flod
/fluːd/common gender
The English word for river is flod in Swedish. Wiktionary also lists älv and å.
Meaning: large stream which drains a landmass (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| flod | /fluːd/ | common gender |
| älv | /ɛlv/ | common gender |
| å | /oː/ /ɔ/ |
common gender |
Flod and älv refer to large rivers, while å is used for smaller streams, creeks or small rivers.
Which one should you use?
Flod and älv are used for large rivers, but å is the term for a smaller stream or creek. Flod is often used in a more international or geographical context, whereas älv is the preferred term for a large river in many parts of Sweden.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many parts of Sweden, especially in the west and north, älv is the preferred term for a large river.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of flod is floder, the plural of älv is älvar and the plural of å is åar. All these forms are common-gender nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/fluːd/
Did you know?
- The Swedish word for a small stream, å, looks like a letter with a circle on top, but it actually originated from two 'a's written on top of each other.
Examples in context
- Floden är för djup.The river is too deep.The sentence using flod is useful for describing the depth of a river.Tatoeba #11234563 by Pineapple, translation #9801146 by Amastan
- Kasta inte stenar i älven.Don't throw rocks into the river.The sentence using älv is useful for giving a command regarding an object in a river.Tatoeba #5895897 by herrsilen, translation #525757 by CK
- Floden rinner genom dalen.The river runs through the valley.The sentence using flod is useful for describing the path of a river through a valley.Tatoeba #9715595 by morbrorper, translation #45471 by CK
- Jag tycker om att segla på floden.I enjoy sailing on the river.
- Vi byggde en bro över floden.We built a bridge over the river.
- Låt oss ta en simtur i älven idag.Let's go for a swim in the river today.
- Vi bor nära älven, vilket ger oss vacker natur.We live close to the river, which provides us with beautiful scenery.
- Älven rinner genom vår by och ger liv åt naturen omkring.The river flows through our village, giving life to the surrounding nature.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are standing on a bridge overlooking a body of water.
- LinneaÄr det här en stor flod?Is this a large river?
- LucasJa, den är väldigt bred.Yes, it is very wide.
- LinneaVi kan ro över floden.We can row across the river.
- LucasDet låter som en bra idé.That sounds like a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations and entries flod, älv, å, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries flod, älv, å, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
