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B2 noun 10 min read

bedrift

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips bedrift in 30 Seconds

Explanation bedrift in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word 'bedrift' is quite advanced, but you can understand it as a very special 'good job'. Imagine you win a big race or finish a very hard book. That is a 'bedrift'. In English, we say 'achievement'. You don't need to use this word every day. Usually, at A1, you say 'bra jobbat' (good job) or 'en framgång' (a success). But if you see 'bedrift' in a story, remember it means something amazing that someone did. It is a noun, so we say 'en bedrift'. Because it starts with 'be-', it looks like some other words, but it is unique. Think of it as a 'super-success'. If you learn this word now, you will sound very smart later! Just remember: bedrift = big win.

At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more specific nouns. 'Bedrift' is a word you might see in news headlines or sports results. It means a 'feat' or 'achievement'. It is an 'en' word (en bedrift, bedriften). You can use it when you talk about famous people. For example, 'Zlatan gjorde en stor bedrift' (Zlatan performed a great feat). It is stronger than 'bra' or 'duktig'. Use it when someone does something that is hard to do. You might also see it in the plural: 'bedrifter'. This means many great things someone has done. Try to recognize it when reading about history or sports. Don't confuse it with 'bedrägeri' which means a scam—that is a very different thing! 'Bedrift' is always positive and impressive.

At the B1 level, you should begin to distinguish between different types of success. While 'prestation' refers to any performance (like a test score), 'bedrift' refers to a significant accomplishment that requires extra effort. You will encounter this word in more formal texts, such as biographies or newspaper articles. It's important to know the definite form 'bedriften' and the plural 'bedrifter'. You can use it to add variety to your vocabulary. Instead of always saying 'Det var jättebra', you can say 'Det var en verklig bedrift'. This shows you understand the difficulty of the task. It's often used with verbs like 'utföra' (to perform) or 'lyckas med' (to succeed with). Understanding 'bedrift' helps you appreciate the tone of Swedish media, which uses it to highlight exceptional human efforts.

At the B2 level, 'bedrift' is a key vocabulary item for discussing achievements in a nuanced way. You should understand its stylistic value; it is more formal and evocative than 'resultat' or 'prestation'. At this level, you are expected to use it in your own writing and speaking to describe remarkable feats. You should also be aware of its common collocations, such as 'idrottslig bedrift' (sporting feat) or 'enastående bedrift' (outstanding achievement). You should be able to identify its use in different registers, from the heroic tone of a historical documentary to the slightly hyperbolic tone of sports journalism. Additionally, recognize the difference between 'bedrift' and 'bragd', where the latter is often even more intense and physically oriented. Mastery at this level involves using 'bedrift' to elevate your descriptions of success and impact.

At the C1 level, you should have a deep appreciation for the historical and literary weight of 'bedrift'. You should be able to use it in academic or professional contexts to describe breakthroughs or significant milestones. You should also understand its potential for irony or sarcasm—for example, when a critic refers to a massive failure as a 'bedrift' to emphasize how much went wrong. You should be comfortable using the word in complex sentence structures and in combination with sophisticated adjectives like 'makalös', 'storartad', or 'beundransvärd'. Furthermore, you should understand the word's etymological roots and how it relates to other 'be-' verbs in Swedish, like 'bedriva'. At this level, 'bedrift' is not just a word for achievement, but a tool for framing a narrative of excellence or exceptional effort in formal discourse.

At the C2 level, your mastery of 'bedrift' should be near-native. You should understand the subtle connotations it carries in various discourses, from the political to the poetic. You can use it to discuss 'human exploits' in a philosophical sense or to critique the 'bedrifter' of historical figures with precision. You should be aware of how the word has evolved and its place within the Swedish linguistic tradition of describing virtue and action. You can effortlessly switch between 'bedrift', 'bragd', 'stordåd', and 'prestation' depending on the exact nuance of effort, heroism, or results you wish to convey. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's resonance within Swedish culture, including its use in prestigious awards and historical records. At this level, 'bedrift' is a versatile instrument in your rhetorical toolkit, used to imbue your language with authority and descriptive power.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

bedrift in 30 Seconds

Bedrift means a notable achievement or feat in Swedish, often implying heroism or great effort.
It is an 'en' noun: en bedrift, bedriften, bedrifter, bedrifterna.
Commonly used in sports, history, and formal contexts to highlight exceptional successes.
Stronger and more formal than 'prestation' (performance) or 'resultat' (result).

