Swedish: förtjänst och förmåga

[kfz2010]

Hi,

förtjänst is said to be "förmåga att nå positiva resultat". Is this something innate, or acquired? Can it be replaced by förmåga in usage?

Tack.

 

[FluentSpeakerNot]

In Swedish we can say that it's someone's or some thing's "förtjänst" that something is a certain way.

If my sister taught me how to swim I could say:

Det är min systers förtjänst att jag kan simma.
It's my sister's "förtjänst" that I can swim.

(Not sure what word you would use in English here)

"Förtjänst" can also mean "profit" but I can't think of any situation where "förtjänst" can be replaced with "förmåga".

 

[AmideLanval]

In Swedish we can say that it's someone's or some thing's "förtjänst" that something is a certain way.

If my sister taught me how to swim I could say:

Det är min systers förtjänst att jag kan simma.
It's my sister's "förtjänst" that I can swim.

(Not sure what word you would use in English here)

I can swim thanks to my sister.
Of course, you can also say "it's to someone's credit that...", but I can't imagine that expression being used in the context you propose.