bör

Bör is a Swedish modal auxiliary verb that expresses advisability, recommendation, or probability. It corresponds to the English "should" or "ought to" and is widely used in contemporary Swedish to indicate what is prudent or appropriate. The present tense form is bör for all subjects: jag bör, du bör, han/hon bör, vi bör, ni bör, de bör.

Grammatically, bör is followed by the bare infinitive of the main verb, without the “att” particle. It can convey advice, an expectation, or a probable outcome. Examples: "Du bör läsa den här boken" (You should read this book); "Det bör gå bra" (That should go well). In questions, bör can initiate a suggestion: "Bör vi börja?" (Should we start?).

The past or conditional sense is expressed by borde. This form is frequently used for softer or more hypothetical recommendations: "Du borde gå hemnu" (You should go home now). "Det borde regna i eftermiddag" (It might rain this afternoon). Negation is formed with inte: "Du bör inte röka" (You should not smoke).

Bör sits between stronger obligations and looser possibilities. It is less forceful than måste (must) and not as directive as ska (shall/will), allowing speakers to express prudent advice or probability without firm compulsion. Etymologically, bör derives from historical forms of the verb böra, related to the notion of being due or expected to occur.

See also: ska, borde, må (modal verbs in Swedish) for related expressions of obligation, permission, and expectation.