The Swedish word bedrift is a noun that translates most directly to 'achievement', 'feat', or 'exploit' in English. It carries a weight of significance that ordinary words like prestation (performance) or resultat (result) often lack. When you use the word bedrift, you are not just talking about finishing a task; you are describing an action that required extraordinary effort, courage, skill, or perseverance. It is a word reserved for the remarkable. Historically, it stems from the Middle Low German word bedrif, which relates to 'something driven or carried out'. In modern Swedish, it evokes images of historical heroes, record-breaking athletes, and scientific pioneers who push the boundaries of what is possible.

The Nuance of Effort: A bedrift implies that the outcome was not guaranteed. It suggests that the person performing the act had to overcome significant obstacles. For example, passing a normal exam is a prestation, but discovering a cure for a disease is a bedrift.
Heroic Connotations: In literature and history, the word is frequently used to describe military victories or daring rescues. It has a slightly formal or epic quality, making it perfect for storytelling or formal commendations.
Modern Application: In contemporary contexts, you will see this word in sports journalism ('en makalös bedrift' - a matchless feat) or in business when a company achieves something groundbreaking against all odds.

Att bestiga Mount Everest utan syrgas är en heroisk bedrift som få människor kan drömma om.

— Climbing Mount Everest without oxygen is a heroic feat that few people can dream of.

Understanding the scale of a bedrift is key to using it correctly. It is rarely used for mundane daily activities. If you tell a Swedish person that cleaning your room was a 'bedrift', they will likely assume you are being incredibly sarcastic or that your room was in a state of catastrophic disarray. The word demands respect and recognition from the listener. It is often paired with adjectives like storartad (grand), makalös (peerless), or historisk (historical). This reinforces the idea that the event is noteworthy enough to be remembered.

Hennes vetenskapliga bedrifter gav henne Nobelpriset i kemi.

— Her scientific achievements earned her the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The word also appears in the context of 'idrottsbragder' (sporting feats), though bragd is a specific synonym often used for the very highest level of sporting achievement in Sweden (like the Bragdguldet award). However, bedrift remains a versatile and powerful term for any significant success. When navigating B2-level Swedish, using bedrift instead of the simpler prestation shows a sophisticated grasp of intensity and register.

Det var en teknisk bedrift att bygga bron på så kort tid.

— It was a technical feat to build the bridge in such a short time.

Using the word bedrift requires an understanding of its grammatical behavior as a common gender (en-word) noun. Its forms are: en bedrift (an achievement), bedriften (the achievement), bedrifter (achievements), and bedrifterna (the achievements). Because it describes something notable, it is almost always the object of verbs like utföra (to perform/carry out), fullborda (to complete), or fira (to celebrate).

As a Subject: When the achievement itself is the focus: 'Bedriften uppmärksammades över hela världen' (The feat was noticed all over the world).
As an Object: When someone performs it: 'Han utförde en heroisk bedrift under räddningsinsatsen' (He performed a heroic feat during the rescue operation).
In Compound Words: Swedish loves compounds. You might see idrottsbedrift (sporting feat) or livsbedrift (life's achievement).

Ingen trodde att det var möjligt, men laget lyckades med sin bedrift.

— No one thought it was possible, but the team succeeded in their feat.

One important aspect of using bedrift is the adjective agreement. Since it is an 'en' word, adjectives take the basic form in the singular indefinite: en stor bedrift. In the definite or plural, they take the -a ending: den stora bedriften, många stora bedrifter. This consistency helps maintain the formal tone associated with the word.

Vi läste om kungens historiska bedrifter i skolan.

— We read about the king's historical exploits in school.

