Significado
to be indecisive about a choice
Contexto cultural
The 'Beslutsångest' culture: Swedes often joke about their inability to make quick decisions, especially in groups. This is linked to the 'consensus culture' where everyone's opinion is valued equally. In Finland-Swedish, the phrase is used similarly, but there might be a slightly more direct approach to decision-making compared to the more 'consensus-heavy' Sweden. The phrase is frequently used on Swedish social media (TikTok/Instagram) to describe 'first world problems' like choosing a filter or a vacation spot. Using this phrase in a meeting can be a strategic way to 'buy time' or signal that more data is needed before a final commitment is made.
The 'Lite' Softener
Always add 'lite' (a bit) to sound more Swedish. 'Jag har lite svårt att bestämma mig' sounds much more natural than the blunt version.
Reflexive Agreement
If you say 'Vi har svårt att bestämma sig', a Swede will understand you, but it sounds like you are talking about someone else's decision.
Significado
to be indecisive about a choice
The 'Lite' Softener
Always add 'lite' (a bit) to sound more Swedish. 'Jag har lite svårt att bestämma mig' sounds much more natural than the blunt version.
Reflexive Agreement
If you say 'Vi har svårt att bestämma sig', a Swede will understand you, but it sounds like you are talking about someone else's decision.
Don't be too decisive
In some Swedish social contexts, being 'too' decisive can be seen as aggressive. Using this phrase shows you are considering all options.
Preposition 'för'
Remember to use 'för' if you want to say what you are deciding *about*. 'Bestämma mig FÖR en bil'.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.
Vi har svårt att bestämma ____.
The subject is 'vi' (we), so the reflexive pronoun must be 'oss' (us/ourselves).
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the best option:
You need the verb 'ha', the infinitive marker 'att', and the reflexive pronoun 'mig'.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the phrase.
A: Ska vi gå på bio? B: Jag vet inte, jag ________ (have a hard time deciding).
The speaker is 'jag', so 'bestämma mig' is correct in the present tense.
Match the situation to the most likely sentence.
Situation: You are at a shoe store and like two pairs of boots.
The context is shopping for shoes.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Bestämma vs Besluta
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosVi har svårt att bestämma ____.
The subject is 'vi' (we), so the reflexive pronoun must be 'oss' (us/ourselves).
Choose the best option:
You need the verb 'ha', the infinitive marker 'att', and the reflexive pronoun 'mig'.
A: Ska vi gå på bio? B: Jag vet inte, jag ________ (have a hard time deciding).
The speaker is 'jag', so 'bestämma mig' is correct in the present tense.
Situation: You are at a shoe store and like two pairs of boots.
The context is shopping for shoes.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
12 perguntasNo. 'Jag är svår' means 'I am a difficult person.' You must use 'Jag har svårt.'
'Bestämma sig' is for personal choices. 'Besluta' is more formal, like a court or a board making a ruling.
Not at all! It's a very common, almost trendy word to describe the struggle of modern choice.
You say 'Jag har bestämt mig.'
Yes, but keep it professional: 'Vi har ännu svårt att bestämma oss angående offerten.'
It's a historical pronunciation shift that became standard in spoken Swedish, though the spelling remained 'sig'.
No, in this construction, 'svårt' is used adverbially/impersonally and stays in the neuter form.
Yes, it's almost identical. 'Välja' is 'to choose', 'bestämma sig' is 'to decide'.
Yes, it is standard Swedish used throughout the country.
You could say 'ha lätt för att bestämma sig' (to have an easy time deciding).
Yes, 'Han har svårt att bestämma sig för henne' (He's having a hard time deciding about her/committing to her).
Both are used, but 'svårt att' is more modern and cleaner.
Frases relacionadas
ha beslutsångest
similarto have decision anxiety
tveka
similarto hesitate
stå i valet och kvalet
idiomto be torn between two choices
bestämma sig för
builds onto decide on something
vackla
similarto waver
