make
/ˈmɑːˌkɛ/common gender
The Swedish word for husband is make or man.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| make | /ˈmɑːˌkɛ/ | common gender |
| man | /man/ /ˈmɑːn/ |
common gender |
Both words refer to a male partner in a marriage.
Which one should you use?
man is the most common and natural way to say husband in everyday Swedish. In contrast, make is a more formal way to say husband.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
For the word make, the definite singular form is maken and the plural form is makar (spouses). For the word man, the definite singular form is mannen.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmɑːˌkɛ/
Did you know?
- While man is the common word for 'husband', it is also the standard Swedish word for 'person' or 'one' in a general sense, such as in 'one does not simply walk into Mordor'.
- The word make is etymologically related to the English word 'mate', as both descend from the Proto-Germanic root for a partner or companion.
- The word make is so formal that using it in a casual setting like a pub might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Examples in context
- Tom är min man.Tom is my husband.This sentence shows how to use the form man to identify a husband.Tatoeba #2027349 by herrsilen, translation #1868186 by CK
- Min make älskar mig inte.My husband doesn't love me.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form make in a negative context.Tatoeba #3101272 by herrsilen, translation #8429010 by nickrobson
- Jag tror att min make är galen.I think my husband is crazy.This sentence shows the use of the form make to express a belief or thought about a husband.Tatoeba #9849852 by morbrorper, translation #2736558 by Hybrid
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maja introduces Lucas to a friend at a party.
- MajaDet här är min make, Lucas.This is my husband, Lucas.
- LucasTrevligt att träffas!Nice to meet you!
- MajaHan är en fantastisk make.He is a fantastic husband.
- LucasNi ser väldigt lyckliga ut.You look very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries make, man, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries make, man, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