When constructing sentences, consider the 'why' of the achievement. Is it a fysisk bedrift (physical feat), an intellektuell bedrift (intellectual achievement), or a moralisk bedrift (moral achievement)? Specifying the nature of the feat adds depth to your Swedish. For instance, 'Det var en intellektuell bedrift att lösa ekvationen' sounds much more impressive than just saying it was 'bra' (good).

Att hålla sams i femtio år är en bedrift i sig.

— Staying on good terms for fifty years is an achievement in itself.

In everyday Swedish life, you won't hear bedrift while buying milk or talking about the weather. However, it is a staple of specific domains that focus on excellence and narrative. If you watch the Swedish news program Rapport or Aktuellt, you will hear it when reporters describe breakthroughs in medicine or peace negotiations. It provides a sense of gravity to the reporting.

Sports Commentaries: This is perhaps the most common place to hear the word. When a Swedish skier wins gold against the odds, the commentator might scream: 'Vilken bedrift!' (What a feat!). It captures the emotion and the magnitude of the victory.
Documentaries and Biographies: Narrators use bedrifter to summarize the life of a famous figure. You will hear it in programs about Alfred Nobel, Astrid Lindgren, or Raoul Wallenberg.
Award Ceremonies: Speeches at the Nobel Banquet or local 'Eldsjäls' (unsung hero) awards frequently use this word to honor the recipients' contributions to society.

Kommentatorn skrek av lycka över Zlatans senaste bedrift på planen.

— The commentator screamed with joy over Zlatan's latest feat on the pitch.

You will also encounter bedrift in written media. Op-ed pieces (debattartiklar) might use it to criticize or praise government actions. If a government manages to lower unemployment significantly, a supportive columnist might call it a 'politisk bedrift'. Conversely, if someone fails at something that should have been easy, a critic might sarcastically refer to the failure as a 'bedrift' to highlight the incompetence.

I historieböckerna kan vi läsa om upptäcktsresandenas farliga bedrifter.

— In the history books, we can read about the explorers' dangerous exploits.

Finally, in more formal business environments, the word is used in annual reports or during company anniversaries. A CEO might say, 'Vår expansion till den asiatiska marknaden är en bedrift vi alla bör vara stolta över.' This elevates the business success from a mere 'vinst' (profit) to a point of collective pride and historical significance for the company.

Det är en bedrift att hålla liv i ett litet företag i så många år.

— It is an achievement to keep a small business alive for so many years.

Even advanced learners of Swedish can stumble when using bedrift. The most common pitfall is 'overuse' or 'misuse of scale'. Because bedrift implies a significant, often heroic achievement, using it for small things can make you sound sarcastic or simply confused about the word's weight.

Confusion with 'Bedrägeri': This is a classic false friend for those who only half-remember the word. Bedrägeri means 'fraud' or 'scam'. Saying 'Han gjorde en stor bedrift' (He performed a great feat) is very different from 'Han gjorde ett stort bedrägeri' (He committed a great fraud). Be careful with the prefix 'be-'!
Using it for Routine Tasks: Avoid saying: 'Det var en bedrift att jag vaknade i morse' (It was a feat that I woke up this morning) unless you are being intentionally funny. Use prestation or simply say 'det var bra' for routine successes.
Incorrect Prepositions: Learners often struggle with which preposition to use. Usually, you succeed med (with) a bedrift, or it is a bedrift av (by) someone.

~~Det var en bedrift att diska tallrikarna.~~
Det var en prestation att få allt gjort trots tidsbristen.

— Correcting the scale: Washing dishes is rarely a 'bedrift'.

Another mistake is confusing bedrift with företag. In English, 'enterprise' can mean both a company and a bold undertaking. In Swedish, företag is almost always a business entity. While bedrift can describe the act of starting a company, it is never the word for the company itself. If you mean the organization, use företag or bolag.

~~Han äger en stor bedrift.~~
Han äger ett stort företag.

— You own a company (företag), you perform an achievement (bedrift).

Lastly, be careful with the plural. Some learners try to use bedrifter to mean 'experiences'. While exploits are experiences, not all experiences are exploits. If you just went on a nice trip, use upplevelser. If you fought off a bear during that trip, then you can call it one of your bedrifter.

