group 2b)

avböja -> avböjer -> avböjde -> avböjt

Infinitive with 'att'

Han avböjde att (to) svara.

Word Order in Subordinate Clauses

...eftersom han tyvärr avböjde.

Passive Voice with -s

Erbjudandet avböjdes.

Adverb Placement

Hon avböjde vänligt (Adverb after verb).

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Exemples par niveau

Jag måste avböja inbjudan.

I must decline the invitation.

Simple present tense with auxiliary verb.

Kan du avböja kaffet?

Can you decline the coffee?

Interrogative sentence.

Han vill avböja nu.

He wants to decline now.

Infinitive after 'vill'.

De avböjer artigt.

They decline politely.

Present tense verb.

Vi avböjde förslaget.

We declined the proposal.

Past tense 'avböjde'.

Säg nej, eller avböj.

Say no, or decline.

Imperative mood.

Hon har avböjt allt.

She has declined everything.

Present perfect tense.

Varför avböjer du?

Why are you declining?

Question with 'varför'.

Jag tackar för erbjudandet men måste avböja.

I thank you for the offer but must decline.

Compound sentence with 'men'.

Tyvärr måste vi avböja er förfrågan.

Unfortunately, we must decline your request.

Use of 'tyvärr' for politeness.

Han avböjde inbjudan till festen.

He declined the invitation to the party.

Past tense with definite noun.

Hon valde att avböja platsen på kursen.

She chose to decline the spot on the course.

Phrase 'valde att avböja'.

De kommer att avböja alla intervjuer.

They are going to decline all interviews.

Future tense with 'kommer att'.

Var snäll och avböj om du inte kan komma.

Please decline if you cannot come.

Conditional 'om' clause.

Vi har redan avböjt deras hjälp.

We have already declined their help.

Present perfect with adverb 'redan'.

Det är svårt att avböja en sådan gåva.

It is difficult to decline such a gift.

Infinitive phrase as subject.

Eftersom jag är upptagen måste jag avböja mötet.

Since I am busy, I must decline the meeting.

Subordinate clause with 'eftersom'.

Han avböjde att svara på min fråga.

He declined to answer my question.

Pattern 'avböja att + verb'.

Företaget avböjde att köpa upp konkurrenten.

The company declined to buy out the competitor.

Formal business context.

Jag hoppas att ni inte tar illa upp om jag avböjer.

I hope you don't take offense if I decline.

Polite social expression.

Hon avböjde vänligt men bestämt hans förslag.

She declined his proposal kindly but firmly.

Adverbial phrase 'vänligt men bestämt'.

Många valde att avböja den nya uppdateringen.

Many chose to decline the new update.

Plural subject with past tense.

Om de avböjer nu, kan vi inte fråga igen.

If they decline now, we cannot ask again.

First conditional structure.

Det var rätt beslut att avböja inbjudan.

It was the right decision to decline the invitation.

Expletive 'det' construction.

Trots det generösa erbjudandet valde styrelsen att avböja.

Despite the generous offer, the board chose to decline.

Prepositional phrase 'trots' starting the sentence.

Ministern avböjde att kommentera de nya uppgifterna.

The minister declined to comment on the new information.

Standard journalistic phrasing.

Vi ser oss tvungna att avböja er ansökan om medlemskap.

We find ourselves forced to decline your application for membership.

Reflexive phrase 'se oss tvungna'.

Hon avböjde med hänvisning till tidsbrist.

She declined with reference to a lack of time.

Formal phrase 'med hänvisning till'.

Att avböja en sådan ära kräver stort mod.

To decline such an honor requires great courage.

Infinitive clause as a noun phrase.

De flesta avböjde att delta i undersökningen.

Most people declined to participate in the survey.

Quantifier 'de flesta'.

Han har systematiskt avböjt alla försök till medling.

He has systematically declined all attempts at mediation.

Adverbial usage 'systematiskt'.

Vi rekommenderar att ni avböjer förslaget i dess nuvarande form.

We recommend that you decline the proposal in its current form.

Subjunctive-like recommendation clause.

Författaren avböjde kategoriskt att diskutera sitt privatliv.

The author categorically declined to discuss their private life.

