Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| grym | /ɡrʏmː/ |
| jättebra | /²jɛtːɛˌbrɑː/ |
In Swedish, you can express that something is excellent or exciting using different terms depending on the nuance. While grym is a common way to say something is cool or awesome, if you want to say something is very good in a more standard way, use jättebra. Other options include kanon for a fantastic or great feeling, and imponerande when you specifically want to emphasize that something is impressive.
Which one should you use?
The word grym is a slangy term used to mean 'awesome' or 'cool', but its literal meaning is actually 'cruel' or 'brutal'. In contrast, jättebra is a more neutral and standard term meaning 'very good'. For a formal context, you should use utmärkt to convey that something is excellent or outstanding or imponerande to highlight that something is impressive.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For casual settings or among younger people, grym is a very common informal choice. You can also use the informal term kanon to describe something as great or fantastic. If you are in a formal situation, use utmärkt for excellence or imponerande to express that something is impressive.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form grym is the masculine or common gender form of the adjective. If you are describing a plural noun or using a definite form, use grymma. When you use the word as an adverb or a standalone exclamation to mean 'Awesome!', use the neuter form grymt.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡrʏmː/
Did you know?
- While kanon means 'awesome' in a casual context, it is actually the Swedish word for 'cannon'.
- The word jättebra literally translates to 'giant good'. It uses the word for 'giant' (jätte) as a prefix to intensify the adjective.
- The word grym is related to the Old Norse word grimmr, which is a direct relative of the English word 'grim'.
Examples in context
- Hon är grym.She's awesome.This sentence shows how to use grym to describe a person.Tatoeba #1998279 by herrsilen, translation #1209626 by CK
- Tom är grym.Tom is awesome.Tatoeba #3835519 by herrsilen, translation #1552346 by Spamster
- – Jag lyckades fixa datorn. – Grymt!– I managed to fix the computer. – Awesome!This sentence shows how to use the exclamatory form grymt as a response to good news.
- Din prestation på scenen var fantastisk!Your performance on stage was fantastic!
- Konserten igår var grymt bra!The concert yesterday was awesome!
- Den nya restaurangen har verkligen utmärkt mat!The new restaurant truly has excellent food!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Oscar and Alice are talking about a concert they attended.
- OscarKonserten var verkligen grym!The concert was really awesome!
- AliceJa, det var en grym upplevelse.Yes, it was an awesome experience.
- OscarMusiken var så grym.The music was so awesome.
- AliceJag håller med, Oscar.I agree, Oscar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “awesome” translations and entries grym, jättebra, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries grym, jättebra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