To truly master Swedish, you need to know when to choose bedrift over its synonyms. Each word carries a slightly different 'flavor' and level of intensity. Using the right one makes your Swedish sound natural and precise.

Bragd: This is the closest synonym to bedrift but is even more intense. A bragd is a heroic, often physical feat. It is the word used for the 'Bragdguldet' (The Bragd Gold Medal) given to the top Swedish athlete of the year. While every bragd is a bedrift, not every bedrift (like a scientific discovery) is necessarily a bragd.
Prestation: This is a more neutral word for 'performance' or 'achievement'. It is used in schools, workplaces, and sports to describe the quality of work. It lacks the 'heroic' quality of bedrift. If you did a good job on a report, it's a bra prestation.
Stordåd: Literally 'great deed'. This is quite formal and often used in historical or mythological contexts. 'Att utföra stordåd' sounds like something a Viking or a legendary king would do.
Framgång: Success. This is a general state of being successful or the result of an effort. A bedrift is a specific event, while framgång is the broader concept.

Det var inte bara en god prestation, det var en historisk bedrift.

— It wasn't just a good performance; it was a historical feat.

When comparing these, think of a ladder of intensity: Resultat (Result) → Prestation (Performance) → Bedrift (Achievement/Feat) → Bragd (Heroic Feat). Choosing bedrift places your subject on a high pedestal. In professional settings, using bedrift to describe a colleague's work is a very high compliment, whereas prestation is standard professional feedback.

Hans stordåd i kriget glöms aldrig bort.

— His great deeds in the war will never be forgotten.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Detta utgör en betydande bedrift inom svensk forskning."

Neutral

"Det var en bedrift att han hann med tåget."

Informal

"Vilken bedrift, snyggt jobbat!"

Child friendly

"Titta vad du kan! Det var en riktig bedrift!"

Slang

"Vilken sjuk bedrift, mannen!"

Fun Fact

The English word 'drift' comes from the same root, but in Swedish, the prefix 'be-' transforms it into a completed action or achievement.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bɛˈdrɪft/

US /bɛˈdrɪft/

Stress falls on the second syllable: be-DRIFT.

Rhymes With

gift skrift drift lift stift grift vift skift

Common Errors

Stressing the first syllable (BE-drift).
Pronouncing the 'e' as a long 'ee' sound.
Confusing the pronunciation with 'bedrägeri'.
Making the 'i' too long.
Dropping the 't' at the end.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in context once learned.

Writing 4/5

Requires understanding of register to use appropriately.

Speaking 4/5

Pronunciation of the 'ft' cluster can be tricky for some.

Listening 3/5

Distinct sound, but can be confused with other 'be-' words.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

göra bra stor framgång jobba

Learn Next

bragd stordåd prestation utmärkelse genombrott

Advanced

förverkliga triumfera överträffa milstolpe

Grammar to Know

Nouns ending in -ift are usually common gender (en-words).

en bedrift, en skrift, en drift

Plural formation for -ift nouns usually takes -er.

bedrifter, skrifter

Adjective agreement with en-words.

en stor bedrift (not stort)

Definite form plural adds -na.

bedrifterna

Prefix 'be-' often creates a verb or noun related to a process.

bedriva, besluta, bedrift

Examples by Level

Det var en stor bedrift.

It was a great achievement.

Bedrift is an 'en' word. Here it is in the indefinite form.

Hans bedrift var bra.

His achievement was good.

Possessive 'hans' does not change the noun form 'bedrift'.

Är det en bedrift?

Is it an achievement?

Question form using 'är det'.

En bedrift är viktig.

An achievement is important.

Basic subject-verb-adjective structure.

Min första bedrift.

My first achievement.

Ordinal number 'första' followed by the noun.

Vi ser en bedrift.

We see an achievement.

Simple present tense verb 'ser'.

Titta på hans bedrift!

Look at his achievement!

Imperative 'titta på'.

En liten bedrift.

A small achievement.

Adjective 'liten' matches the 'en' word 'bedrift'.

Laget firade sin bedrift.

The team celebrated their feat.

Reflexive possessive 'sin' refers back to 'laget'.

