jag saknar dig
The English phrase "I miss you" is translated into Swedish as jag saknar dig.
jag saknar dig is the standard way to express that you miss a person. The verb saknar can also be used more broadly to express the absence or lack of an abstract thing, such as a missing object.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of jag (I), saknar (miss or lack) and dig (you, in the accusative form).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Stockholm, locals often use the colloquial expression Jag längtar som fan efter dig to emphasize how much they long for someone.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase jag saknar dig, the word dig is used because it is the object form of du (you).
Did you know?
- The word saknar shares its root with sak, which means 'matter' or 'cause'. In a legal context, a saksökande is a plaintiff bringing a 'cause' to court.
- In very casual speech, particularly in Stockholm, one might use the vulgar intensification som fan to say 'I miss you like hell', which translates literally to 'as the devil'.
- The pronoun dig and the English word 'thee' share a distant genealogical connection through the Proto-Indo-European root *te-ge, which was used for second-person pronouns.
Examples in context
- Jag saknar dig, Tom.I miss you, Tom.This sentence shows how to use jag saknar dig when addressing a specific person.Tatoeba #2005689 by herrsilen, translation #1887572 by CK
- Jag saknar dig också.I miss you, too.This sentence demonstrates how to add "too" to the phrase using jag saknar dig.Tatoeba #4353858 by richke, translation #3819144 by CK
- Jag saknar dig.I miss you.This is a simple way to use the phrase jag saknar dig.Tatoeba #1975236 by herrsilen, translation #1308 by brauliobezerra
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maja and Erik are talking on the phone while Erik is away on a work trip.
- MajaJag saknar dig så mycket, Erik.I miss you so much, Erik.
- ErikJag saknar dig också, Maja.I miss you too, Maja.
- MajaNär kommer du hem?When are you coming home?
- ErikRedan på fredag.Already on Friday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I miss you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dig, jag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
