Verbal compounds

Level 3

Verbal compounds in Swedish are formed by attaching a verb stem (with a compound-specific shape) directly to a noun to create a single word, like skrivbord (write + table = desk).

How It Works

Many familiar Swedish verbal compounds describe objects, tools, or places by their function. They form a key category of compound nouns.

1. Dropping the Infinitive -a
For most verbs ending in -a, drop the final -a to get the verb stem before combining:

  • att skriva (to write) → skriv- + bord (table) = skrivbord (desk)
  • att tvätta (to wash) → tvätt- + maskin (machine) = tvättmaskin (washing machine)
  • att läsa (to read) → läs- + glasögon (glasses) = läsglasögon (reading glasses)

2. Vowel-Final Verbs
Verbs that end in other vowels retain their full form as the stem:

  • att sy (to sew) → symaskin (sewing machine)
  • att gå (to walk) → gåstol (baby walker)

3. Gender and Inflection
The final noun normally determines whether the entire compound is an en-word or ett-word and how it forms its plural:

  • ett skrivbord (because bord is neuter)
  • en tvättmaskin (because maskin is common gender)

4. Linking Elements (-s-)
A linking -s- is especially associated with noun-based first elements. Arbetsplats is built with the compound form of the noun arbete (work), so it is not evidence for a general rule adding -s- to verb stems. Some first elements, such as tvätt-, can be related to both a noun and a verb.
Note: The ordinary compounds in this lesson are written together without spaces. Other compound types can require a hyphen.

The compound form is not automatically the imperative: tvätta! contrasts with tvättmaskin. Some verbs have other compound forms, such as räkna → räkneverk, so learn established words rather than inventing them solely by deleting -a.

Examples (5)

  1. Jag sitter vid mitt skrivbord hela dagen.

    I sit at my desk all day.

    Word by Word: I sit at my write-table whole day-the.

    Combines the verb stem 'skriv-' (from skriva) with 'bord' (table).

  2. Har du lagt kläderna i tvättmaskinen?

    Have you put the clothes in the washing machine?

    Word by Word: Have you put clothes-the in wash-machine-the?

    Combines 'tvätt-' (from tvätta) with 'maskin' (machine).

  3. Han tappade sitt körkort på gatan.

    He dropped his driver's license on the street.

    Word by Word: He dropped his drive-card on street-the.

    Combines 'kör-' (from köra) with 'kort' (card).

  4. Vi brukar simma i en stor simhall på vintrarna.

    We usually swim in a large indoor swimming pool in the winters.

    Word by Word: We usually swim in a big swim-hall on winters-the.

    Combines 'sim-' (from simma) with 'hall' (facility/hall).

  5. Mormor glömde sina läsglasögon hemma.

    Grandmother forgot her reading glasses at home.

    Word by Word: Grandmother forgot her read-glasses home.

    Combines 'läs-' (from läsa) with 'glasögon' (glasses).

Common Mistakes

  • Writing verb-noun compounds as separate words.

    Jag köpte en ny tvätt maskin.
    Jag köpte en ny tvättmaskin.

    Write the established word tvättmaskin together. Splitting it into tvätt maskin is a spelling error; this does not rule out hyphens in other kinds of compounds.

  • Keeping the infinitive ending -a on the verb when forming the compound.

    Det här är ett skrivabord.
    Det här är ett skrivbord.

    Most verbs ending in -a drop the final vowel to form the verb stem before joining the noun (skriv- + bord).

How It Connects

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

Verbal compoundsLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand verbal compounds (verb + noun), you first need to be comfortable with how Swedish forms basic noun-noun compounds. You also need to recognize verb stems and understand that the final noun in the compound dictates the gender and grammatical behavior of the new word.