Everyday Verbs You'd Never Guess

To check

Tip: Kolla! also means 'look!'. Textbook says kontrollera; nobody does

To sort out, fix

Tip: Jag fixar det = I'll handle it. Covers arranging and repairing

To work, function

Tip: Casual form of fungera. Det funkar = it works

To get it, understand

Tip: Fattar du? = get it? Blunter than förstå

To meet up

Tip: Ska vi träffas? = shall we meet? Reciprocal -s form

To take off, leave

Tip: Jag sticker nu = I'm off. Also means to sting

To eat (casually)

Tip: Ska vi käka? = shall we grab food?

To study, cram

Tip: What students do; formal is studera

To chat

Tip: Snacka skit = talk nonsense

To nick, pinch

Tip: Light-fingered borrowing; also 'to twist'

To hurry

Tip: Skynda dig! = hurry up! Takes a reflexive

To queue

Tip: From kö, a queue. Sweden runs on the number ticket

To look for, hunt around

Tip: Leta efter nycklarna = hunt for the keys

To solve, sort

Tip: Vi löser det = we'll figure it out

To look after

Tip: Also 'to fit' and 'to suit' — three meanings, one word

To fetch, pick up

Tip: Hämta barnen = collect the kids

To put (standing up)

Tip: Swedish picks a verb by how the object sits

To put (lying down)

Tip: The counterpart to ställa

To throw away

Tip: Also to fling

To tidy up

Tip: Storstädning = the big clean