Det var en historisk bedrift.

It was a historical feat.

Adjective 'historisk' adds specific detail.

Han berättade om sina bedrifter.

He told about his exploits.

Plural form 'bedrifter' used with plural possessive 'sina'.

Bedriften gjorde honom känd.

The feat made him famous.

Definite form 'bedriften' as the subject.

Hon lyckades med en svår bedrift.

She succeeded with a difficult feat.

Verb phrase 'lyckas med' (succeed with).

Alla pratade om den stora bedriften.

Everyone talked about the great feat.

Definite adjective 'stora' with definite noun 'bedriften'.

Det är ingen liten bedrift att vinna.

It is no small feat to win.

Double negative 'ingen liten' for emphasis.

De utförde många bedrifter.

They performed many feats.

Verb 'utförde' (performed) in past tense.

Att skriva en bok är en imponerande bedrift.

Writing a book is an impressive achievement.

Infinitive phrase as the subject.

Vi bör uppmärksamma denna bedrift.

We should acknowledge this achievement.

Modal verb 'bör' followed by infinitive.

Bedrifterna i rymden har förändrat allt.

The achievements in space have changed everything.

Definite plural 'bedrifterna'.

Det krävs mod för en sådan bedrift.

Courage is required for such a feat.

Passive verb 'krävs' (is required).

Hon är stolt över sin senaste bedrift.

She is proud of her latest achievement.

Adjective 'stolt' followed by preposition 'över'.

Många bedrifter glöms bort med tiden.

Many achievements are forgotten over time.

Indefinite plural 'bedrifter'.

Det var en bedrift att rädda företaget.

It was a feat to save the company.

Dummy subject 'det' used for evaluation.

Han hyllades för sina heroiska bedrifter.

He was praised for his heroic exploits.

Preposition 'för' indicating the reason for praise.

Genombrottet inom medicin var en enastående bedrift.

The breakthrough in medicine was an outstanding achievement.

Compound noun 'genombrottet' and adjective 'enastående'.

Att genomföra projektet i tid var en bedrift i sig.

Completing the project on time was a feat in itself.

The idiom 'i sig' (in itself).

Vi kan bara beundra deras tekniska bedrifter.

We can only admire their technical achievements.

Adverb 'bara' used for emphasis.

Trots motgångarna lyckades de med bedriften.

Despite the setbacks, they succeeded with the feat.

Prepositional phrase 'trots motgångarna'.

Detta anses vara en av mänsklighetens största bedrifter.

This is considered to be one of humanity's greatest achievements.

Genitive form 'mänsklighetens' and superlative 'största'.

Han har ägnat sitt liv åt vetenskapliga bedrifter.

He has dedicated his life to scientific achievements.

Present perfect 'har ägnat' with preposition 'åt'.

Det var en makalös bedrift som saknar motstycke.

It was a matchless feat that is unparalleled.

Relative clause 'som saknar motstycke'.

Bedriften krävde år av förberedelser.

The feat required years of preparation.

Noun as a subject with past tense verb 'krävde'.

Hennes litterära bedrifter har satt djupa spår i kulturen.

Her literary achievements have left deep marks on the culture.

Idiomatic expression 'satt djupa spår'.

Man kan inte annat än förundras över en sådan bedrift.

One cannot help but marvel at such an achievement.

Formal construction 'man kan inte annat än'.

Det var en diplomatisk bedrift att ena länderna.

It was a diplomatic feat to unite the countries.

Adjective 'diplomatisk' and infinitive 'att ena'.

Bedriften överskuggades tyvärr av senare händelser.

The achievement was unfortunately overshadowed by later events.

Passive voice 'överskuggades' with adverb 'tyvärr'.

Att navigera genom krisen var en politisk bedrift.

Navigating through the crisis was a political feat.

Metaphorical use of 'navigera'.

Hela hans karriär är kantad av stora bedrifter.

His entire career is lined with great achievements.

Passive 'kantad av' (lined with/bordered by).

Det krävs en intellektuell bedrift för att förstå teorin.

An intellectual feat is required to understand the theory.

Indefinite subject with 'det krävs'.

