Kär i, rädd för, trött på – when feelings need a preposition

Feelings can be powerful things. They can rush in, whisper quietly, or settle over the whole day like a blanket. But in Swedish, they often come with something very small: a preposition.

Man är kär i någon. (You are in love with someone.)

Man är rädd för något. (You are afraid of something.)

Man är trött på något. (You are tired of / fed up with something.)

Small words, big feelings. Prepositions show where the feeling is directed. Is it warm? Irritated? Worried? Then Swedish often wants a little grammatical signpost.

Use "i" when the feeling is positive

The preposition i is often used with positive feelings, especially when the feeling is directed towards a person, a place, or something you really like.

Jag är kär i dig. (I’m in love with you.)

Hon är förälskad i sin granne. (She is in love with her neighbour.)

Vi är galna i glass. (We are crazy about ice cream.)

There is a sense of emotional closeness here. The feeling moves towards something, almost as if the heart steps over the threshold and says, “Yes, I’ll stay here.”

Use i with words and expressions such as kär i (in love with), förälskad i (in love with), förälska sig i (to fall in love with), förtjust i (fond of), galen i (crazy about) and tokig i (mad about).

With galen and tokig, the preposition matters. Galen i and tokig i mean that you really like something, while galen på and tokig på mean that someone or something is driving you mad.

Just remember that positive feelings do not always take i. For example, Swedish uses intresserad av (interested in), nyfiken på (curious about) and glad över (happy about). Prepositions follow patterns, but they also have their own little habits.

Use "på" when the feeling rubs the wrong way

The preposition på is often used when the feeling is negative and directed at someone or something. It is often about irritation, anger, or simply having had enough.

Hon är så arg på sin bror. (She is so angry with her brother.)

Han blev irriterad på mig. (He got annoyed with me.)

Jag är trött på regnet. (I’m tired of / fed up with the rain.)

Here, the feeling points a rather accusing finger. På is like a tiny grammatical spotlight: there, that is the problem.

Compare:

Nu är jag trött. (Now I’m tired.)

Then I probably need a rest.

Nu är jag trött på det här mötet. (Now I’m fed up with this meeting.)

Then the meeting has gone on too long, the coffee is finished, and my soul has opened a window.

Use på with words and expressions such as arg på (angry with), irriterad på (annoyed with), trött på (tired of / fed up with), besviken på (disappointed in), sur på (cross with), avundsjuk på (envious of) and svartsjuk på (jealous of).

But på does not always fit. If you want to emphasise the reason for the feeling, Swedish often uses över or för instead:

Jag är besviken på honom. (I’m disappointed in him.)

The feeling is directed at the person.

Jag är besviken över resultatet. (I’m disappointed with / about the result.)

The feeling is about something that has happened.

Jag är arg på dig. (I’m angry with you.)

The feeling is directed at the person.

Jag är arg över beslutet. (I’m angry about the decision.)

The feeling is about the cause.

Use "för" when worry takes over

The preposition för is often used after words that express worry, fear, or nervousness. Here, the feeling is directed towards something that seems threatening, uncertain, or difficult.

Jag är rädd för hundar. (I’m afraid of dogs.)

Hon är orolig för provet. (She is worried about the test.)

De är nervösa för intervjun. (They are nervous about the interview.)

It might be a spider, a difficult conversation, or a small Swedish test that suddenly looks like a mountain.

Use för with words and expressions such as rädd för (afraid of), rädsla för (fear of), nervös för (nervous about), orolig för (worried about), oroa sig för (to worry about), fruktan för (fear / dread of) and ängslig för (anxious about).

Feeling your way through prepositions

Ask yourself: what kind of feeling is it?

Positive feeling, often with strong emotional involvement?

kär i, förälskad i, galen i

Negative feeling or irritation?

arg på, irriterad på, trött på

Worry, fear or nervousness?

rädd för, orolig för, nervös för

Of course, there are more combinations, and prepositions love little exceptions. Their pockets are full of them. But these patterns can help you a good way along the road.

So next time you are rädd för prepositioner (afraid of prepositions), trött på undantag (fed up with exceptions), or perhaps even a little kär i svenskan (in love with Swedish), you know what is happening: the feeling has found its direction.