LearnEnglish.nu تعلم اللغة الانجليزية تعلم الانجليزية انجليزي فرنسيالمانياسبانيتركيEnglishSpanishFrench English Spanish انجليزي

Basic Swedish words with pronunciation

Take your time to understand the lesson before moving on to another lesson, and I advise you to read the lesson again to understand it well.

Basic Swedish words with pronunciation
Basic Swedish words with pronunciation

Getting started with basic Swedish words is key to kicking off your language-learning adventure. Whether you’re gearing up for a trip to Sweden, wanting to converse with Swedish-speaking friends, or simply diving into a new language, knowing these fundamentals will really help you feel confident in everyday chats. This guide will introduce you to essential vocabulary that forms the backbone of Swedish, making it easier for you to use these common words in real-life scenarios. With this solid foundation, you’ll find it much smoother to move on to more complex phrases and grammar as you advance.

Basic Swedish words with pronunciation

Click on the text to hear the pronunciation

Basic Swedish words with pronunciation

  • Ny New
  • Nästa Next
  • Trevlig Nice
  • Student Student
  • Dum Stupid
  • Lång Tall
  • Leksak Toy
  • Skräp Trash
  • Vill Want
  • Skola School
  • Penna Pen
  • Träd Tree
  • Triangel Triangle
  • Sopkvast Broom
  • Hink Bucket
  • Bagare Baker
  • Bonde Farmer
  • Lärare Teacher
  • Tvättmedel Detergent
  • Skyffel Dustpan
  • Flygplan Airplane
  • Bebis Baby
  • Väska Bag
  • Mellan Between
  • Frukost Breakfast
  • Stor Big
  • Fågel Bird
  • God morgon Good morning
  • God eftermiddag Good afternoon
  • God kväll Good evening
  • Svart Black
  • Blod Blood
  • Kyckling Chicken
  • Barn Child
  • Välja Choose
  • Cirkel Circle
  • Stad City
  • Klass Class
  • Vattenkokare Kettle
  • Kostnad Cost
  • Korsa Cross
  • Farlig Dangerous
  • Besluta Decide
  • Vägbeskrivningar Directions
  • Dörr Door
  • Öga Eye
  • Långt borta Far
  • Pappa Father
  • Gård Farm
  • Full Full
  • Hand Hand
  • Bra Good
  • Utmärkt Great
  • Grön Green
  • Glad Happy
  • Hård Hard
  • Höjd Height
  • Tung Heavy
  • Varm Hot
  • Make Husband
  • Internet Internet
  • Dam Lady
  • Man Man
  • Mamma Mother
  • Fattig Poor
  • Rik Rich
  • Rum Room
  • Salt Salt
  • Vetenskap Science
  • Säsong Season
  • Korg Basket
  • Godis Candy
  • Frukt Fruit
  • Son Son
  • Socker Sugar
  • Te Tea
  • Turism Tourism
  • Tåg Train
  • Resa Travel
  • Fru Wife
  • Kvinna Woman
  • Värld World
  • Ja Yes
  • Nej No
  • Simma Swim
  • Kasta Throw
  • Sitta Sit
  • Le Smile
  • Stå Stand
  • Lampa Lamp
  • Dator Computer
  • Skrivbord Desk
  • Klocka Clock

100 most common Swedish words

Learning the most common Swedish words is an excellent starting point for beginners. This tutorial presents the top 100 most frequently used Swedish words, including their gender, English translation, and example sentences. The table below will help you understand how these words are used in context and improve your Swedish vocabulary.

