Tjafs is the noun form of the verb tjafsa, which translates roughly to “quibble”, “bicker” or “squabble” in English – essentially some sort of petty argument or conflict.

The etymology is not particularly clear, but it may be related to two other similar words, tjata (to nag) and tafsa (to grope).

• Don’t miss any of our Swedish words and expressions of the day by downloading our new app (available on Apple and Android) and then selecting the Swedish Word of the Day in your Notification options via the User button

According to the Swedish Academy’s dictionary, it has existed in Swedish since at least 1889. It can also be used as an adjective, tjafsig, for someone who is engaging in tjafs.

Tjafs is an outdated word for bell-bottoms or flares, too (probably from the English word “chaps”) but it’s unlikely that Pehrson was commenting on Åkesson’s fashion choices.

So, what was Pehrson trying to say to Åkesson? He clearly didn’t mean for it to be picked up on Åkesson’s microphone, but it’s unclear what exactly he was trying to say to the Sweden Democrat leader. 

There are a few possibilities. Pehrson said the phrase while walking past Åkesson’s lectern on his way to debate him in parliament, so it could have been some sort of suggestion that Åkesson, whose party support the Liberals, Moderates and Christian Democrats’ coalition government, should act a bit more tjafsig towards him. This could explain why Åkesson responded by lifting his left fist in the air and smiling.

Was Pehrson accusing Åkesson of bickering? Or was he apologising in advance that he was about to tjafsa at Åkesson?

Despite being political allies, the two parties differ the most of the four parties in the ruling block, publicly disagreeing on a number of issues – most recently the Sweden Democrats’ use of anonymous troll accounts to slander political opponents and allies.

Some members of the opposition, particularly the Social Democrats, believe that the phrase was proof that the Liberals’ supposed hard stance against these troll accounts is nothing more than political theatre.

“It’s all theatre. It’s all a game,” Social Democrat press secretary Mirjam Kontio wrote on X.

Pehrson, on the other hand, claimed via his press secretary Elin Olofsson in a comment to Aftonbladet that the statement was actually a comment on the parties’ differing stances on the EU, the topic they were debating.

The Sweden Democrats are one of the most Eurosceptic parties in the Swedish parliament, while the Liberals are the opposite – so pro-EU that they want to join the Euro.

“Johan stated on the way to the podium during an EU debate that he, in his response to the Sweden Democrats, is going to continue to bicker at the Sweden Democrats about the EU and their Swexit fantasies,” Olofsson wrote to the newspaper.

Whatever Pehrson meant to say with his lite mer tjafs comment, at least it’s provided us with the opportunity to teach you a new Swedish word today.

Example sentences:

Men sluta tjafsa nu, jag pallar inte höra på er.

Stop bickering now, come on, I can’t stand listening to you.

Hur var mötet? Det var ett evigt tjafsande.

How was the meeting? It was non-stop squabbling.

Villa, Volvo, Vovve: The Local’s Word Guide to Swedish Life, written by The Local’s journalists, is available to order. Head to lysforlag.com/vvv to read more about it. It is also possible to buy your copy from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Bokus or Adlibris.