preposition

hos

at · with

Definition & meaning

The word hos is a preposition used to indicate position, relation, or possession. It is one of the most common words in the Swedish language and covers several nuances:

At the home or place of: It is used to describe being at someone's residence or place of work.
- Example: "Jag är hos min vän" (I am at my friend's place).
In the presence of / With: It can indicate that someone or something is with a person.
- Example: "Han har barnen hos sig" (He has the children with him).
In the case of / Among: It is used to describe characteristics, symptoms, or opinions belonging to a specific person or group.
- Example: "Det finns en viss oro hos befolkningen" (There is a certain anxiety among the population).
Possession/Association: It can denote that a person has an item in their possession or is associated with a specific entity.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: hos is a preposition. It does not inflect. It is frequently used with personal pronouns in the objective case (e.g., hos mig, hos dig, hos honom).
Origin: The word originates from Old Swedish hus, which is related to the word hus (house). Historically, it literally meant "at the house of."