  • Tack Thank you
  • Vän Friend
  • Mat Food
  • Vatten Water
  • Ja Yes
  • Nej No
  • Snälla Please
  • Hjälp Help
  • Ursäkta Excuse me
  • Mamma Mom
  • Pappa Dad
  • Barn Child
  • Familj Family
  • Syster Sister
  • Bror Brother
  • Farfar Grandfather
  • Farmor Grandmother
  • Son Son
  • Dotter Daughter
  • Kvinna Woman
  • Man Man
  • Flicka Girl
  • Pojke Boy
  • Väg Road
  • Gata Street
  • Bro Bridge
  • vecka Week
  • år Year
  • idag Today
  • imorgon Tomorrow
  • igår Yesterday
  • kalender Calendar
  • måndag Monday
  • tisdag Tuesday
  • onsdag Wednesday
  • torsdag Thursday
  • fredag Friday
  • lördag Saturday
  • söndag Sunday
  • sekund Second
  • timme Hour
  • minut Minute
  • klockan O'clock
  • klocka Clock
  • kan Can
  • använda Use
  • göra Do
  • gå Go
  • komma Come
  • skratta Laugh
  • göra Make
  • se See
  • maj May
  • mars March
  • januari January
  • februari February
  • april April
  • juni June
  • juli July
  • augusti August
  • september September
  • oktober October
  • november November
  • december December
  • nära Near
  • ett One
  • två Two
  • tre Three
  • fyra Four
  • fem Five
  • sex Six
  • sju Seven
  • åtta Eight
  • nio Nine
  • tio Ten
  • noll Zero
  • kaffe Coffee
  • öl Beer
  • té Tea
  • vin Wine
  • vatten Water
  • fisk Fish
  • biff Beef
  • fläsk Pork
  • kyckling Chicken
  • lamm Lamb
  • sjuksköterska Nurse
  • anställd Employee
  • poliskonstapel Police Officer
  • kock Cook
  • ingenjör Engineer
  • doktor Doctor
  • föreståndare Manager
  • lärare Teacher
  • programmerare Programmer
  • försäljare Salesman
  • fot Foot
  • ben Leg
  • huvud Head
  • arm Arm
  • hand Hand
  • finger Finger
  • kropp Body
  • mage Stomach
  • Park Park
  • Träd Tree
  • Blomma Flower
  • Gräs Grass
  • Djur Animal
  • Hund Dog
  • Katt Cat
  • Fågel Bird
  • Fisk Fish
  • Skola School
  • Lärare Teacher
  • Elev Student
  • Bokhandel Bookstore
  • Affär Shop/Store
  • Kök Kitchen
  • Badrum Bathroom
  • Sovrum Bedroom
  • Vardagsrum Living room
  • Garderob Wardrobe
  • Spegel Mirror
  • Klocka Clock
  • Frys Freezer
  • Tvättmaskin Washing machine
  • Diskmaskin Dishwasher

Basic Swedish words list

Learning basic Swedish vocabulary is an important step in becoming comfortable with the language. This guide covers some of the most common Swedish words, including their pronunciation and English translations. Each word is paired with a description to help you understand its use in everyday conversation.

Swedish Word Pronunciation Translation (English)
jag yahg I
det deh it
är air is
du doo you
inte in-teh not
att aht to
en en an
och ohk and
har har has
vi vee we
paw on
i ee in
för fohr for
han hahn he
vad vahd what
med meh with
mig mayg me
som sohm as
här hair here
om ohm on
dig dayg you
var vahr was
den dehn it
soh as
till til to
kan kahn may
de day they
ni nee you
ska skah to
ett eht an
men men but
av ahv by
vill veel to
nu noo now
ja yah yes
vet veht know
nej nay no
bara bah-rah only
hon hohn she
kommer kohm-mer will
hur hoor how
min meen my
där dair where
honom hohn-uhm him
gör yohr makes
måste moh-steh must
kom kohm came
din deen your
skulle skool-leh would
doh then
bra brah good
när nair when
ha hah have
er air s
ta tah check
ut oot out
får fohr may
man mahn male
vara vahr-uh be
oss ohs us
göra yuh-rah make
dem dehm them
eller el-ler or
varför vahr-for why
alla ah-lah all
från frawn from
upp oohp up
tror troor think
okej oh-kay okay
igen ee-yen again
sa sah said
tack tahck thanks
gaw go
hade hah-deh had
sig sigh to
in in into
allt ahlt all
se seh see
ingen in-yen none
foh get
henne heh-neh her
lite lee-teh a little
mycket myoo-ket very
vem vehm who
går gor go
ser sehr looks
mitt meet my