Bedriften vittnar om en enorm viljestyrka.

The achievement bears witness to an enormous willpower.

Verb 'vittnar om' (bears witness to/testifies to).

Bedriften utgör en hörnsten i den moderna ingenjörskonsten.

The achievement constitutes a cornerstone of modern engineering.

Formal verb 'utgör' (constitutes).

Att dekonstruera myten kring hans bedrifter är nödvändigt.

Deconstructing the myth surrounding his exploits is necessary.

Complex gerund-like infinitive construction.

En bedrift av denna dignitet kräver globalt erkännande.

An achievement of this magnitude requires global recognition.

Formal noun 'dignitet' (magnitude/standing).

Hennes bedrifter inom fältet är oomtvistade.

Her achievements in the field are undisputed.

Adjective 'oomtvistade' (undisputed).

Det var en bedrift att bibehålla integriteten under press.

It was a feat to maintain integrity under pressure.

Formal infinitive 'bibehålla' (maintain/retain).

Sällan har en enskild bedrift haft sådan genomslagskraft.

Seldom has a single achievement had such impact.

Inverted word order after the adverb 'sällan'.

Bedrifterna framstår i efterhand som närmast heroiska.

The exploits appear in retrospect as almost heroic.

Adverbial phrase 'i efterhand' (in retrospect).

Det vore en bedrift om vi kunde nå konsensus här.

It would be an achievement if we could reach a consensus here.

Conditional 'vore' (would be).

Common Collocations

en heroisk bedrift

en idrottslig bedrift

en makalös bedrift

en teknisk bedrift

en bedrift i sig

utföra en bedrift

hyllas för sin bedrift

en historisk bedrift

en storartad bedrift

hans/hennes livs bedrift

Common Phrases

Vilken bedrift!

— What a feat! Used to express amazement at someone's success.

Du sprang maraton? Vilken bedrift!

Ingen liten bedrift

— No small feat. Used to emphasize that something was actually quite difficult.

Det är ingen liten bedrift att lära sig svenska på ett år.

En bedrift värd namnet

— An achievement worthy of the name. Used for something truly significant.

Det här är en bedrift värd namnet.

Siktet inställt på nya bedrifter

— Aiming for new achievements. Common in business or sports motivation.

Efter segern har hon siktet inställt på nya bedrifter.

En bedrift av rang

— An achievement of high rank or quality.

Det var en bedrift av rang att vinna mot världsmästaren.

Bedrifter som imponerar

— Achievements that impress.

Företaget har visat upp bedrifter som imponerar på investerarna.

En moralisk bedrift

— A moral achievement; doing the right thing when it is hard.

Att tala sanning i den situationen var en moralisk bedrift.

En enskild bedrift

— A single/individual achievement.

Vi bör inte döma honom efter en enskild bedrift.

Bedrifternas man/kvinna

— A man/woman of great deeds (slightly old-fashioned).

Han var verkligen bedrifternas man.

En bedrift som ger eko

— A feat that echoes (makes a lasting impact).

Hennes upptäckt är en bedrift som ger eko i hela världen.

Often Confused With

bedrift vs bedrägeri

Means fraud or scam. A very common confusion due to the 'be-' prefix.

bedrift vs företag

Means company/business. In English 'enterprise' can mean achievement, but in Swedish 'företag' is usually the organization.

bedrift vs drift

Can mean 'operation', 'urge', or 'impulse'. Related root, but different meaning.

Idioms & Expressions

"Vila på sina lagrar"

— To rest on one's laurels. While not using the word 'bedrift', it refers to stopping after a great achievement.

Han kan inte bara vila på sina lagrar efter sin senaste bedrift.

Common

"Göra dygd av nödvändigheten"

— To make a virtue of necessity. Often used when a 'bedrift' comes from a difficult situation.

De gjorde dygd av nödvändigheten och vände krisen till en bedrift.

Formal

"Skriva in sig i historieböckerna"

— To write oneself into the history books through a great feat.

Genom sin bedrift skrev hon in sig i historieböckerna.

Journalistic

"Slå huvudet på spiken"

— To hit the nail on the head. Sometimes used to describe a perfect intellectual achievement.

