Basic Words and Phrases in Swedish
Reinier van der Windt
About Swedish
Swedish is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden. It is also one of the official languages of Finland and has recognition in other Nordic countries. Swedish is closely related to Danish and Norwegian, forming a dialect continuum known as the Scandinavian languages. It uses the Latin-based alphabet with additional characters. Swedish grammar features noun and adjective declension, verb conjugation, and grammatical cases. Vocabulary-wise, Swedish has borrowed words from various languages, including German, French, and English. Swedish is an important part of Swedish culture and identity, and it plays a significant role in literature, media, and everyday communication.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Ja |
|---|---|
| No | Nej |
| Please | Snälla |
| Yes, please | Ja, tack |
| No, thank you | Nej, tack |
| Thanks | Tack |
| Thank you | Tack |
| Thank you very much | Tack så mycket |
| You're welcome | Varsågod |
| No problem | Inga problem |
| Excuse me | Ursäkta mig |
| I’m sorry | Jag är ledsen |
| Sorry | Ledsen |
| Cheers! | Skål! |
| Okay | Okej |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Hej |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hej |
| Good day | God dag |
| Good morning | God morgon |
| Good afternoon | God eftermiddag |
| Good evening | God kväll |
| Good night | God natt |
| Goodbye | Farväl (frm) Adjö (inf) |
| See you later! | Vi ses senare! |
| Have a nice day! | Ha en trevlig dag! |
| Bye | Hej då |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Hur mår du? |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Jag mår bra |
| Good, thank you! | Bra, tack! |
| And you? | Och du? |
| Nice to meet you! | Trevligt att träffas! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Nöjd att träffas! |
| What is your name? | Vad heter du? |
| My name is … | Jeg heter … |
| Where are you from? | Var kommer du ifrån? |
| I am from … | Jag kommer från ... |
| I don't speak Swedish | Jag talar inte svenska |
| Do you speak English? | Talar du engelska? |
| I understand | Jag förstår |
| I do not understand | Jag förstår inte |
| I like it | Jag gillar det |
| I don't like it | Jag gillar det inte |
| How is the weather today? | Hur är vädret idag? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Kan du rekommendera några lokala sevärdheter? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotell |
|---|---|
| Reception | Reception |
| Reservation | Bokning |
| Hotel room | Hotellrum |
| Key | Nyckel |
| Breakfast | Frukost |
| I have a reservation | Jag har en reservation |
| I would like to book a room | Jag skulle vilja boka ett rum |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Har ni några rum lediga? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restaurang |
|---|---|
| Menu | Meny |
| A table for one, please | Ett bord för en person, tack |
| A table for two, please | Ett bord för två personer, tack |
| I would like a coffee, please | Jag skulle vilja ha en kaffe, tack |
| Enjoy your meal! | Smaklig måltid |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Kan jag få notan, tack? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Kan du ta med notan till mig, tack? |
| I would like to pay, please | Jag skulle vilja betala, tack |
| The bill, please | Notan, tack |
| Can I pay with cash? | Kan jag betala kontant? |
| Can I pay with card? | Kan jag betala med kort? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Kan jag betala med kreditkort? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Kan du föreslå något för mig? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Kan jag få ett glas vatten, tack? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Har ni några lokala specialiteter? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Frukost |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Lunch |
| Dinner | Middag |
| Food | Mat |
| Drinks | Drycker |
| Bread | Bröd |
| Sandwich | Smörgås |
| Cheese | Ost |
| Meat | Kött |
| Fish | Fisk |
| Vegetables | Grönsaker |
| Fruit | Frukt |
| Vegetarian | Vegetarisk |
| I am a vegetarian | Jag är vegetarian |
| Coffee | Kaffe |
| Tea | Te |
| Beer | Öl |
| Wine | Vin |
| Juice | Juice |
| Water | Vatten |
| Milk | Mjölk |
| Dessert | Efterrätt |
| Salad | Sallad |
| Soup | Soppa |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Bankomat |
|---|---|
| Bank | Bank |
| Beach | Strand |
| Library | Bibliotek |
| Park | Park |
| Pharmacy | Apotek |
| Post Office | Postkontor |
| Tourist Information | Turistinformation |
| Museum | Museum |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Affär |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Stormarknad |
| Grocery store | Livsmedelsaffär |
| Market | Marknad |
| Bakery | Bageri |
| Bookstore | Bokhandel |
| How much does this cost? | Hur mycket kostar det? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Kan jag få ett kvitto? |
| I'm just looking | Jag tittar bara |
| Sunglasses | Solglasögon |
| Umbrella | Paraply |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Var är toaletten? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Var är stranden? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Hur kommer jag till flygplatsen? |
| Left | Vänster |
| Right | Höger |
| Straight ahead | Rakt fram |