Strong adverb 'kategoriskt'.

Erbjudandet avböjdes av samtliga parter i förhandlingen.

The offer was declined by all parties in the negotiation.

Passive voice 'avböjdes'.

Att avböja utan att ge en förklaring kan uppfattas som oartigt.

To decline without giving an explanation can be perceived as rude.

Complex infinitive construction.

Han avböjde artigt men med en underton av irritation.

He declined politely but with an undertone of irritation.

Nuanced description of tone.

Det vore oklokt att avböja ett sådant unikt tillfälle.

It would be unwise to decline such a unique opportunity.

Conditional 'vore'.

Kungen avböjde att närvara vid invigningen på grund av sjukdom.

The King declined to attend the inauguration due to illness.

High formal register.

Trots påtryckningar från ledningen avböjde hon att ändra sitt beslut.

Despite pressure from management, she declined to change her decision.

Contrastive 'trots' with complex object.

Man bör avböja gåvor som kan tolkas som mutor.

One should decline gifts that can be interpreted as bribes.

Generic 'man' with modal 'bör'.

I ljuset av de senaste händelserna fann han det för gott att avböja vidare samarbete.

In light of recent events, he found it best to decline further cooperation.

Idiomatic 'finna det för gott'.

Hennes beslut att avböja utmärkelsen väckte stor medial uppmärksamhet.

Her decision to decline the award sparked great media attention.

Nominalized verb phrase as subject.

Att avböja en invit från hovet betraktas som ett betydande etikettsbrott.

Declining an invitation from the court is considered a significant breach of etiquette.

Passive 'betraktas som'.

Han avböjde med en gest som inte lämnade något utrymme för motargument.

He declined with a gesture that left no room for counter-arguments.

Relative clause with negative polarity.

Det ligger i sakens natur att man i detta läge måste avböja alla kompromisser.

It is in the nature of the matter that one must decline all compromises at this stage.

Idiomatic 'ligger i sakens natur'.

Genom att avböja vittnesmål skyddade han sina kumpaner.

By declining to testify, he protected his accomplices.

Gerund-like 'genom att' construction.

Skulle hon avböja, står vi inför en smärre diplomatisk kris.

Should she decline, we face a minor diplomatic crisis.

Inverted conditional 'skulle hon'.

Valet att avböja var frukten av en lång och plågsam process.

The choice to decline was the fruit of a long and painful process.

Metaphorical language.

Collocations courantes

avböja en inbjudan

avböja att kommentera

avböja vänligt men bestämt

avböja ett erbjudande

avböja artigt

avböja ett förslag

avböja med hänvisning till

avböja kategoriskt

tvingas avböja

välja att avböja

Phrases Courantes

Jag måste tyvärr avböja.

— A standard polite way to say no to an offer.

Tack för frågan, men jag måste tyvärr avböja.

Avböja på grund av...

— Giving a reason for the refusal.

Jag avböjer på grund av sjukdom.

Avböja i sista minuten.

— To decline something shortly before it happens.

Han avböjde i sista minuten.

Att inte kunna avböja.

— When an offer is too good to refuse.

Det var ett erbjudande jag inte kunde avböja.

Avböja vidare diskussion.

— Refusing to talk more about a topic.

Hon avböjde vidare diskussion om saken.

Avböja all form av hjälp.

— Refusing any kind of assistance.

Han avböjde envist all form av hjälp.

Avböja förfrågan.

— Refusing a specific request.

Vi måste avböja er förfrågan om lån.

Avböja artigt men kyligt.

— Declining politely but with a cold tone.

Hon avböjde artigt men kyligt hans invit.

Avböja deltagande.

— Refusing to take part in something.

De avböjde deltagande i tävlingen.

Avböja nominering.

— Refusing to be a candidate for an award or position.

Han avböjde nomineringen till ordförande.

Souvent confondu avec

avböja vs avslå

Avslå is for rejecting applications or requests formally; avböja is for declining offers/invites.

avböja vs neka

Neka means to deny (as in a crime) or to refuse a request; avböja is more about politeness.

avböja vs avvisa

Avvisa is to reject someone's advances or an idea completely; avböja is softer.

