Common Swedish Phrases with Pronunciation
In this tutorial, you'll learn essential Swedish phrases along with their correct pronunciation. Mastering these phrases will help you communicate effectively in various everyday situations.
Learning basic Swedish phrases is essential for anyone interested in the Swedish language or planning to visit Sweden. These phrases will enable you to navigate common interactions and express yourself clearly.
| Swedish Phrase |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Hej! |
hey |
Hello! |
| Tack! |
tahck |
Thank you! |
| Ja |
yah |
Yes |
| Nej |
nay |
No |
| Ursäkta mig |
ur-shek-ta me |
Excuse me |
| Var är ...? |
var air |
Where is ...? |
| Hur mår du? |
hoo mor doo |
How are you? |
| Vad kostar det? |
vad kostar deht |
How much is it? |
| Jag förstår inte |
yag fur-stor eente |
I don't understand |
| Hur går det? |
hoo gor deht |
How's it going? |
| Var är toaletten? |
var air twa-let-en |
Where is the restroom? |
| Kan du hjälpa mig? |
kan doo hyel-pa may |
Can you help me? |
| Vad heter du? |
vad het-er doo |
What's your name? |
| Jag älskar Sverige! |
yag els-kar sweed-eh |
I love Sweden! |
| Trevligt att träffas! |
trev-ligt at tref-as |
Nice to meet you! |
| Tack så mycket! |
tahck soh myk-et |
Thank you very much! |
| Ha en bra dag! |
ha en brah dag |
Have a good day! |
| Hur kommer jag till...? |
hoo kommer yag till |
How do I get to...? |
| Kan du prata långsammare, tack? |
kan doo prata long-sam-mer, tahck |
Can you speak more slowly, please? |
| Jag älskar att vara här |
yag els-kar at var-a hair |
I love being here |
| Vad tycker du om...? |
vad tuck-er doo om |
What do you think about...? |
| Jag har en fråga |
yag har en frog-a |
I have a question |
| Kan du förklara det för mig? |
kan doo fur-klah-ra deht fur may |
Can you explain that to me? |
| Jag är ny här |
yag air nih hair |
I'm new here |
| Vad har du gjort idag? |
vad har doo yurt ee-dag |
What have you done today? |
| Kan du rekommendera en film? |
kan doo reck-om-men-der-a en feelm |
Can you recommend a movie? |
| Jag ser fram emot det |
yag sair fram e-moht deht |
I'm looking forward to it |
| Vad har du planerat idag? |
vad har doo plah-ner-at ee-dag |
What have you planned for today? |
| Jag är inte säker |
yag air in-te ser-ker |
I'm not sure |
| Vilken typ av musik gillar du? |
vil-ken teep av moo-seek yil-lar doo |
What type of music do you like? |
| Kan du hjälpa mig med detta? |
kan doo hyel-pa may med deh-ta |
Can you help me with this? |
| Jag är väldigt glad att träffa dig |
yag air vel-digt glad at tref-a deeg |
I'm very happy to meet you |
| Vad är din favoritplats i Sverige? |
vad air din fav-oreet-plats ee sweed-eh |
What is your favorite place in Sweden? |
| Kan du rekommendera en restaurang? |
kan doo reck-om-men-der-a en res-tau-rang |
Can you recommend a restaurant? |
| Jag är här på semester |
yag air hair oh sem-ester |
I'm here on vacation |
| Har du varit här länge? |
har doo var-eet hair len-geh |
Have you been here long? |
| Jag behöver hjälp |
yag beh-ov-er hyelp |
I need help |
| Tack för din hjälp |
tahck fur din hyelp |
Thank you for your help |
| Hur länge har du bott här? |
hoor len-geh har doo bot hair |
How long have you lived here? |
| Kan jag betala med kort? |
kan yag bet-ah-la med kort |
Can I pay with card? |
| Vad är din favoritmaträtt? |
vad air din fav-oreet-ma-tret |
What is your favorite dish? |
| Kan jag få ett glas vatten? |
kan yag faw ett glas va-ten |
Can I have a glass of water? |
| Vad gjorde du igår? |
vad yoer-de doo ee-yor |
What did you do yesterday? |
| Vad är dagens special? |
vad air dog-ens spe-tsy-al |
What is today's special? |
| Är du redo? |
air doo re-do |
Are you ready? |
| Var ska vi träffas? |
var ska vee tref-as |
Where should we meet? |
| Hur tar jag mig dit? |
hoor tar yag meh deet |
How do I get there? |
| Kan du skriva ner det? |
kan doo skree-va ner deet |
Can you write it down? |
| Jag behöver en läkare |
yag beh-ov-er en leh-ker |
I need a doctor |
| Vad är ditt telefonnummer? |
vad air deet te-leh-foon-num-mer |
What is your phone number? |
| Var är närmaste bankomat? |
var air ner-mas-teh ban-koh-maht |
Where is the nearest ATM? |
| Finns det en busshållplats här? |
fins deet en boos-hol-plotz hair |
Is there a bus stop here? |
| Kan jag få ett kvitto? |
kan yag faw ett kvee-toh |
Can I have a receipt? |
| Har du några planer för helgen? |
har doo ner-gra plah-ner fur hel-gen |
Do you have any plans for the weekend? |
| Jag hoppas vi ses snart |
yag hop-as vee ses snart |
I hope we see each other soon |
How to Greet in Swedish
In this tutorial, you'll learn how to greet in Swedish, including pronunciation and usage tips for common situations like morning greetings, evening salutations, and more.