Example Sentences

  • jag: Jag är glad. (I am happy.)
  • det: Det är en katt. (It is a cat.)
  • är: Hon är snäll. (She is kind.)
  • du: Du är min vän. (You are my friend.)
  • inte: Jag vill inte ha kaffe. (I don't want coffee.)
  • att: Det är svårt att lära sig svenska. (It is difficult to learn Swedish.)
  • en: En bil står där. (A car is parked there.)
  • och: Hon och jag är vänner. (She and I are friends.)
  • har: Vi har en hund. (We have a dog.)
  • vi: Vi går till skolan. (We are going to school.)
  • : Jag sitter på stolen. (I am sitting on the chair.)
  • i: Hon bor i Stockholm. (She lives in Stockholm.)
  • för: Jag gör det för dig. (I am doing it for you.)
  • han: Han spelar fotboll. (He plays soccer.)
  • vad: Vad heter du? (What is your name?)
  • med: Hon kommer med oss. (She is coming with us.)
  • mig: Kan du hjälpa mig? (Can you help me?)
  • som: Jag är som dig. (I am like you.)
  • här: Jag är här nu. (I am here now.)
  • om: Vi pratar om vädret. (We are talking about the weather.)
  • dig: Jag ser dig. (I see you.)
  • var: Det var en gång... (Once upon a time...)
  • den: Den är blå. (It is blue.)
  • : Så är det. (That’s the way it is.)
  • till: Vi ska till stan. (We are going to town.)
  • kan: Kan du hjälpa mig? (Can you help me?)
  • de: De är mina vänner. (They are my friends.)
  • ni: Ni är välkomna. (You are welcome.)
  • ska: Jag ska äta middag. (I am going to eat dinner.)
  • ett: Ett barn leker där. (A child is playing there.)
  • men: Jag ville komma, men jag kunde inte. (I wanted to come, but I couldn't.)
  • av: Boken är skriven av honom. (The book is written by him.)
  • vill: Jag vill resa. (I want to travel.)
  • nu: Vi går nu. (We are leaving now.)
  • ja: Ja, jag förstår. (Yes, I understand.)
  • vet: Jag vet inte. (I don’t know.)
  • nej: Nej, tack. (No, thank you.)
  • bara: Jag vill bara vila. (I just want to rest.)
  • hon: Hon är lärare. (She is a teacher.)
  • kommer: Hon kommer imorgon. (She is coming tomorrow.)
  • hur: Hur mår du? (How are you?)
  • min: Det är min bok. (It is my book.)
  • där: Var är han? Där borta. (Where is he? Over there.)
  • honom: Jag såg honom igår. (I saw him yesterday.)
  • gör: Vad gör du? (What are you doing?)
  • måste: Jag måste gå nu. (I must go now.)
  • kom: Han kom tidigt. (He arrived early.)
  • din: Var är din telefon? (Where is your phone?)
  • skulle: Jag skulle vilja ha kaffe. (I would like some coffee.)
  • : Jag var där då. (I was there then.)
  • bra: Maten var bra. (The food was good.)
  • när: När kommer du? (When are you coming?)
  • ha: Jag vill ha glass. (I want ice cream.)
  • er: Jag tog er bok. (I took your book.)
  • ta: Ta det lugnt. (Take it easy.)
  • ut: Gå ut nu. (Go out now.)
  • får: Får jag låna en penna? (May I borrow a pen?)
  • man: Man måste arbeta. (One must work.)
  • vara: Att vara eller inte vara. (To be or not to be.)
  • oss: Han hjälper oss. (He helps us.)
  • göra: Vad ska vi göra? (What are we going to do?)
  • dem: Jag såg dem igår. (I saw them yesterday.)
  • eller: Vill du ha kaffe eller te? (Do you want coffee or tea?)
  • varför: Varför är du här? (Why are you here?)
  • alla: Alla är här. (Everyone is here.)
  • från: Han är från Sverige. (He is from Sweden.)
  • upp: Stå upp! (Stand up!)
  • tror: Jag tror på dig. (I believe in you.)
  • okej: Okej, jag förstår. (Okay, I understand.)
  • igen: Gör det igen. (Do it again.)
  • sa: Han sa inget. (He said nothing.)
  • tack: Tack för hjälpen. (Thank you for the help.)
  • : Vi måste gå nu. (We have to go now.)
  • hade: Jag hade en dröm. (I had a dream.)
  • sig: Hon pratar med sig själv. (She talks to herself.)
  • in: Kom in! (Come in!)
  • allt: Allt är bra. (Everything is good.)
  • se: Jag kan inte se. (I cannot see.)
  • ingen: Ingen vet. (No one knows.)
  • : Jag vill få ett brev. (I want to receive a letter.)
  • henne: Jag gav henne en present. (I gave her a gift.)
  • lite: Ta lite kaffe. (Take a little coffee.)
  • mycket: Jag har mycket att göra. (I have a lot to do.)
  • vem: Vem är det? (Who is it?)
  • går: Han går till jobbet. (He goes to work.)
  • ser: Hon ser glad ut. (She looks happy.)
  • mitt: Mitt hus är stort. (My house is big.)
  • hej: Hej, hur mår du? (Hi, how are you?)
  • aldrig: Jag glömmer aldrig. (I never forget.)

