var/vart
Where (Location/direction)
Use var for a static location and vart for movement towards a destination.
How It Works
A common point of confusion for English speakers is the difference between var and vart, as English uses 'where' for both. The distinction is useful in neutral written Swedish, while regional spoken forms vary.
Rule of thumb:
- For the location of a state or activity, use var. Common verbs include vara (to be), bo (to live), ligga (to lie), stå (to stand), sitta (to sit), jobba (to work).
- For a destination or direction, use vart. Common verbs include gå (to go), åka (to go/travel), resa (to travel), flytta (to move), köra (to drive).
This same location vs. direction logic applies to other word pairs in Swedish, such as här/där (here/there - location) vs. hit/dit (to here/to there - direction).
Regional Speech
In some regions vart is used for both location and destination; in others var is used for both. Vart är mina nycklar? is therefore a spoken regional form, not an impossible question. In neutral written prose, use Var är mina nycklar? for location and Vart ska du resa? for destination.
Examples (5)
- Var är du?
Where are you?
Word by Word: Where are you?
'är' (are) describes a state of being in a location, so 'var' is used.
- Vart ska du gå?
Where are you going?
Word by Word: Where to shall you go?
Vart asks for the destination of the going. Gå itself can also occur with var when the question concerns where the walking takes place.
- Var bor ni?
Where do you live?
Word by Word: Where live you?
'bor' (live) describes residing in a location, which is a state, not a movement.
- Vart reser de i sommar?
Where are they traveling this summer?
Word by Word: Where to travel they in summer?
Vart asks which destination the travelers are heading to, following the usual written distinction.
- Var jobbar din pappa?
Where does your dad work?
Word by Word: Where works your dad?
Working is considered being at a location, so 'var' is used.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the difference between 'var' and 'vart', you first need to be familiar with the basic question word 'var'. It is also essential to understand the Swedish grammatical concept of location versus direction, which is most clearly introduced through the pairs 'här/hit' and 'där/dit'. Finally, you should know how to structure a basic question in Swedish.
Related Patterns
- Question word questions
'Var' and 'vart' are fundamental question words used to form 'wh-questions' about place. 'Var' asks about location, and 'vart' asks about direction.
Level 1 - hem/hemmaHome (Direction/location)
Another pair that follows the location vs. direction rule. 'Hemma' means 'at home' (location, answers 'var?'), while 'hem' means '(to) home' (direction, answers 'vart?').
Level 1 - ligga/stå/sittaPosition Verbs
These 'position verbs' describe a static state of being somewhere. They are almost always used with 'var' to ask about location, not 'vart'.
Level 2 - ska/skallWill/shall
The modal verb 'ska' (will/shall) is frequently combined with 'vart' and a movement verb to ask about future plans, e.g., 'Vart ska du resa?' (Where will you travel?).
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice var/vart in Bubblegum
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