Hans analys var en intellektuell bedrift som slog huvudet på spiken.

Informal

"Ha många järn i elden"

— To have many irons in the fire. Often results in many 'bedrifter'.

Hon har många järn i elden och lyckas med den ena bedriften efter den andra.

Common

"Gå från klarhet till klarhet"

— To go from strength to strength, achieving more and more.

Efter sin första bedrift har han gått från klarhet till klarhet.

Formal

"Vända blad"

— To turn the page. Often said after a great achievement to look toward the next one.

Nu vänder vi blad och siktar på nästa bedrift.

Common

"Dra sitt strå till stacken"

— To contribute one's bit. A collective 'bedrift' is made of many people doing this.

Alla drog sitt strå till stacken för att denna bedrift skulle bli möjlig.

Common

"Hålla fanan högt"

— To keep the flag flying/maintain high standards through achievements.

Hon fortsätter att hålla fanan högt med sina nya bedrifter.

Idiomatic

"Bryta ny mark"

— To break new ground; a common way to describe a pioneering 'bedrift'.

Deras forskning har verkligen brutit ny mark, en fantastisk bedrift.

Journalistic

Easily Confused

bedrift vs bragd

Both mean achievement.

Bragd is more heroic, physical, and intense. Bedrift is broader and can be intellectual.

Att rädda ett barn ur elden är en bragd. Att skriva en bok är en bedrift.

bedrift vs prestation

Both refer to doing something.

Prestation is neutral (like a test score). Bedrift is remarkable and impressive.

Hans prestation på provet var god, men hans upptäckt i labbet var en bedrift.

bedrift vs resultat

Achievements have results.

Resultat is just the outcome (positive or negative). Bedrift is the act of achieving something great.

Resultatet blev en vinst, vilket var en stor bedrift.

bedrift vs handling

Achievements are actions.

Handling is any act or deed. Bedrift is a subset of actions that are particularly impressive.

Varje handling räknas, men vissa handlingar är sanna bedrifter.

bedrift vs framgång

Both relate to success.

Framgång is the state of being successful. Bedrift is the specific event or act that was successful.

Hans bedrift ledde till stor framgång för hela familjen.

Sentence Patterns

Det var en [adjektiv] bedrift.

Det var en bra bedrift.

Han/hon lyckades med bedriften att [verb].

Hon lyckades med bedriften att vinna guld.

Det är ingen liten bedrift att [verb].

Det är ingen liten bedrift att starta eget företag.

En bedrift som saknar motstycke i [substantiv].

En bedrift som saknar motstycke i modern historia.

Bedriften vittnar om [egenskap].

Bedriften vittnar om enastående uthållighet.

Bedriften uppmärksammades av [grupp].

Bedriften uppmärksammades av hela det internationella samfundet.

Fira sin bedrift med [något].

De firade sin bedrift med tårta.

En intellektuell bedrift av rang.

Hans avhandling var en intellektuell bedrift av rang.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in media, sports, and formal writing; less common in casual speech.

Common Mistakes

Using 'ett bedrift' → en bedrift
Bedrift is an 'en' word. Using the wrong article is a common error for beginners.
Confusing with 'bedrägeri' → bedrift
Saying 'Han gjorde ett bedrägeri' when you mean 'He did a great thing' is a serious error as it means 'He committed a fraud'.
Stressing the first syllable: BE-drift → be-DRIFT
Swedish words starting with the prefix 'be-' almost always have the stress on the second syllable.
Using it for simple tasks → prestation
Calling the act of buying bread a 'bedrift' sounds strange unless it was a very difficult journey.
Misspelling the plural as 'bedriftar' → bedrifter
Nouns ending in -ift follow the second declension pattern (-er).

Tips

Level up your praise

Instead of saying 'bra jobbat', try 'Vilken bedrift!'. It sounds much more sincere and impressed.

Watch the plural

Remember that 'bedrifter' is for multiple achievements. Use it when summarizing someone's long career.

Use in writing

This word is perfect for essays or formal emails where you want to highlight a significant success.

