Useful Swedish phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Swedish, a northern Germanic language spoken mostly in Sweden.

Jump to phrases

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Glossary of abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person), v = very

English svenska (Swedish)
Welcome Välkommen (sg)
Välkomna (pl)
Hello (General greeting) God dag (frm)
Hej (inf)
Hallå (inf)
Tjena
Tja (vinf)
How are you? Hur står det till? (frm)
Hur mår du? (frm)
Hur är det? (inf)
Läget? (vinf)
Reply to 'How are you?' Bara bra tack. Och du?
Long time no see Det var länge sedan vi sågs sist!
What's your name? Vad heter du?
My name is ... Jag heter ...
Where are you from? Varifrån kommer du?
I'm from ... Jag kommer från ...
Jag är från ...
Pleased to meet you Trevligt att träffas
Trevligt att råkas
Angenämt (vfrm)
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
God morgon
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
God eftermiddag
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
God kväll
Good night God natt
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
Hej då
Good luck! Lycka till!
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Skål!
Have a nice day Ha en trevlig dag!
Ha en bra dag!
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Smaklig måltid!
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
Trevlig resa!
Lycklig resa!
Do you understand? Förstår du?
Fattaru? (colloquial)
I understand Jag förstår
I don't understand Jag förstår inte
Yes Ja
No Nej
Maybe Kanske
I don't know Jag vet inte
Jag har ingen aning
Inte en susning (inf)
Please speak more slowly Var snäll och tala långsammare
Please say that again Förlåt?
Ursäkta?
Förlåt, vad sa du?
Please write it down Skulle du kunna skriva ned det åt mig?
Do you speak English? Talar du engelska?
Pratar du engelska?
Do you speak Swedish? Talar du svenska?
Pratar du svenska?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Ja, lite
Do you speak a language
other than
Swedish?
Pratar du något annat språk än svenska?
Speak to me in Swedish Du kan prata svenska med mig
(You can speak Swedish with me)
Öva svenska med mig
(Practise Swedish with me)
How do you say ... in Swedish? Hur säger man ... på svenska?
Excuse me Ursäkta!
I would like ... Jag skulle vilja ha ...
How much is this? Hur mycket kostar det?
Sorry Förlåt!
Please Snälla
Tack
Thank you Tack (thanks)
Tack så mycket (thanks very much)
Tusen tack (a thousand thanks)
Reply to thank you Inget att tacka för
Ingen orsak
Var så god
Det var så lite
Where's the toilet / bathroom? Var är toaletten?
This gentleman will pay for everything Den här herrn betalar för allting
This lady will pay for everything Den här damen betalar för allting
Would you like to dance with me? Vill du dansa med mig?
Får jag lov? (May I?)
Do you come here often? Kommer du hit ofta?
I miss you Jag saknar dig
I love you Jag älskar dig
Get well soon Krya på dig!
Help! Hjälp!
Fire! Det brinner!
Stop! Stanna!
Go away! Bort!
Stick!
Dra!
Leave me alone! Lämna mig ifred!
Call the police! Ring polisen!
Christmas greetings God jul
New Year greetings Gott nytt år
Easter greetings Glad Påsk
Birthday greetings Grattis på födelsedagen
Hjärtliga gratulationer på födelsedagen
Ha den äran på födelsedagen
Ha den äran
Congratulations! Grattis!
Gratulerar!
One language is never enough Ett språk är aldrig nog
My hovercraft is full of eels Min svävare är full med ål
Min svävare är full med ålar

Recordings by Anders Vallgren, David Steenari, Krister Mÿffe, Per Strömdahl and some corrections by Birk Höijer

Download all the audio files (Zip format, 1.7MB)

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Swedish | Useful phrases | Silly phrases | Numbers | Colours | Family words | Time | Weather words | Idioms | Tongue twisters | Tower of Babel | Books about Swedish on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]

Links

Other collections of Swedish phrases (some with audio)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix/swedish.shtml
http://travelphrase.com/swedish-phrasebook.php
http://www.101languages.net/swedish/basics.html
http://linguanaut.com/english_swedish.htm
http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/Swedish/SwPhrases.htm
http://www.speaklanguages.com/swedish/phrases/basic-phrases
http://www2.hhs.se/isa/swedish/chap2.htm
http://www.learn-swedish-language-software.com/phrases/FSSwedish.htm

Learn Swedish with SwedishPod101.com

Phrases in Germanic languages

Afrikaans, Alsatian, American Norwegian, Bavarian, Cimbrian, Danish, Dutch, Elfdalian, English (British), Faroese, Flemish (West), Frisian (North - Bökingharde), Frisian (North - Sylt), Frisian (Saterland), Frisian (West), German, Gothic, Icelandic, Limburgish, Low Saxon, Luxembourgish, Norwegian, Old English, Pennsylvania German/Dutch, Scots, Stellingwarfs, Swedish, Swiss German (Basel dialect), Swiss German (Chur dialect), Swiss German (Lucerne dialect), Värmlandic, West Jutlandic, Westrobothnian, Wymsorys, Yiddish

Phrases in other languages

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