bäck
/bɛk/common gender
The Swedish word for creek is bäck.
The word refers to a small stream of water.
Meaning: stream of water (noun)
Which one should you use?
While bäck refers specifically to a small stream or brook, the word å is used to refer to a larger river or stream.
How does it change in a sentence?
The common-gender noun bäck changes its form depending on whether it is definite or plural. The definite form (the creek) is bäcken, the plural form (creeks) is bäckar and the definite plural form (the creeks) is bäckarna.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɛk/
Did you know?
- The Swedish bäck shares a root with the word beck used in Northern English dialects, reflecting the deep influence of Viking settlers on the British Isles.
- The word bäck appears frequently in Swedish surnames and village names, often indicating that the original settlement was established beside a small stream.
- Swedish uses the specific word bäck to describe small, often bubbling streams, whereas larger, slower-moving waters are categorized differently to reflect the current's speed.
Examples in context
- En liten bäck rinner genom skogen.A small creek flows through the forest.
- Barnen leker vid den smala bäcken.The children are playing by the narrow creek.
- Vattnet i bäcken är väldigt kallt.The water in the creek is very cold.
Example conversation
Alice and Oscar are hiking in the woods.
- AliceHör du ljudet från den där bäcken?Do you hear the sound from that creek?
- OscarJa, jag hör den nu.Yes, I hear it now.
- AliceSka vi gå ner till den?Shall we go down to it?
- OscarDet låter som en bra idé.That sounds like a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “creek” translations and entries bäck, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bäck, CC BY-SA 4.0.