Sports News

Listen for this word on Swedish sports radio (Sveriges Radio P4). It's used constantly during major tournaments.

Humility

In Sweden, it's better to let others call your work a 'bedrift' than to say it yourself. Stay humble!

The 'ft' sound

Make sure both the 'f' and 't' are audible at the end of the word. Don't let the 't' disappear.

Business Milestones

Use 'bedrift' when talking about a project that was finished despite many problems.

Historical Context

When you see 'bedrifter' in history books, think of 'exploits' or 'great deeds' of leaders.

Be-Done

Think of it as 'Be-Done' - something that has been done exceptionally well.

Irony

Be aware that using 'bedrift' for something very easy will be taken as sarcasm.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Be' + 'Drift'. Imagine you are 'drifting' toward a goal, and once you 'Be' there, it's a 'Bedrift' (Achievement).

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing on a mountain peak holding a flag. That peak is their 'bedrift'.

Word Web

Achievement Heroism Success Feat Effort Glory Milestone Action

Challenge

Try to name three 'bedrifter' from your own life and write them down in Swedish using the phrase 'Min bedrift var att...'.

Word Origin

From Middle Low German 'bedrif', which is the noun form of the verb 'bedriven' (to carry out, to do).

Original meaning: Something that is carried out or conducted; a business or an undertaking.

Germanic (Indo-European)

Cultural Context

Generally positive, but can be used sarcastically to mock someone's failure.

Similar to 'feat' or 'exploit', but used more commonly in Swedish news than 'feat' is in English news.

Vasa-loppet (a historical and sporting bedrift) Alfred Nobel's inventions Astrid Lindgren's impact on children's literature

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Sports

En makalös idrottsbedrift
Slog världsrekordet
En bragdmatch
Hyllades av publiken

History

Kungens bedrifter
Historiska dåd
Ett arv av bedrifter
Skriva historia

Work/Business

En professionell bedrift
Nå målen mot alla odds
Ett framgångsrikt projekt
Uppmärksamma medarbetarnas bedrifter

Personal Life

En personlig bedrift
Övervinna rädslor
En bedrift i vardagen
Vara stolt över sig själv

Science

En vetenskaplig bedrift
Ett medicinskt genombrott
Lösa ett svårt problem
Pionjärarbete

Conversation Starters

"Vilken är din största bedrift i livet hittills?"

"Tycker du att det är en bedrift att lära sig ett nytt språk?"

"Vem i historien har gjort den mest imponerande bedriften enligt dig?"

"Kan en liten handling i vardagen räknas som en bedrift?"

"Vilken idrottsbedrift minns du bäst?"

Journal Prompts

Skriv om en gång när du utförde en bedrift som du är stolt över.

Reflektera över vad som krävs för att en handling ska kallas för en bedrift.

Beskriv en person du känner och deras viktigaste bedrifter.

Är det viktigt att fira sina bedrifter, eller ska man vara ödmjuk?

Föreställ dig din framtida största bedrift. Vad är det?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in 99% of cases, it refers to a positive achievement. However, it can be used sarcastically to describe a particularly impressive failure, like 'Det var en bedrift att missa målet från det avståndet' (It was quite a feat to miss the goal from that distance).

Only if your homework was incredibly difficult or took months to complete. For normal homework, use 'prestation' or simply say 'Jag blev klar'.

'Stordåd' is more literary and old-fashioned, often appearing in stories about Vikings or heroes. 'Bedrift' is modern and commonly used in news and sports.

It is very common in written Swedish and formal speech, but you won't hear it every minute in a casual conversation.

The plural is 'bedrifter'. The definite plural (the achievements) is 'bedrifterna'.

Yes, you can use possessive pronouns with it. 'Min bedrift', 'din bedrift', etc.

It is 'en bedrift'. It is a common gender noun.

Yes, they share a Germanic root meaning 'to drive' or 'to push'. In Swedish, it means something that has been 'driven' to completion.

The most common verbs are 'utföra' (perform), 'uppnå' (achieve), 'fira' (celebrate), and 'beundra' (admire).

Yes, it's often used to describe major company milestones, like a successful merger or a record-breaking sales year.