Expressions idiomatiques

"avböja vänligt men bestämt"

— To say no in a way that is polite but leaves no room for doubt.

Chefen avböjde idén vänligt men bestämt.

formal

"avböja med varm hand"

— To decline something with gratitude (less common, usually 'tacka nej med varm hand').

Jag avböjer erbjudandet med varm hand.

formal

"avböja på stående fot"

— To decline immediately without needing to think about it.

Han avböjde förslaget på stående fot.

neutral

"avböja för sakens skull"

— To decline just for the sake of it, or for principle.

Hon avböjde för sakens skull.

neutral

"avböja med tystnad"

— To decline by simply not responding.

Företaget avböjde förfrågan med tystnad.

formal

"avböja under galgen"

— To decline at the last possible second (metaphorical).

Han avböjde nästan under galgen.

literary

"avböja i förtid"

— To decline before an official offer is even made.

Han avböjde i förtid alla rykten om sin kandidatur.

formal

"avböja för husfridens skull"

— To decline something to keep the peace at home.

Jag avböjde festen för husfridens skull.

informal

"avböja med en axelryckning"

— To decline with a shrug, showing indifference.

Han avböjde erbjudandet med en axelryckning.

neutral

"avböja utan omsvep"

— To decline directly without beating around the bush.

Hon avböjde utan omsvep.

neutral

Facile à confondre

avböja vs avslå

Both mean 'reject'.

Avslå is from a position of authority (rejecting an application). Avböja is declining something offered to you.

Banken avslog lånet, men jag avböjde deras andra erbjudande.

avböja vs vägra

Both mean 'refuse'.

Vägra is strong and often rude or defiant. Avböja is polite and formal.

Han vägrade städa, men han avböjde artigt att gå på festen.

avböja vs neka

Both involve saying 'no'.

Neka is used for denying accusations or refusing a right. Avböja is for offers.

Han nekade till brottet och avböjde att prata med polisen.

avböja vs avvakta

Similar prefix 'av-'.

Avvakta means 'to wait and see'. Avböja means 'to decline'.

Vi avvaktar med beslutet men avböjer mötet just nu.

avböja vs avbryta

Similar prefix 'av-'.

Avbryta means 'to interrupt' or 'to cancel'. Avböja means 'to decline'.

Han avbröt samtalet för att avböja en annan inbjudan.

Structures de phrases

Jag vill avböja.

Jag vill avböja nu.

Jag måste avböja [substantiv].

Jag måste avböja inbjudan.

Han avböjde att [verb].

Han avböjde att svara.

[Subjekt] valde att avböja [objekt].

Styrelsen valde att avböja förslaget.

[Objekt] avböjdes av [agent].

Erbjudandet avböjdes av ministern.

Genom att avböja [objekt], [följd].

Genom att avböja vittnesmål, räddade han sin vän.

Avböja med hänvisning till [orsak].

Hon avböjde med hänvisning till sjukdom.

Tyvärr måste vi avböja.

Tyvärr måste vi avböja er ansökan.

Famille de mots

Noms

avböjande (declination/refusal)

Verbes

böja (to bend)

påböja (archaic)

omböja (rare)

Adjectifs

avböjd (declined)

Apparenté

avslag

avvisning

nej

tack

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in professional and media contexts; rare in casual speech.

Erreurs courantes

Jag avböjer kaffet. → Jag tackar nej till kaffet.
Using 'avböja' for small, casual things sounds robotic.
Han avböjde till att svara. → Han avböjde att svara.
Do not use 'till' before 'att' with this verb.
Myndigheten avböjde min ansökan. → Myndigheten avslog min ansökan.
Authorities 'avslår' (reject) applications; they don't 'avböja' them.
Jag avböjer att jag gjorde det. → Jag nekar till att jag gjorde det.
'Avböja' is for offers, 'neka' is for denying actions or accusations.
De avböjde inbjudan. → De avböjde inbjudan.
Note: 'Inbjudan' is the noun, 'avböjde' is the verb. Don't confuse 'avböja' with 'avboka' (cancel).

Astuces

Use in Emails

When replying to a job offer you don't want, use 'avböja' to sound professional.

