hej, hur mår du?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Swedish as hej, hur mår du?
The phrase is a common greeting used to start a conversation and ask about someone's well-being. While hej, hur mår du? focuses on a person's internal state, you may also hear hur är det?, which is a more casual way to ask "how is it going?" or "how are things?"
Which one should you use?
hej, hur mår du? specifically asks about a person's well-being, whereas hur är det? is a more general, casual inquiry into how things are going.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "how are you?" to a group of people rather than an individual, you must change the pronoun from du to ni, resulting in hur mår ni?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying hur är du? by translating the English phrase literally. In Swedish, you use the verb må (to feel/be in health) for this greeting rather than är (to be).
When do people say it?
A standard, polite response to hur mår du? is Jag mår bra, tack! (I feel well, thanks!).
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'how are you' is often a rhetorical greeting, a Swede asking hur mår du? is frequently expecting a genuine answer about your health.
- Because må relates to health, asking hur mår du? can actually sound quite heavy or serious to a Swede, as if you are asking if they are physically ill or suffering.
- The word hej has roots in old exclamations used to get someone's attention, similar to how a person might shout 'hey!' to signal a passing traveler.
Examples in context
- Hej, hur mår ni?Hello, how are you?
- God dag, hur står det till?Good day, how are you?
- Tja, hur är läget?Hey, how's it going?
- Hallå, hur är det med dig?Hey, how are you?
- Hej, hur är läget?Hello, how's it going?
- Hej, hur mår du?Hi, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, hej, hur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
