# Does anybody know what this means? (Swedish translation help needed) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565 "2003-09-19T06:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565/1 "2003-09-19T06:45:10Z")
My friend Phil gave me some Swedish candy yesterday for my birthday. I know he got it from Ikea, because that’s the only plce here that would have their product packaging in Swedish. (besides, that’s where the cactus was from as well) I’m just interested in what the package says, out of curiosity. This is what it says on the package: > [@](#): > > \ ***Hur blir man Sveriges mest köpta bil** > > 1953 är ett årtal som för de flesta genuina bilentusiaster framstår som en milstolpe i mänsklighetens historia. Ögon tåras, sentimentala berättelser om var man befann sig 1953 dyker upp, och de som var med då det begav sig åtnjuter en självklar respekt bland yngre efterföljare. > > I det tidiga gryningsljuset detta nådens år 1953, rullade under stort hemlighetsmakeri den första serieproducerade Ahlgrensbilen ut från fabriken i Gävle. > > Idag är Ahlgrens bilar världens i särklass mest sålda bil. Och trots ett något sviktande andrahandsvärde kommer ständigt nya generationer bilentusiaster som upptäcker denna läckret tidlösa design, denna smakfulla profil och denna autosportens klassiker Nr. 1.\* The only words I might have understood out of that were the cognates: “generation,” “genuine,” “history,” “respect,” “serially produced,” “fabricated (made),” “classic,” and “design.” It’s unlikely _under_ has anything to do with our English word “under,” _bland_ has probably nothing to do with “bland,” _autosportens_ probably has nothing to do with “auto sports,” _trots_ probably has little to do with “trotting,” and _profil_ probably has nothing to do with a “profile.” There’s also something at the very bottom of the package in tiny type, above what appears to be a recycling symbol: > [@](#): > > _DER GRÜNE PUNKT_ (I assume this means something like, “Recycle this package.” It’s probably not “The Green Punk,” which is what my first impression was.) The candy is jelly foam, and tastes bland enough; it’s not overly sweet or anything. There are websites on the package, and I haven’t visited them because I think they’d be in Swedish… which really wouldn’t help. ([Ahlgrens Bilar](http://www.ahlgrensbilar.com) and [Malaco Leaf](http://www.malacoleaf.com)) Before anyone asks, I’m not even close to being on a first-name basis with any of the Swedish Vancouver Canucks… so I can’t ask them! 😛 (Markus Naslund, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, Mats Lindgren, Mattias Ohlund, Magnus Arvedson, or Johan Hedberg) F\_X ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565/2 "2003-09-19T07:01:47Z")
All I know is that ‘Der Grüne Punkt’ is German and is indeed a recycle message. It means “The green point”. Can’t help on the Swedish, though. btw: Did you notice the ‘framstår’? Is that why you got it? It looks a bit like your user name. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565/3 "2003-09-19T07:05:27Z")
Ok, here is a quick and dirty translation. \*How do you become the most bought car in Sweden? 1953 is a year that for most genuine car enthusiasts is a milestone in human history. With tears in their eyes, sentimental stories are told of where one was in 1953 when they showed up. Those who where present at the time are regarded with an obvious respect among the younger enthusiasts. In the light of the early dawn in this year of grace 1953, under great secrecy, the first serially produced Ahlgrens car rolled out of the factory in Gävle. Today Ahlgren’s cars are the best selling car in the world. Despite a somewhat weak second hand value new generations of car enthusiasts continue to discover this deliciously timeless design, this tastefull profile and number 1 among racing classics.\* Der grune Punkt is indeed about recycling. That is not swedish however. It’s the german recycling symbol. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565/4 "2003-09-19T10:02:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flamsterette\_X \* > It’s unlikely _under_ has anything to do with our English word “under,” _bland_ has probably nothing to do with “bland,” _autosportens_ probably has nothing to do with “auto sports,” _trots_ probably has little to do with “trotting,” and _profil_ probably has nothing to do with a “profile.” _Under_ means, among other things “under” as you can see in Coil’s translation. _Bland_, however, means “among”. Although I understand what they mean by _autosportens_ I’d say it is an anglicism and not really good Swedish. _Bilsport_, “car racing” would be a much better word. BTW the -s in it indicates genitive. Coil translated _trots_ as “despite”. You can also use it for “nevertheless”, “although” and probaly a couple of other words depending on context. _Profil_, as you can see, is indeed the same word as “profile”. As for the cars in question I must say I have never liked them and I just can’t understand how people can enjoy them (on the other hand I don’t like any kind of candy). ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565/5 "2003-09-19T20:56:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gum \* > \*\*All I know is that ‘Der Grüne Punkt’ is German and is indeed a recycle message. It means “The green point”. > > Can’t help on the Swedish, though. > > btw: Did you notice the ‘framstår’? Is that why you got it? It looks a bit like your user name. 