om

About/if

Level 1

Om = about a topic, if a condition holds, or whether in an indirect yes/no question.

How It Works

om is a very common and versatile word in Swedish. These examples cover three common uses:

1. As a preposition meaning 'about'
When you want to talk about the subject or topic of something, you use om. It's similar to 'about' or 'concerning' in English.

  • Examples:
  • en film om rymden (a movie about space)
  • Vi pratar om vädret. (We are talking about the weather.)

2. As a conjunction meaning 'if'
When you want to introduce a condition or a possibility, you use om. It works just like 'if' in English. The part of the sentence that starts with om is a subordinate clause.

  • Examples:
  • Jag köper den om den är billig. (I'll buy it if it's cheap.)
  • Om det snöar imorgon, åker vi skidor. (If it snows tomorrow, we'll go skiing.)

Whether In An Embedded Question
Om also introduces an indirect yes/no question: Hon frågade om jag ville ha kaffe (She asked whether I wanted coffee). This om does not make coffee a condition. Use subordinate word order, as in Jag vet inte om hon kommer.

Other Common Uses
Om en timme means in an hour, and prata om något means talk about something. Learn the construction as a whole; one English translation does not cover every use.

Examples (5)

  1. Jag läser en bok om Sverige.

    I am reading a book about Sweden.

    Word by Word: I read a book about Sweden.

  2. Om det regnar, stannar vi hemma.

    If it rains, we will stay home.

    Word by Word: If it rains, stay we home.

    Here, 'om' introduces a condition. Notice the verb 'stannar' comes before the subject 'vi' in the main clause, following the V2 rule.

  3. Vad handlar filmen om?

    What is the movie about?

    Word by Word: What is-about the movie about?

  4. Jag kommer om jag har tid.

    I will come if I have time.

    Word by Word: I come if I have time.

  5. Hon frågade om jag ville ha kaffe.

    She asked if I wanted coffee.

    Word by Word: She asked if I wanted have coffee.

    Om means whether here and introduces an indirect yes/no question, not a conditional clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'om' (about a topic) with 'på' (thinking about).

    Jag tänker om dig.
    Jag tänker på dig.

    For having someone in mind, use Jag tänker på dig. Tänka om also exists, with other meanings such as rethink; an opinion question can use Vad tänker du om förslaget? The intended meaning determines the construction.

How It Connects

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omLevel 1About/if

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