beträffande

Concerning/regarding

Level 4

'Beträffande' means 'concerning' or 'regarding'. It's a formal word used to introduce a subject, mainly in writing.

How It Works

'Beträffande' is a formal preposition that directly translates to 'concerning' or 'regarding'. It is used to introduce the subject matter being discussed.

Formality and Usage
This word belongs to a more formal register of Swedish and is primarily used in written communication like emails, official letters, reports, and legal documents. In an everyday conversation it can sound formal; that is a register choice, not a grammatical error.

Synonyms and Alternatives
Several other words and phrases can be used to express a similar meaning, often with slight differences in formality:

  • Angående: Very similar to 'beträffande' and used to introduce the subject of a message or discussion.
  • Rörande: Another formal alternative, meaning 'touching upon' or 'regarding'.
  • När det gäller: A common phrasal alternative, meaning 'when it comes to'. It's less formal and very frequent in both spoken and written Swedish.
  • Vad...beträffar: A more complex structure meaning 'as for...'. For example, 'Vad X beträffar, så...'.

Grammatical Note
'Beträffande' is grammatically a present participle of the verb 'att beträffa' (to concern), which has been lexicalized as a preposition.

Examples (4)

  1. Beträffande er faktura från den 15 maj, har vi noterat en avvikelse.

    Regarding your invoice from May 15th, we have noted a discrepancy.

    Word by Word: Concerning your invoice from the 15 May, have we noted a deviation.

    The initial topic phrase is followed by finite har and subject vi. The comma is optional here; a short integrated initial phrase usually needs no comma.

  2. Jag har några frågor beträffande anställningsavtalet.

    I have a few questions concerning the employment contract.

    Word by Word: I have some questions concerning the employment contract.

  3. Beträffande mötet imorgon, vänligen bekräfta er närvaro.

    Regarding the meeting tomorrow, please confirm your attendance.

    Word by Word: Concerning the meeting tomorrow, kindly confirm your attendance.

    The topic phrase frames a polite request. Bekräfta is an imperative, so this is not a declarative verb-second example. Both imorgon and i morgon are established spellings.

  4. Inga nya beslut har fattats beträffande bygglovet.

    No new decisions have been made regarding the building permit.

    Word by Word: No new decisions have been made concerning the building permit.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

beträffandeLevel 4Concerning/regarding

Learn This First

To understand 'beträffande', you should be familiar with how Swedish forms present participles (-ande/-ende) and how basic prepositions like 'om' function to introduce a topic. Since it is a formal marker often used to introduce a subject at the start of a sentence, knowledge of topicalization and sentence structure is also beneficial.

Words in This Pattern

beträffande