SvenskaVardagI vardagen
Vardagsfraser
Find greetings, polite expressions and phrases to use in conversation.
Some content is not translated yet. Reference text: Svenska / English. Helper translations where available.
Essential Swedish phrases, cultural expressions, discourse particles, and untranslatable words that every learner needs.
Hälsningar & Artighetsfraser
18
Hej!
English Hi! / Hello!
Note The universal Swedish greeting, used everywhere.
Hejsan!
English Hi there!
Note Slightly more informal and cheerful.
God morgon!
English Good morning!
Note
God kväll!
English Good evening!
Note
Hej då!
English Goodbye!
Note The standard farewell.
Vi ses!
English See you!
Note
Ha det bra!
English Take care! / Have a good one!
Note Very common friendly farewell.
Tack!
English Thank you!
Note The most important word in Sweden.
Tack så mycket!
English Thank you very much!
Note
Varsågod!
English You're welcome! / Here you go!
Note Used both as 'you're welcome' and when handing something to someone.
Förlåt!
English Sorry! / I'm sorry!
Note For apologies.
Ursäkta!
English Excuse me!
Note To get attention or pass by someone.
Ingen orsak!
English No problem! / Don't mention it!
Note
Det gör inget!
English It doesn't matter! / No worries!
Note
Skål!
English Cheers!
Note When toasting. Make eye contact!
Välkommen!
English Welcome!
Note
Grattis!
English Congratulations!
Note Short for 'Gratulerar!'
Lycka till!
English Good luck!
Note
Diskurspartiklar (Words That Change Everything)
8
ju
English (as you know / obviously)
Note Indicates shared knowledge. 'Det är ju fredag!' (It IS Friday, as you know!) — Cannot start a sentence.
väl
English (right? / I suppose)
Note Seeks confirmation or expresses uncertainty. 'Du kommer väl?' (You're coming, right?)
nog
English (probably / I think)
Note Mild probability. 'Det räcker nog.' (That's probably enough.)
visst
English sure / certainly / indeed
Note 'Visst är det vackert!' (It sure is beautiful!) — Also used as 'Visst?' = 'Right?'
alltså
English so / I mean / in other words
Note Very common filler. 'Alltså, jag menade inte det.' (I mean, I didn't mean that.)
liksom
English like / sort of / kind of
Note Youth/informal filler: 'Det var liksom konstigt.' (It was like weird.)
typ
English like / approximately / kind of
Note Informal: 'Det tar typ en timme.' (It takes like an hour.)
faktiskt
English actually / in fact
Note 'Jag tycker faktiskt att det är bra.' (I actually think it's good.)
Oöversättliga Ord (Uniquely Swedish)
13
lagom
English just the right amount / not too much, not too little
Note The most Swedish word. There is no exact English equivalent. 'Temperaturen är lagom.' (The temperature is just right.)
fika
English a coffee break with pastry; the social ritual around it
Note Not just coffee — it's a cultural institution. 'Ska vi fika?' (Shall we have fika?)
orka
English to have the energy / strength for something
Note 'Jag orkar inte.' (I can't be bothered / I don't have the energy.)
hinna
English to have time for / to manage (time-wise)
Note 'Jag hinner inte!' (I don't have time! / I won't make it!) — No single English equivalent.
lagom
English moderately; just enough
Note Can be an adjective or adverb. 'Lagom varmt.' (Pleasantly warm — not too hot, not too cold.)
jobbigt
English tough / annoying / tiresome / stressful
Note Covers a huge range of negative feelings. 'Det var jobbigt.' (That was tough/annoying/tiring.)
mysigt
English cozy / snug / pleasant
Note 'Det är jättemysigt med levande ljus.' (It's so cozy with candles.)
sambo
English live-in partner (legal status in Sweden)
Note Not just 'boyfriend/girlfriend' — sambo is an official legal category with rights.
särbo
English partner who lives separately (by choice)
Note A relationship where both partners have their own home.
vabba
English stay home from work to care for a sick child
Note From 'VAB' (Vård Av Barn). Paid by Försäkringskassan.
fredagsmys
English Friday coziness (staying in with snacks & TV)
Note A beloved Swedish tradition. Tacos + candy + TV = fredagsmys.
hemmablind
English blind to things in your own home/culture
Note Not noticing what's right in front of you because you're used to it.
allemansrätten
English the right of public access to nature
Note The legal right to walk, camp, and pick berries on anyone's land. Uniquely Swedish.
Reaktioner & Känslouttryck
17
Vad bra!
English How nice! / Great!
Note
Vad roligt!
English How fun! / How nice!
Note Can mean 'How nice to hear' — not always literally funny.
Vad synd!
English What a shame! / That's too bad!
Note
Herregud!
English Oh my God!
Note
Oj!
English Oh! / Oops!
Note Mild surprise.
Oj då!
English Oh dear! / Oops!
Note Slightly stronger surprise.
Jävlar!
English Damn!
Note Mildly vulgar but very common.
Fan!
English Damn! / Hell!
Note Common mild swear word.
Skit!
English Shit!
Note Used as intensifier too: 'skitbra' = really good.
Vad kul!
English How fun! / How cool!
Note
Helt otroligt!
English Completely incredible!
Note
Fattar inte!
English I don't get it!
Note Informal. Formal: 'Jag förstår inte.'
Exakt!
English Exactly!
Note
Jättebra!
English Really great!
Note Jätte- is the Swedish super-prefix: jättefin, jättemycket, jättesvårt.
Absolut!
English Absolutely!
Note
Verkligen?
English Really?
Note
Såklart!
English Of course!
Note
Formellt vs Informellt (Register)
7
du-reformen
English The 'du reform' of the 1960s
Note Sweden moved from formal 'Ni' to universal 'du'. Today almost everyone uses 'du', even with strangers, bosses, and the king.
Skulle du kunna…?
English Could you…? (polite request)
Note More polite than 'Kan du...?'
Jag skulle vilja ha…
English I would like to have…
Note Polite way to order in restaurants.
Förlåt, men…
English Sorry, but…
Note Softening before a request.
Tack på förhand!
English Thanks in advance!
Note Common in emails.
Med vänliga hälsningar (Mvh)
English Kind regards
Note Standard email sign-off.
Hälsningar
English Regards
Note Slightly less formal.