Singular address with du
Du is the standard Swedish word for you when talking to one person. It's used in almost all situations.
How It Works
Sweden went through a major social change in the late 1960s and 1970s called the 'du-reformen' (the 'you' reform). Before this, there was a complex system of titles and formal pronouns. The reform simplified this, making du the standard way to address a single person in nearly every context.
You should use du when speaking to:
- Friends and family
- Colleagues and bosses
- Shop assistants and waiters
- Strangers on the street
- People older or younger than you
A singular ni, often intended as courteous, also exists: Ni. Its reception varies between people and settings; ni is also the ordinary plural pronoun. Using 'Ni' can sometimes sound old-fashioned, distant, or even condescending. Du is a useful default. Follow a clearly expressed preference and the context rather than assuming one form suits every interaction.
'Du' is one of the core personal pronouns you need to learn.
Examples (4)
- Vad heter du?
What is your name?
Word by Word: What are-called you?
- Du talar bra svenska.
You speak good Swedish.
Word by Word: You speak good Swedish.
- Vill du ha kaffe?
Do you want coffee?
Word by Word: Want you have coffee?
- Kan du hjälpa mig?
Can you help me?
Word by Word: Can you help me?
Common Mistakes
Assuming ni is automatically more polite than du with every stranger.
Ursäkta, kan Ni hjälpa mig?Ursäkta, kan du hjälpa mig?Both sentences are grammatical. Du is the usual singular address, while singular ni can sound courteous to some people and distant to others. Ni is the ordinary plural form. Normally write du and ni with lowercase initials within a sentence.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the 'du-tilltal' (informal address) pattern, you first need to know the basic personal pronouns, specifically 'du'. It is also helpful to understand basic social conventions and politeness in Swedish to appreciate that this informal address is the norm in almost all modern contexts.
- Basic pronouns
Understanding the basic system of personal pronouns is necessary to identify 'du' as the singular second-person subject pronoun.
Foundations - Polite expressions
Understanding how social interactions are structured in Swedish helps contextualize why the informal 'du' is the standard form of address.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- mig/dig/honom/henneObject Pronouns
When 'you' is the object of a sentence, 'du' changes to 'dig'. For example, 'Jag ser dig' (I see you). This pattern explains the object forms of pronouns.
Level 1 - din/ditt/dinaYour/yours (Singular)
This is the possessive form of 'du', meaning 'your' or 'yours'. For example, 'Är det här din bok?' (Is this your book?).
Level 1 - Ni: Plural and Singular Address
Ni is ordinary plural you and also occurs as singular address with varying social interpretations. Du is the usual singular default; context and individual preference matter.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Singular address with du in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Swedish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