| Is it far from here? | Är det långt härifrån? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Kan du visa det på kartan? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Hur lång tid tar det att gå dit? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Flygplats |
|---|---|
| Plane | Flygplan |
| Train station | Tågstation |
| Train | Tåg |
| Bus station | Busstation |
| Bus | Buss |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Ticket | Biljett |
| Can I get a ticket to Stockholm? | Kan jag få en biljett till Stockholm? |
| I would like a ticket to Stockholm | Jag skulle vilja ha en biljett till Stockholm |
| I need a ticket to Stockholm | Jag behöver en biljett till Stockholm |
| A ticket to Stockholm, please | En biljett till Stockholm, tack |
| What time is the next train to Stockholm? | Vilken tid går nästa tåg till Stockholm? |
| When is the next train to Stockholm? | När går nästa tåg till Stockholm? |
| When does the next train to Stockholm leave? | När avgår nästa tåg till Stockholm? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Hjälp! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Hjälp mig! |
| I need help | Jag behöver hjälp |
| I need assistance | Jag behöver hjälp |
| I need a doctor | Jag behöver en läkare |
| Police | Polis |
| Police Station | Polisstation |
| Hospital | Sjukhus |
| Ambulance | Ambulans |
| Doctor | Doktor |
| Fire department | Brandkår |
| Fire! | Brand! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Vad är klockan? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Klockan är ett |
| It is half past two | Klockan är halv tre |
| Morning | Morgon |
| Afternoon | Eftermiddag |
| Evening | Kväll |
| Night | Natt |
| Today | Idag |
| Tomorrow | Imorgon |
| Yesterday | Igår |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Noll |
|---|---|
| One | En |
| Two | Två |
| Three | Tre |
| Four | Fyra |
| Five | Fem |
| Six | Sex |
| Seven | Sju |
| Eight | Åtta |
| Nine | Nio |
| Ten | Tio |
| Eleven | Elva |
| Twelve | Tolv |
| Thirteen | Tretton |
| Fourteen | Fjorton |
| Fifteen | Femton |
| Sixteen | Sexton |
| Seventeen | Sjutton |
| Eighteen | Arton |
| Nineteen | Nitton |
| Twenty | Tjugo |
| Twenty-one | Tjugoett |
| Twenty-two | Tjugotvå |
| Twenty-three | Tjugotre |
| Twenty-four | Tjugofyra |
| Twenty-five | Tjugofem |
| Twenty-six | Tjugosex |
| Twenty-seven | Tjugosju |
| Twenty-eight | Tjugoåtta |
| Twenty-nine | Tjugonio |
| Thirty | Trettio |
| Forty | Fyrtio |
| Fifty | Femtio |
| Sixty | Sextio |
| Seventy | Sjuttio |
| Eighty | Åttio |
| Ninety | Nittio |
| Hundred | Hundra |
| Two hundred | Tvåhundra |
| One thousand | Tusen |
| Two thousand | Tvåtusen |
| Three thousand | Tretusen |
| Hundred thousand | Hundratusen |
| Million | Miljon |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Första |
|---|---|
| Second | Andra |
| Third | Tredje |
| Fourth | Fjärde |
| Fifth | Femte |
| Sixth | Sjätte |
| Seventh | Sjunde |
| Eighth | Åttonde |
| Ninth | Nionde |
| Tenth | Tionde |
| Eleventh | Elfte |
| Twelfth | Tolfte |
| Thirteenth | Trettonde |
| Fourteenth | Fjortonde |
| Fifteenth | Femtonde |
| Sixteenth | Sextonde |
| Seventeenth | Sjuttonde |
| Eighteenth | Adertonde |
| Nineteenth | Nittonde |
| Twentieth | Tjugonde |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Måndag |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Tisdag |
| Wednesday | Onsdag |
| Thursday | Torsdag |
| Friday | Fredag |
| Saturday | Lördag |
| Sunday | Söndag |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Januari |
|---|---|
| February | Februari |
| March | Mars |
| April | April |
| May | Maj |
| June | Juni |
| July | Juli |
| August | Augusti |
| September | September |
| Oktober | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | December |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Vad? |
|---|---|
| What is your name? | Vad heter du? |
| What is that? | Vad är det där? |
| What is this called? | Vad kallas detta? |
| What do you need? | Vad behöver du? |
| What time is it? | Vad är klockan? |
| What do you like? | Vad gillar du? |
| Where? | Var? |
| Where is the toilet? | Var är toaletten? |
| When? | När? |
| When is the next train? | När går nästa tåg? |
| When can we meet? | När kan vi ses? |
| Why? | Varför? |
| Why is it expensive? | Varför är det dyrt? |
| How? | Hur? |
| How are you doing? | Hur mår du? |
| How would you like to pay? | Hur vill du betala? |
| How far is this? | Hur långt är det här? |
| Which? | Vilka? (pl) Vilken? (sg) Vilket? (sg) |
| Which car is yours? | Vilken bil är din? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Vilket museum besökte du? |
| Which museums did you visit? | Vilka museer besökte du? |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Vilken smörgås är din? |
| Who? | Vem? |
| Who is that? | Vem är det? |
| Who is your travel companion? | Vem är din resekamrat? |
| Whose? | Vems? |
| Whose keys are these? | Vems är dessa nycklar? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Vems telefon ringer? |
| Whose bag is this? | Vems väska är detta? |
| How many? | Hur många? |
| How many people were at the concert? | Hur många personer var på konserten? |
| How much? | Hur mycket? |
| How much does this cost? | Hur mycket kostar det? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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