🙂 \*\* Yeah, it kinda looked like German… but I wasn’t too sure. Thanks for the translation, though. I didn’t get the candy from Ikea, as I almost never go there… too far away, even by bus. My friend Phil got it for me, and I’m sure he has no clue about my username! (although it is part of my email address, which he **does** know) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coil \* > \*\*Ok, here is a quick and dirty translation. > > How do you become the most bought car in Sweden? > > 1953 is a year that for most genuine car enthusiasts is a milestone in human history. With tears in their eyes, sentimental stories are told of where one was in 1953 when they showed up. Those who where present at the time are regarded with an obvious respect among the younger enthusiasts. > > In the light of the early dawn in this year of grace 1953, under great secrecy, the first serially produced Ahlgrens car rolled out of the factory in Gävle. > > Today Ahlgren’s cars are the best selling car in the world. Despite a somewhat weak second hand value new generations of car enthusiasts continue to discover this deliciously timeless design, this tastefull profile and number 1 among racing classics. > > Der grune Punkt is indeed about recycling. That is not swedish however. It’s the german recycling symbol.\*\* Very quick translation, too… in less than half the time it took me to write the OP. (one-handed typing, since I had to hold the package in one hand) Thanks! 🙂 Hmm… so that’s why the candy looks like little cars. Interesting stuff… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Floater_ > \*\*_Under_ means, among other things “under” as you can see in Coil’s translation. _Bland_, however, means “among”. Although I understand what they mean by autosportens I’d say it is an anglicism and not really good Swedish. _Bilsport_, “car racing” would be a much better word. BTW the -s in it indicates genitive. Coil translated _trots_ as “despite”. You can also use it for “nevertheless”, “although” and probaly a couple of other words depending on context. _Profil_, as you can see, is indeed the same word as “profile”. > > As for the cars in question I must say I have never liked them and I just can’t understand how people can enjoy them (on the other hand I don’t like any kind of candy).\*\* Thanks for the additional clarification. The candy’s okay… it’s not sickeningly sweet, though it could do with maybe a little more flavor. F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-know-what-this-means-swedish-translation-help-needed/202565/6 "2003-09-19T20:56:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gum \* > \*\*All I know is that ‘Der Grüne Punkt’ is German and is indeed a recycle message. It means “The green point”. > > Can’t help on the Swedish, though. > > btw: Did you notice the ‘framstår’? Is that why you got it? It looks a bit like your user name. 🙂 \*\* Yeah, it kinda looked like German… but I wasn’t too sure. Thanks for the translation, though. I didn’t get the candy from Ikea, as I almost never go there… too far away, even by bus. My friend Phil got it for me, and I’m sure he has no clue about my username! (although it is part of my email address, which he **does** know) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coil \* > \*\*Ok, here is a quick and dirty translation. > > How do you become the most bought car in Sweden? > > 1953 is a year that for most genuine car enthusiasts is a milestone in human history. With tears in their eyes, sentimental stories are told of where one was in 1953 when they showed up. Those who where present at the time are regarded with an obvious respect among the younger enthusiasts. > > In the light of the early dawn in this year of grace 1953, under great secrecy, the first serially produced Ahlgrens car rolled out of the factory in Gävle. > > Today Ahlgren’s cars are the best selling car in the world. Despite a somewhat weak second hand value new generations of car enthusiasts continue to discover this deliciously timeless design, this tastefull profile and number 1 among racing classics. > > Der grune Punkt is indeed about recycling. That is not swedish however. It’s the german recycling symbol.\*\* Very quick translation, too… in less than half the time it took me to write the OP. (one-handed typing, since I had to hold the package in one hand) Thanks! 🙂 Hmm… so that’s why the candy looks like little cars. Interesting stuff… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Floater_ > \*\*_Under_ means, among other things “under” as you can see in Coil’s translation. _Bland_, however, means “among”. Although I understand what they mean by autosportens I’d say it is an anglicism and not really good Swedish. _Bilsport_, “car racing” would be a much better word. BTW the -s in it indicates genitive. Coil translated _trots_ as “despite”. You can also use it for “nevertheless”, “although” and probaly a couple of other words depending on context. _Profil_, as you can see, is indeed the same word as “profile”. > > As for the cars in question I must say I have never liked them and I just can’t understand how people can enjoy them (on the other hand I don’t like any kind of candy).\*\* Thanks for the additional clarification. The candy’s okay… it’s not sickeningly sweet, though it could do with maybe a little more flavor. F\_X