laga mat
/²lɑːɡa mɑːt/
To cook in Swedish is laga mat. Wiktionary also lists tillaga.
Meaning: to prepare food for eating (verb)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| laga mat | /²lɑːɡa mɑːt/ |
| tillaga |
The verb laga mat is used to describe the general activity of cooking or preparing meals. If you want to refer to the person who performs this action, use the noun kock.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase laga mat is composed of the verb laga, which means to prepare or fix and the noun mat, which means food.
Which one should you use?
Laga mat is the standard way to describe the general activity of cooking. In contrast, tillaga is used when referring to the specific preparation or cooking process of a particular ingredient or dish.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/²lɑːɡa mɑːt/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use laga alone to mean 'to cook'. In Swedish, laga usually means 'to repair' or 'to fix' unless it is followed by mat.
Did you know?
- The word laga shares a common ancestor with the word for 'law' in many Germanic languages.
- In Swedish culture, the concept of husmanskost refers to traditional home-cooked meals, which are often the primary focus of laga mat in a family context.
- The word tillaga is used more like 'prepare' or 'process' and is common on food packaging and menus, whereas laga mat is used in conversation.
Examples in context
- Sami gillar att laga mat.Sami likes to cook.This sentence shows a preference for the activity of laga mat.Tatoeba #6363878 by SilasNordgren, translation #6326171 by OsoHombre
- Alison kan inte laga mat.Alison can't cook.This sentence expresses an inability to laga mat.Tatoeba #8955711 by mr_vile, translation #9054813 by Len
- Vet du hur man tillagar hummer?Do you know how to cook a lobster?This sentence uses tillaga in the context of a specific ingredient.Tatoeba #11205225 by Pineapple, translation #2039385 by Eldad
- Jag har bokat en restaurang där en kock från Frankrike lagar maten.I have booked a restaurant where a cook from France is preparing the food.
- De anställde en skicklig matlagare för att laga middagen till gästerna.They hired a skilled cook to prepare dinner for the guests.
- Jag tycker om att laga mat med färska ingredienser.I enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients.
- Min väninna är en skicklig kock som har en kreativ och smakrik matstil.My female friend is a skilled cook who has a creative and flavorful cooking style.
- Vi behöver en erfaren kock som kan leda köket på vår nya restaurang.We need an experienced cook to lead the kitchen at our new restaurant.
- Hemmakockar kan vara lika passionerade och talangfulla som yrkeskockar.Home cooks can be just as passionate and talented as professional chefs.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Karl and Emma are in the kitchen deciding on dinner.
- KarlSka vi laga mat nu?Shall we cook now?
- EmmaJa, jag är hungrig.Yes, I am hungry.
- KarlJag kan laga mat åt dig.I can cook for you.
- EmmaTack, det är snällt av dig.Thanks, that is kind of you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cook” translations and entries laga mat, tillaga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries laga, mat, tillaga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
