Significado
To be very expensive.
Contexto cultural
Swedes often use this idiom when talking about 'Systembolaget' (the state-owned liquor store) because alcohol taxes are very high. In Stockholm, housing is a major topic. People frequently use 'kosta skjortan' to describe rents or apartment prices in the city center. There is a shared cultural understanding of the 'high cost of living'. Using this phrase is a way to show you are 'one of the people' who feels the pinch of high prices. Swedish influencers often use this phrase in 'hauls' or 'vlogs' to describe luxury items, often followed by 'men det var värt det' (but it was worth it).
Use for emphasis
Add 'verkligen' (really) or 'helt klart' (clearly) to sound even more like a native speaker.
Definite form only
Never say 'en skjorta'. It's always 'skjortan'.
Significado
To be very expensive.
Use for emphasis
Add 'verkligen' (really) or 'helt klart' (clearly) to sound even more like a native speaker.
Definite form only
Never say 'en skjorta'. It's always 'skjortan'.
The 'Complaining' Bond
Using this phrase is a great way to start a conversation with a Swede about prices—it's a very common social bonding topic.
Teste-se
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Den här nya bilen är jättefin, men den kostar ______.
The idiom is always 'kosta skjortan' in the definite form.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'The hotel was very expensive'?
Välj rätt mening:
We use the past tense 'kostade' and the correct idiom 'skjortan'.
Match the situation with the correct response.
Situation: Your friend wants to buy a designer bag that costs 50,000 SEK.
50,000 SEK for a bag is definitely 'kosta skjortan' territory.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ska vi ta en taxi hem? B: Nej, det är lördag kväll. Det kommer ______.
After 'kommer' (will), we use the infinitive form 'kosta'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Price Intensity
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosDen här nya bilen är jättefin, men den kostar ______.
The idiom is always 'kosta skjortan' in the definite form.
Välj rätt mening:
We use the past tense 'kostade' and the correct idiom 'skjortan'.
Situation: Your friend wants to buy a designer bag that costs 50,000 SEK.
50,000 SEK for a bag is definitely 'kosta skjortan' territory.
A: Ska vi ta en taxi hem? B: Nej, det är lördag kväll. Det kommer ______.
After 'kommer' (will), we use the infinitive form 'kosta'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, it's only for things or services that have a monetary price.
Not at all. It's a standard, colorful way to say something is expensive.
No, that's not an idiom in Swedish, though it would be understood as a joke.
In casual meetings, yes. In formal reports, no.
'Dyrt' is just 'expensive'. 'Kosta skjortan' is more emphatic and idiomatic.
No, it can be a service, like a haircut or a repair.
It's a breathy sound made at the back of the throat, similar to 'h' but stronger.
No, the idiom is fixed in the singular.
Only if 100 SEK is surprisingly expensive for that specific item (like a single apple).
No, it's very modern and used by all ages.
Frases relacionadas
Kosta fläsk
synonymTo be very expensive (literally: cost pork).
Kosta en förmögenhet
synonymTo cost a fortune.
Svindyr
similarExtremely expensive.
Punga ut
builds onTo fork out / pay up.
Kosta på sig
contrastTo treat oneself to something expensive.