Greetings are crucial in Swedish culture, whether you're at a restaurant, café, or entering a building. They signify respect and help you connect with locals. Mastering these basic greetings will ensure you make a positive impression, even as a beginner.
How to Say "Good Morning!" in Swedish
| Swedish Phrase |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| God morgon! |
goo mor-gon |
Good morning! |
In Sweden, saying "God morgon!" is akin to starting the day on a friendly note. Use this greeting in formal and informal settings to greet colleagues, friends, and strangers alike.
How to Say "Good Evening!" in Swedish
| Swedish Phrase |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| God kväll! |
goo kvel |
Good evening! |
"God kväll!" is a more formal greeting used in theaters, at the start of evening events, or when addressing someone formally. It's less commonly used among close friends and family.
How to Say "Goodnight!" in Swedish
| Swedish Phrase |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Godnatt! |
goo-natt |
Goodnight! |
"Godnatt!" is used to wish someone a good night's rest. It's a warm way to bid farewell at the end of the day, indicating your readiness to meet again.
How to Say "What's up?" in Swedish
| Swedish Phrase |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Hur är det? |
hoo air deht |
How is it? |
| Hur går det? |
hoo gor deht |
How is it going? |
These informal phrases are perfect for starting conversations and checking in on friends. Use them in casual settings to initiate friendly chats or phone calls.
How to Say "Goodbye!" in Swedish
| Swedish Phrase |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Hejdå! |
hey-doh |
Goodbye! |
| Vi ses! |
vee sehs |
See you! |
| Vi hörs! |
vee hurs |
Talk soon! |
Formal and Informal Greetings in Swedish
Understanding how to greet others in Swedish involves knowing when to use formal and informal greetings based on the context and relationship with the person you are addressing. This guide will teach you the basics of formal and informal greetings in Swedish to help you navigate social interactions more effectively.
Swedish Greetings
Here’s a table that outlines formal and informal greetings in Swedish:
| Swedish Greeting |
Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| Formal Greetings |
|
|
| God morgon |
/ɡuːd ˈmɔrːɡɔn/ |
Good morning |
| God dag |
/ɡuːd daːɡ/ |
Good day |
| God kväll |
/ɡuːd ɕvɛlː/ |
Good evening |
| God natt |
/ɡuːd natː/ |
Good night |
| Informal Greetings |
|
|
| Hej |
/hɛj/ |
Hello, Hi |
| Hallå |
/halːoː/ |
Hello (used on phone) |
| Tjena |
/ɕeːna/ |
Hey |
| Tjenare |
/ɕɛnːarɛ/ |
Hey (very informal) |
Usage Tips
- Formal vs. Informal: Use formal greetings (such as "God morgon" or "God dag") when addressing strangers, elders, or in professional settings. Informal greetings (like "Hej" or "Tjena") are suitable for friends, peers, or informal situations.
- Time of Day: Pay attention to the time of day when choosing a greeting. For instance, "God morgon" is used in the morning, "God dag" during the day, "God kväll" in the evening, and "God natt" before bedtime.
- Regional Variations: Greetings may vary regionally in Sweden, so it’s useful to be aware of local customs and preferences.
most common Swedish words
- Hallo Hello
- Guten Tag Good day
- Guten Morgen Good morning
- Guten Abend Good evening
- Gute Nacht Good night
- Bitte Please
- Danke Thank you
- Ja Yes
- Nein No
- Entschuldigung Excuse me
- Auf Wiedersehen Goodbye
- Wie geht's? How are you?
- Ich liebe dich I love you
- Bis bald See you soon
- Prost Cheers
- Tschüss Bye
- Ich verstehe nicht I don't understand
- Wo ist...? Where is...?
- Wie viel kostet das? How much does it cost?
- Was kostet das? What does that cost?
- Wie heißt du? What's your name?
- Mein Name ist... My name is...
- Woher kommst du? Where are you from?
- Ich komme aus... I come from...
- Wie spät ist es? What time is it?
- Es ist... Uhr It is... o'clock
- Was machst du? What are you doing?
- Ich bin... I am...
- Wie geht es Ihnen? How are you? (formal)
- Mir geht es gut I am fine
- Wo ist die Toilette? Where is the restroom?
- Ich brauche Hilfe I need help
- Ich habe Hunger I am hungry
- Ich habe Durst I am thirsty
- Das ist gut That's good
- Das ist schlecht That's bad
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte Excuse me (formal)
- Gern geschehen You're welcome
- Kein Problem No problem
- Alles Gute All the best
- German Word English Translation
- Ich verstehe I understand
- Ich verstehe nicht I don't understand
- Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? Can you repeat that, please?
- Wo ist der Bahnhof? Where is the train station?
- Wie weit ist es? How far is it?
- Ich bin fertig I'm finished
- Es tut mir leid I'm sorry
- Ich bin müde I'm tired
- Ich bin hungrig I'm hungry
- Ich bin durstig I'm thirsty
- Wie viel Uhr ist es? What time is it?
- Ich mag das I like that
- Ich mag das nicht I don't like that
- Was ist das? What is that?
- Das ist schön That is nice
- Das ist interessant That is interesting
- Ich bin hier I'm here
- Das ist mein Freund This is my friend
- Kann ich Ihnen helfen? Can I help you?
- Bis später See you later
- Ich bin nicht sicher I'm not sure
