alltså

So/therefore

Level 3

Alltså is a versatile word used to mean 'so', 'therefore', or 'in other words'. It links a cause with a result or clarifies a statement.

How It Works

Alltså is a fundamental discourse particle in Swedish with three primary uses. Understanding its function can make your Swedish sound much more natural.

1. Expressing a Conclusion or Result ('so', 'therefore')
In this use, Alltså connects a previously stated fact or situation to its logical consequence. When it starts a main clause in this role, it takes the first position, and the verb must come second, following the V2 inversion rule.

  • Det regnar. Alltså tar jag ett paraply. (It's raining. Therefore, I'm taking an umbrella.)

2. Clarifying or Rephrasing ('in other words', 'that is')
Alltså can be used to explain something more clearly or to specify what you mean. In this case, it doesn't necessarily cause inversion and can be placed more freely.

  • Vi ses nästa vecka, alltså på onsdag. (See you next week, that is, on Wednesday.)
  • Han arbetar med tre språk, alltså svenska, norska och danska. (He works with three languages, namely Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish.)

3. As a Filler Word or for Emphasis ('so', 'well', 'I mean')
In spoken Swedish, alltså is frequently used as a filler word to start a sentence, gather your thoughts, or add emphasis, much like 'so...', 'well...', or 'I mean...' in English.

  • Alltså, jag vet inte riktigt vad jag ska säga. (Well, I don't really know what to say.)
  • Alltså, det var den bästa konserten någonsin! (I mean, that was the best concert ever!)

Examples (4)

  1. Jag missade bussen, alltså kommer jag att bli sen.

    I missed the bus, so I will be late.

    Word by Word: I missed the-bus, so will I to be late.

    Here, 'alltså' introduces the logical result of missing the bus. Notice the V2 inversion: the verb 'kommer' comes directly after 'alltså'.

  2. Han är min kusin, alltså min mammas systers son.

    He is my cousin, in other words, my mom's sister's son.

    Word by Word: He is my cousin, so my mom's sister's son.

    Alltså specifies which cousin is meant: the speaker’s mother’s sister’s son. This identifies the relationship in this case; it is not a complete definition of every possible cousin.

  3. Solen skiner. Alltså går vi till stranden!

    The sun is shining. Therefore, we're going to the beach!

    Word by Word: The-sun shines. So go we to the-beach!

    Alltså presents going to the beach as a conclusion or decision based on the sunshine. It does not claim that sunshine logically forces everyone to go there. Går is second after the initial adverbial.

  4. Alltså, kan du fatta att det redan är fredag?

    I mean, can you believe it's already Friday?

    Word by Word: So, can you believe that it already is Friday?

    This shows the colloquial use of 'alltså' as a filler word to start a sentence and add a bit of emphasis.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting V2 inversion when 'alltså' starts a main clause.

    Jag var trött, alltså jag gick och lade mig.
    Jag var trött, alltså gick jag och lade mig.

    For integrated therefore, write alltså gick jag. The separate discourse-marker construction Alltså, jag gick ... is also used in conversation; it has a pause and a different function. A comma alone does not determine which construction is intended.

How It Connects

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

alltsåLevel 3So/therefore

Learn This First

To learn 'alltså', a learner needs to understand Swedish word order (specifically the V2 rule) because the position of this adverb changes depending on whether it is used as a connector or a filler. It is also helpful to have a basic grasp of other logical connectors and sentence particles to understand its role in indicating a conclusion or clarification.

Words in This Pattern

alltså