det vill säga (dvs)
That Is (I.e.)
Use 'det vill säga' (dvs.) to clarify what you just said. It means 'that is' or 'in other words'.
How It Works
'Det vill säga' is a common connective phrase in Swedish used to provide more specific information or to rephrase something in a clearer way. Word for word it contains det (that/it), vill (wants) and säga (say), but the established phrase means that is rather than describing a wish.
Key Points:
- Meaning: It corresponds to the English 'that is', 'i.e.', or 'in other words'.
- Abbreviation: In writing, it is very frequently shortened to 'dvs.'. Both the full phrase and the abbreviation are common.
- Function: It acts as a bridge between a statement and its clarification. It doesn't alter the grammatical structure of the clause that follows it. Unlike subordinating conjunctions, it does not trigger the subordinate clause word order.
You can use it to clarify almost anything: a person, a place, a time, a concept, or an entire idea.
Examples (5)
- Jag ska träffa min chef, det vill säga Anna, klockan tre.
I'm going to meet my boss, that is, Anna, at three o'clock.
Word by Word: I shall meet my boss, that wants to say Anna, o'clock three.
- Vi ses nästa vecka, dvs. på tisdag.
We'll see each other next week, i.e., on Tuesday.
Word by Word: We see-each-other next week, i.e. on Tuesday.
- Han är polyglott, det vill säga han talar många språk.
He is a polyglot, that is, he speaks many languages.
Word by Word: He is polyglot, that wants to say he speaks many languages.
- Vi ska åka till huvudstaden, dvs. Stockholm.
We are going to travel to the capital, i.e., Stockholm.
Word by Word: We shall travel to the-capital-city, i.e. Stockholm.
- Boken kostar tvåhundra kronor, dvs. ungefär tjugo euro.
The book costs two hundred kronor, i.e., about twenty euros.
Word by Word: The-book costs two-hundred kronor, i.e. approximately twenty euros.
The euro amount is an illustrative approximation in this sentence, not a fixed exchange rate. Dvs. introduces the speaker’s restatement of the amount.
Common Mistakes
Confusing clarification (dvs.) with causation (därför att).
Jag är trött, dvs. jag sov dåligt i natt.Jag är trött, därför att jag sov dåligt i natt.'Det vill säga' is used to rephrase or clarify. The fact that you slept poorly is the reason you are tired, not a clarification of what 'tired' means. To state a reason, use därför att (because). A correct use would be: 'Jag är utmattad, dvs. extremt trött.' (I am exhausted, i.e., extremely tired).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'det vill säga' (dvs), you need to be familiar with the pronoun 'det' used as a subject, the modal verb 'vill', and the basic verb 'säga'. Together, these form a fixed expression used to clarify or rephrase information, similar to 'that is' or 'i.e.' in English.
- villWant to
The phrase uses the modal verb 'vill' (want/will) as a core component of its literal meaning 'that will say'.
Level 2 - säga attSay That
Understanding the verb 'säga' (to say) is essential as it forms the verbal action of the explanatory phrase.
Level 3 - den/det/deIt/they (Definite)
The phrase uses the pronoun 'det' as a formal subject to refer back to the previous statement being explained.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- med andra ordIn Other Words
A very close synonym meaning 'in other words'. It's often interchangeable with 'det vill säga' and serves the same purpose of rephrasing or clarifying.
Level 3 - därför attBecause
Means 'because' and introduces a reason. It's a common point of confusion. 'Det vill säga' clarifies what something is, while 'därför att' explains why it is.
Level 2 - nämligenNamely/you See
Means 'namely' and is used to provide a specific example or explanation that was previously implied. While 'dvs' rephrases, 'nämligen' often introduces the specific piece of information itself.
Level 3 - alltsåSo/therefore
Alltså can introduce a conclusion, but it can also clarify or reformulate a point. Det vill säga likewise introduces a clarification and may support an inference; the functions can overlap.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice det vill säga (dvs) in Bubblegum
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