Learn the Collocation

Memorize 'avböja att kommentera' as a single unit; you will hear it constantly.

Past Tense

Remember the 'de' ending: avböjde. Don't confuse it with Group 1 verbs.

The 'Tyvärr' Rule

In Sweden, always add 'tyvärr' before 'avböja' to soften the refusal.

Formal Situations

Use 'avböja' during business meetings to sound more authoritative and precise.

Avoid Repetition

Switch between 'avböja' and 'tacka nej' in longer texts to keep the language varied.

News Keywords

When you hear 'avböjer', expect the next word to be a reason or 'att kommentera'.

RSVP Etiquette

Check the 'Avböjer' box on formal wedding RSVPs in Sweden.

Research Papers

Use 'avböja' when describing why certain data or participants were excluded.

Elegant Refusal

Using 'avböja' shows you have mastered the 'polite distance' of Swedish culture.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'AV' as 'Away' and 'BÖJA' as 'Bow'. You are 'Bowing Away' from an invitation. Polite and graceful!

Association visuelle

Imagine a professional in a suit politely pushing a silver platter away with one hand. That is 'avböja'.

Word Web

avböja formellt inbjudan nej tack artigt erbjudande kommentera vänligt

Défi

Try to write three different sentences using 'avböja' in three different tenses (present, past, and perfect).

Origine du mot

From the Swedish prefix 'av-' (off, away) and the verb 'böja' (to bend).

Sens originel : To bend away from something, metaphorically steering clear of an offer.

Germanic (Swedish).

Contexte culturel

Always use 'avböja' in formal writing to avoid appearing uneducated or rude.

Equivalent to 'decline' or 'refuse' in formal contexts. In English, 'decline' is slightly more common in everyday formal speech than 'avböja' is in everyday Swedish speech.

Often seen in Nobel Prize press releases when a candidate cannot attend. Used in legal dramas like 'Bron' (The Bridge) during interrogations. Common in Swedish political debates.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Job applications

avböja en ansökan
vi måste tyvärr avböja
tack för visat intresse
avböja erbjudandet

Journalism

avböja att kommentera
avböja intervju
avböja frågor
kategoriskt avböja

Formal events

avböja inbjudan
avböja med varm hand
osa och avböja
avböja deltagande

Legal/Official

avböja vittnesmål
avböja yrkande
avböja hjälp
avböja medling

Daily Formal Life

avböja förslaget
avböja artigt
avböja vänligt
avböja direkt

Amorces de conversation

"Har du någonsin varit tvungen att avböja ett riktigt bra jobberbjudande?"

"Hur brukar du avböja inbjudningar som du inte vill gå på?"

"Varför tror du att politiker så ofta avböjer att kommentera?"

"Är det svårt för dig att avböja när någon ber om hjälp?"

"Vad är det mest artiga sättet att avböja en dejt på?"

Sujets d'écriture

Skriv om en gång när du avböjde en inbjudan och kände dig lättad efteråt.

Reflektera över skillnaden mellan att 'vägra' och att 'avböja' i ditt eget liv.

Skriv ett formellt mejl där du avböjer en plats på en utbildning.

Varför är det viktigt att kunna avböja saker på ett snyggt sätt?

Beskriv en situation där du avböjde någons hjälp trots att du behövde den.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, 'avböja' is inherently a polite and formal word. It is used to maintain social decorum even when saying no.

You can, but it sounds very formal. 'Tacka nej' is much more natural for coffee with a friend.

'Avböja' is formal and used in writing/news. 'Tacka nej' is neutral and used in everyday speech.

It is a group 2b verb: avböja, avböjer, avböjde, avböjt.

Yes, 'avböjdes' is common in formal reports to describe an offer that was turned down.

Usually not. You 'avböjer' invitations or offers. For a physical gift, 'tacka nej' is better.

Use 'att' before a verb (avböja att svara) and no preposition before a noun (avböja inbjudan).

It means 'to decline kindly but firmly'—a common way to say no without leaving room for argument.

Extremely common. 'Avböja att kommentera' is one of the most used phrases in Swedish journalism.

No, although it comes from 'böja' (bend), 'avböja' only means 'to decline' in modern Swedish.

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