Useful Swedish Words

Swedish Word English Translation Pronunciation
Hej Hello [hey]
God morgon Good morning [goo mor-gon]
God kväll Good evening [goo kvell]
God natt Good night [goo naht]
Hej då Goodbye [hey doh]
Trevlig helg Have a nice weekend [trev-lig helg]
Välkommen Welcome [vel-kom-men]
Hur mår du? How are you? [hoor mor doo]
Vad heter du? What’s your name? [vahd he-ter doo]
Tack så mycket Thank you very much [tahk soh mye-keh]
Trevligt att träffas Nice to meet you [trev-ligt att tref-fas]
Lycka till Good luck [lu-kah till]
Vi ses See you [vee ses]
Hej så länge Bye for now [hey so len-guh]

Swedish words with beautiful meanings

Swedish is a language filled with unique and charming words that often don’t have direct translations in English. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to some of the most beautiful Swedish words and phrases, complete with their meanings and pronunciations.

Swedish Word Pronunciation Meaning Translation (English) Description
Lagom LAH-gom Just enough Just enough Describes having the right amount of something; not too much, not too little.
Mysa MEE-sah Cozy, comforting feeling Cozy, comforting feeling Refers to creating a warm, cozy atmosphere or enjoying a comforting experience.
Sambo SAHM-boh Live-in partner Live-in partner A term for a partner with whom one lives, but is not married to.
Sambovikt SAHM-boh-veekt Weight gained from being comfortable Weight gained from being comfortable Refers to the weight gain that can occur from being in a comfortable relationship.
Älskar EHL-skar To love To love The Swedish word for expressing love to someone.
Förälskad fur-AHL-skad In love In love Describes the state of being deeply in love with someone.
Kärleksförklaring SHARE-leks-fur-KLAHR-ing Declaration of love Declaration of love Refers to expressing one's love, often used in romantic or significant emotional contexts.
Fika FEE-kah Coffee break Coffee break A tradition of taking a break for coffee and a snack, often used to relax and socialize.
Sagolikt SAH-go-leekt Like a fairytale Like a fairytale Describes something so beautiful or enchanting that it seems like it belongs in a fairytale.
Ro ROH Peace Peace Refers to a sense of tranquility and calmness.
Vad fin du är VAHD feen doo air How lovely you are How lovely you are A compliment meaning "how lovely you are," often used to express appreciation.
Stjärna SHYER-nah Star Star The word for a celestial body that shines in the night sky.
Tystnad TYST-nahd Silence Silence Refers to a state of quiet or the absence of sound.
Skönt SHURNT Beautiful Beautiful Describes something that is pleasant or aesthetically pleasing.
Leende LEE-en-deh Smile Smile The word for the expression made by curving the lips upwards, usually indicating happiness.
Sommarmorgon SUM-mar-MOR-gon Summer morning Summer morning Refers to the early part of a summer day, often considered bright and refreshing.
Dega DAY-gah To relax (literally "to dough") To relax A humorous term for relaxing, derived from the idea of dough just sitting and not doing much.
Sovmorgon SOHV-MOR-gon Sleep-in Sleep-in Describes the act of sleeping late or waking up naturally without an alarm.
Ångestdämpande AHN-gest-DAMP-an-deh Anxiety reducing Anxiety reducing Refers to something that helps to alleviate or reduce anxiety.
Skogsglänta SKOOGS-glen-tah Forest glade Forest glade A small, open area within a forest, often peaceful and beautiful.
Mångata MAHN-gah-tah Reflection of moonlight on water Reflection of moonlight on water Describes the shimmering, moonlit reflection on a calm body of water.
Morgonrodnad MOR-gon-ROHD-nahd Sunrise Sunrise The early morning light that appears as the sun rises, creating a reddish sky.
Barnasinne BAHN-ah-seen-neh Childlike state of mind Childlike state of mind Refers to seeing the world with wonder and innocence, like a child.
Hjärterum HYEHR-teh-room Room in your heart Room in your heart Describes the metaphorical space in one’s heart for others, signifying emotional generosity.
Påtår PAW-tawr To pour a second cup To pour a second cup Refers to asking for or serving a second cup of coffee or tea.
Smultronställe SMOOL-tron-stel-leh Place where wild strawberries are found Place where wild strawberries are found A special place known for its abundance of wild strawberries.
Gift YEeft Married (also means "poison") Married (also means "poison") Used to describe being married; also means poison, so context is important.
Midsommarkrans MEED-som-mar-KRAHNS Midsummer wreath Midsummer wreath A floral crown worn during Midsummer celebrations in Sweden.
Språkkänsla SPRAWK-shen-slah Sense of language Sense of language The intuitive feeling of comfort in one's native language.
Orka OR-kah To have the energy to do something To have the energy to do something Refers to having the energy or willpower to accomplish a task.
Tidoptimist TEED-op-tee-mist Time optimist Time optimist Describes someone who is perpetually late due to overestimating the amount of time available.
Mätt som en plätt MET som en plett Full as a pancake Full as a pancake A cute expression meaning very full, like a pancake is when it's completely filled.
Hoppilandkalle HOHP-pee-lahnd-KAHL-leh Person who jumps out to tie a boat Person who jumps out to tie a boat Refers to someone who is quick to act, especially in securing a boat.
Solkatt SOHL-kaht Sun cat (not related to cats) Sun cat (not related to cats) Describes a sunspot; the term humorously translates to "sun cat," though it has no actual feline connection.

