funkar

Funkar is a Swedish verb form that means “works” or “functions” in a colloquial sense. It is the third-person singular present tense of the informal verb funka, which denotes that something is operating or functioning as intended. The word is widely used in everyday speech and informal writing.

Usage and register

Funkar is common in spoken Swedish and informal contexts. It is often preferred in casual conversation, while the more formal counterpart is fungerar, derived from the standard verb fungera. For example, Det funkar = That works, Det fungerar inte = It does not work (in a more formal register). The phrase Det funkar bra describes something that is functioning well, whereas Det funkar inte indicates a malfunction or dissatisfaction.

Conjugation and forms

As the present tense form, funk ar is used with all third-person singular subjects. The base verb funka has related forms such as jag funkar, du funkar, han/hon/den/det funkar, vi funkar, ni funkar, de funkar. The past tense is funkade, and the perfect form is har funkat. The standard, more formal alternative is fungera, with present tense fungerar and related forms (har fungerat).

Etymology and notes

Funkar originates as an informal variant of fungera, reflecting a tendency in Swedish to create shorter, more speaker-friendly verbs for everyday use. It is widely understood across Swedish-speaking regions and is a staple of casual communication, especially in technology, consumer products, and everyday troubleshooting.

See also

Fungerar (the formal equivalent), fungera (the base verb), everyday Swedish colloquialisms.