väns

Väns is the genitive singular form of the Swedish noun vän, meaning “friend.” It is used to indicate possession in Scandinavian languages by attaching the suffix -s to the base noun, and does not require an apostrophe as in English. In a simple phrase, min väns bil would translate to “my friend’s car.”

The formation is part of standard Swedish possessive construction. The possessive suffix -s attaches to the noun directly, even when the noun ends in a consonant or a short stem, producing forms such as väns in the singular. The usage is typically limited to a single possessor; it denotes something belonging to one friend.

In language practice, väns often appears in clauses where the relationship of ownership is central, for example, “ Jag lånade min väns bok” (I borrowed my friend’s book). For plural possessions, Swedish uses a different construction: vännernas followed by the noun, as in “vännernas hus” (the friends’ house).

Related terms include vän, meaning “friend,” and vänner, the standard plural meaning “friends.” The corresponding possessive forms include min väns, din väns, and hans/hennes väns, depending on the possessor. While väns is a familiar and correct form for singular possession, the language generally prefers clear wording or rephrasing when multiple possessions or people are involved.

See also: Swedish grammar, possessive constructions, genitive case in Swedish.