Related Topics

Spread the wisdom! Share your favorite tutorials and inspire others on their language-learning journey.


Swedish alphabet A to Z

Swedish alphabet A to Z

At first glance the Swedish alphabet might seem a bit daunting especially with unfamiliar characters like ouml aring and an abundance of jrsquos in unexpected places However it39s not as different

List of vegetables Grönsaker in Swedish

List of vegetables Grönsaker in Swedish

Learning the names of vegetables in Swedish is a valuable step in mastering the language Whether you39re aiming to improve your conversational skills enhance your cooking experiences or simply expand

Mathematical Symbols in Swedish

Mathematical Symbols in Swedish

Mathematical symbols are universal tools that help us perform and understand calculations and logical operations When learning mathematics in a new language it39s essential to grasp not only the

Swedish Lessons: Swedish Food and Meals Vocabulary Words with Pronunciation

Swedish Lessons: Swedish Food and Meals Vocabulary Words with Pronunciation

Expanding your vocabulary to include food and fast food items in Swedish can significantly enhance your experience of Swedish culture and cuisine Whether you39re planning a trip to Sweden navigating

Swedish astrology - Star signs in Swedish (zodiac signs)

Swedish astrology - Star signs in Swedish (zodiac signs)

Swedish astrology Star signs in Swedish zodiac signs Exploring the zodiac signs in Swedish offers a unique opportunity to blend language learning with astrology Understanding how to describe each

The Most Common Swedish Verbs - Swedish verbs list

The Most Common Swedish Verbs - Swedish verbs list

Learning the most common verbs in Swedish is a fundamental step towards mastering the language Verbs form the backbone of communication allowing us to express actions states and relationships in

Months in Swedish - Swedish Months of the Year

Months in Swedish - Swedish Months of the Year

Learning the names of the months in Swedish is a fundamental step in mastering the language Knowing how to correctly identify and use months allows you to discuss dates plan events and understand

List of fruits in Swedish

List of fruits in Swedish

In this lesson we39ll cover the most common fruits in Swedish This will help you expand your vocabulary and make your conversations more colorful and fun Whether you39re shopping at the grocery store