fladdermus
common gender
The Swedish word for bat is fladdermus.
The word fladdermus refers to the small flying mammal.
Meaning: small flying mammal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of fladder, meaning flap or flutter and mus, meaning mouse.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form is fladdermöss. To indicate possession for a specific bat, the definite genitive form fladdermusens is used.
Did you know?
- Because of the slang meaning of mus, the word fladdermus has been used in Swedish slang as a euphemism for 'flutter-pussy'.
- Swedish distinguishes between the animal fladdermus and the sporting equipment 'bat', which uses the word slagträ.
- The word fladder can describe not just the wings of a fladdermus but also the fluttering of a heart or a piece of fabric in the wind.
Examples in context
- En fladdermus är lika lite fågel som en råtta.A bat is no more a bird than a rat is.This sentence is useful for comparing a bat to other animals.Tatoeba #921213 by Tximist, translation #35799 by CM
- Fladdermusen är inte en fågel, utan ett däggdjur.A bat is not a bird, but a mammal.This sentence is useful for clarifying that a bat is a mammal rather than a bird.Tatoeba #2244823 by daniel_heurlin, translation #326644 by CM
- Igår såg jag en fladdermus flyga nära skogen.Yesterday, I saw a bat flying near the forest.
- Min lillasyster är rädd för fladdermöss.My little sister is afraid of bats.
- Jag såg en fladdermus vid trädet.I saw a bat by the tree.
Example conversation
Erik and Emma are walking in the forest at dusk.
- ErikTitta, där är en fladdermus!Look, there is a bat!
- EmmaÅh, den är så liten.Oh, it is so small.
- ErikDen flyger väldigt snabbt.It flies very fast.
- EmmaJa, den är nästan osynlig.Yes, it is almost invisible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bat” translations and entries fladdermus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fladdermus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
