The short answer
In standard written Swedish, de is the subject form, like they, and dem is the object form, like them. Both are normally pronounced dom in everyday speech. To choose in writing, substitute vi or oss: if vi fits, write de; if oss fits, write dem.
De performs the action, dem receives it
De kommer i morgon means they are coming tomorrow. Jag träffar dem means I am meeting them. Writing preserves the grammatical distinction even though speech usually gives you dom in both sentences.
The subject pronoun occupies the same position as jag, du or vi. Review the full set on the Swedish personal pronouns page.
Use the vi and oss substitution test
Replace the group with us. Vi kommer works, so write De kommer. Jag träffar oss is grammatically possible, so write Jag träffar dem. The replacement may sound odd in meaning; you are only testing its function.
English speakers can use we and us as the same shortcut. Vi and oss are even more helpful once a preposition separates the pronoun from the verb.
Why both forms sound like dom
Everyday Swedish has long merged the spoken forms of de and dem into dom. Dom also appears in informal messages and in some published styles, but standard formal writing still expects de and dem.
Do not invent a pronunciation contrast that speakers do not normally make. In dictation, recover the spelling through syntax using the Swedish dictation routine.
De can also be a definite article
In de stora husen, de introduces a definite plural noun phrase: the large houses. It is not a subject pronoun there, even though it looks identical.
Look at what follows. Before an adjective and definite plural noun, de belongs to the noun phrase; before a verb, it is often the subject. Practise the distinction in complete sentences through SvenskaApp games.
Questions people ask
- What is the difference between de and dem in Swedish?
- De is the subject form and dem is the object form in standard written Swedish.
- How do Swedes pronounce de and dem?
- In modern everyday speech, both are generally pronounced dom.
- Can you write dom in Swedish?
- Dom appears in informal writing and some editorial styles, but de and dem remain standard in formal and school writing.
Know someone who has just moved here?
