Significado
To pretend not to understand or know something to avoid responsibility.
Contexto cultural
In Spain, this is one of the most common idioms. It's used daily in families and offices. It reflects a culture that uses humor to handle minor social frictions. While understood, Mexicans often prefer 'hacerse el loco' or 'hacerse el que la virgen le habla' (pretending the Virgin Mary is talking to you). In Argentina, you might hear 'hacerse el sordo' or 'hacerse el boludo' (very informal/slang). 'Hacerse el sueco' is seen as a bit more 'peninsular' but still clear. Swedes living in Spain often find the phrase charming. It's a common icebreaker when a Swede meets a Spaniard for the first time.
Gender Check
Always check if you are talking to a man or a woman. 'No te hagas la sueca' to a woman is essential for sounding natural.
Not for real Swedes
If you are in Sweden or talking to a Swedish person, use this phrase carefully. They might find it funny, or they might find it a bit cliché.
Significado
To pretend not to understand or know something to avoid responsibility.
Gender Check
Always check if you are talking to a man or a woman. 'No te hagas la sueca' to a woman is essential for sounding natural.
Not for real Swedes
If you are in Sweden or talking to a Swedish person, use this phrase carefully. They might find it funny, or they might find it a bit cliché.
The 'Longuis' Alternative
If you want to sound like a local in Madrid, use 'hacerse el longuis'. It's the cool, younger brother of 'hacerse el sueco'.
Teste-se
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'hacerse el sueco'.
Mi hermana siempre ______ ______ ______ cuando hay que limpiar la casa.
The subject is 'mi hermana' (feminine singular), so we need 'se hace' and 'la sueca'.
Which situation best describes 'haciéndose el sueco'?
Pedro sees his ex-girlfriend in the supermarket and immediately starts looking at the labels on a soup can to avoid talking to her.
He is pretending not to see/know she is there to avoid an interaction.
Match the subject to the correct phrase ending.
1. Yo / 2. Nosotros / 3. Ellas
Reflexive pronouns and gender/number must match the subject.
What would the mother say?
Madre: '¿Quién ha roto el jarrón?' Hijo: (Silencio, mira al techo) Madre: '¡No ______ ______ ______!'
The imperative (command) form for 'tú' in the negative is 'no te hagas'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Gender Agreement
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosMi hermana siempre ______ ______ ______ cuando hay que limpiar la casa.
The subject is 'mi hermana' (feminine singular), so we need 'se hace' and 'la sueca'.
Pedro sees his ex-girlfriend in the supermarket and immediately starts looking at the labels on a soup can to avoid talking to her.
He is pretending not to see/know she is there to avoid an interaction.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
Reflexive pronouns and gender/number must match the subject.
Madre: '¿Quién ha roto el jarrón?' Hijo: (Silencio, mira al techo) Madre: '¡No ______ ______ ______!'
The imperative (command) form for 'tú' in the negative is 'no te hagas'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasGenerally, no. It's a historical idiom and most Swedes in Spain take it with a grain of salt. It's not a slur against their character.
Only if you have a very friendly, informal relationship. Otherwise, use 'hacerse el desentendido'.
Yes, it's the closest English equivalent. It implies pretending not to understand to avoid a task.
Likely because Swedish sailors in the 1700s couldn't speak Spanish and used it as an excuse to avoid port rules.
No, that's not an idiom. It's strictly 'sueco'.
Yes, it's understood everywhere, though 'hacerse el loco' is more common in some regions like Mexico.
Use the plural: 'Ellos se hacen los suecos' or 'Ellas se hacen las suecas'.
It is always 'el sueco' (the Swede).
No, it's too lighthearted. For a crime, use 'negar los hechos' or 'evadir la justicia'.
Hacerse la sueca.
Frases relacionadas
Hacerse el loco
synonymTo play dumb/crazy
Hacerse el desentendido
synonymTo act as if one didn't hear/understand
Hacer oídos sordos
similarTo turn a deaf ear
Mirar para otro lado
similarTo look the other way
Hacerse el longuis
synonymTo play dumb (slang)
