jävlar
What does “jävlar” mean in English?
This is an exclamation used to express surprise, anger, or emphasis, similar to saying 'damn' in English. Literally, it translates to 'devils.'
Literally “devils”
You'll encounter it as a reaction to something shocking or frustrating, and it can also be used positively to show admiration, making it versatile in tone.
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Related Swedish words
jävla
3/5 · VulgarIt's an intensifier similar to 'damn' or 'fucking'. It literally translates to 'devilish', which adds a bit of flair to the insult.
helvete
3/5 · VulgarThis is a strong exclamation that translates to 'hell' and is often used to emphasize a point or express frustration. In some contexts, it can also refer to actual religious discussions without being considered swearing.
satan
3/5 · VulgarThis is used as an exclamation, often to express frustration or anger. It literally means 'Satan.'
fan
2/5 · CoarseIt's a common exclamation similar to 'damn.'
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About this data
Swear Atlas is a source-attested, AI-curated reference — not a native-speaker-certified dictionary. Meanings and the 1–5 Burn Rating are approximate editorial assessments that vary with context, region, tone and speaker. Inclusion of a word does not constitute endorsement of its use.
The literal gloss is a short editorial translation to show word-for-word sense, not an etymological claim.
“Sounds like” is an English-friendly approximation of how the word sounds, not an authoritative pronunciation. Where shown, the romanisation is a conventional Latin-script transliteration of the original spelling.
Term attested via LDNOOBW (CC-BY-4.0). Editorial content © Swear Atlas.