med andra ord

In Other Words

Level 3

'Med andra ord' means 'in other words'. Use it to explain something in a different, often simpler, way.

How It Works

Rephrasing Or Interpreting
Med andra ord means in other words. It can explain a technical statement, summarize it or offer the speaker’s interpretation. A reformulation should not claim more than its context supports.

Inside The Clause
When med andra ord is the first element of an ordinary main clause, the finite verb follows: Med andra ord fungerar den inte. The phrase can also appear later: Den fungerar med andra ord inte. This follows the verb-second rule.

A Separate Introduction
The phrase can instead stand outside the following clause as a separate introduction, followed by a pause and often a colon or dash: Med andra ord: han ville inte komma. A comma may mark such detachment, but adding a comma does not itself switch off V2. Decide whether the phrase belongs inside the clause or frames it from outside.

Examples (4)

  1. Han svarade inte på mina meddelanden. Med andra ord, han ignorerade mig.

    He didn't answer my messages. In other words, he ignored me.

    Word by Word: He answered not on my messages. With other words, he ignored me.

    The phrase is read as a detached introduction followed by a separate subject-first clause. The comma marks the pause rather than causing the word order. Calling the silence deliberate ignoring is the speaker’s interpretation, not a logical consequence of no reply.

  2. Apparaten är inte kompatibel med vår mjukvara. Med andra ord fungerar den inte med vårt system.

    The device is not compatible with our software. In other words, it doesn't work with our system.

    Word by Word: The device is not compatible with our software. With other words works it not with our system.

    Med andra ord is the first clause element here, so finite fungerar precedes the subject den. This is an integrated V2 clause; the syntactic role, not the absence of a comma alone, determines the order.

  3. Hon sa att hon var för trött och hade mycket att göra. Med andra ord ville hon inte följa med.

    She said she was too tired and had a lot to do. In other words, she didn't want to come along.

    Word by Word: She said that she was too tired and had much to do. With other words wanted she not to come along.

  4. Företaget hade större kostnader än intäkter förra året. Med andra ord gick de med förlust.

    The company had higher costs than revenue last year. In other words, they made a loss.

    Word by Word: The company had greater costs than revenue last year. With other words went they with loss.

    Costs exceeding revenue entails a loss. Merely making no profit could also mean breaking even, so that older premise did not support the conclusion.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving an att-clause unattached when a standalone statement is intended.

    Med andra ord, att han inte ville komma.
    Med andra ord, han ville inte komma.

    For a standalone reformulation, use Med andra ord ville han inte komma, or a detached introduction such as Med andra ord: han ville inte komma. An att-clause can be appropriate when a preceding expression licenses it; med andra ord is not a universal ban on subordinate clauses.

How It Connects

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med andra ordLevel 3In Other Words

Learn This First

To understand 'med andra ord', a learner needs to be familiar with the preposition 'med', the adjective 'andra' (other), and the concept of plural nouns.

Words in This Pattern

andraordannan