koppla av
In Swedish, the phrase for to relax can be expressed as koppla av or slappna av.
Meaning: (intransitive) to rest and become relieved of stress (verb)
Ways to say it
| Swedish |
|---|
| koppla av |
| slappna av |
Both terms are used to describe resting and becoming relieved of stress. You can also use the phrase ha en avkopplande stund to say you are having a relaxing moment.
Which one should you use?
While both mean to relax, slappna av is often used to describe the physical or mental act of loosening tension. In contrast, koppla av focuses more on the concept of unwinding or taking a break from activity.
How does it change in a sentence?
koppla av is a separable phrasal verb. In the present tense, it becomes kopplar av and its past participle is kopplat av. For the other term, the perfect tense of slappna av is formed using har slappnat av.
Did you know?
- The word koppla in koppla av literally means to 'couple' or 'link', much like connecting a train carriage or a computer cable. Using it to mean 'relax' implies you are 'disconnecting' yourself from a specific task or circuit.
- The particle av used in these phrases shares a common ancestor with the English word 'off', both stemming from the same Proto-Germanic roots used to indicate separation.
- If you describe a person as slapp, you are not just saying they are relaxed, but that they are actually acting lazy or lack energy.
Examples in context
- Du kan slappna av.You can relax.This sentence demonstrates how to use slappna av.Tatoeba #10924111 by Pineapple, translation #2254938 by CK
- Du behöver koppla av.You need to relax.This sentence shows the use of koppla av.Tatoeba #2192503 by Tximist, translation #1096298 by CK
- Jag borde slappna av.I should relax.This sentence illustrates how to express a suggestion to relax using slappna av.Tatoeba #11163183 by Pineapple, translation #5851685 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maja and Karl are sitting on a balcony on a summer evening.
- MajaNu ska vi bara koppla av.Now we are just going to relax.
- KarlDet låter väldigt skönt, Maja.That sounds very nice, Maja.
- MajaHar du haft en stressig dag?Have you had a stressful day?
- KarlJa, jag behöver verkligen koppla av.Yes, I really need to relax.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “relax” translations and entries koppla av, slappna av, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries av, koppla, slappna, slappna av, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
