Swedish word of the day: softa
Softa is a peculariar Swedish word and verb taken from English but which has absolutely nothing, (or very little) to do with its Shakespearean language origin.
Softa comes from the English word 'soft', but in Swedish it means to take it easy, to chill out, or to calm something down. Soft can also mean that someone is nice, relaxed or cool. Its opposite is osoft.
The word first entered the Swedish dictionary in 2006, but is thought to have been used as a slang word from at least the early 1990s. Swedish hip hop trio Just D in 1991 used the word in its song Relalalaxa, singing "tryck på paus å softa" (hit pause and chill).
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Why do Swedes pepper their Swedish with random English words?
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Eight horrible Swedish words that get on my nerves (including softa)
Examples:
Jag kommer stanna hemma och softa ikväll.
I'm staying in and taking it easy tonight.
Ta och softa ner.
Calm down.
Han är en soft kille.
He's a cool guy.
Do you have a favourite Swedish word you would like to nominate for our word of the day series? Get in touch by email or if you are a Member of The Local, log in to comment below.
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Softa comes from the English word 'soft', but in Swedish it means to take it easy, to chill out, or to calm something down. Soft can also mean that someone is nice, relaxed or cool. Its opposite is osoft.
The word first entered the Swedish dictionary in 2006, but is thought to have been used as a slang word from at least the early 1990s. Swedish hip hop trio Just D in 1991 used the word in its song Relalalaxa, singing "tryck på paus å softa" (hit pause and chill).
READ ALSO:
- Why do Swedes pepper their Swedish with random English words?
- Eight horrible Swedish words that get on my nerves (including softa)
Examples:
Jag kommer stanna hemma och softa ikväll.
I'm staying in and taking it easy tonight.
Ta och softa ner.
Calm down.
Han är en soft kille.
He's a cool guy.
Do you have a favourite Swedish word you would like to nominate for our word of the day series? Get in touch by email or if you are a Member of The Local, log in to comment below.
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