You go to Sweden and plan to learn the language? Here are the 30 Swedish expressions to know to manage on site!
You prepare a trip to Stokholm , Göteborg , Malmö Or in Lapland? Are you going to study or work in Sweden? Even taking special Swedish courses, you will realize that a number of speeches and phrases will be unknown to you. It is normal, a foreign language learned in France often differs – almost always – from the level of common language on site. Indeed, with the premises, it is better to know some expressions of slang or familiar style than to use sustained vocabulary. Here are some familiar expressions to pronounce in Sweden!
1. Basic expressions
Photo credit: Unsplash – Jonathan Brinkhorst
– “ Hej » : Hi – “ God morgon » : Hello / God kvåll » : Good evening – “ God eftermiddag » : Good afternoon – “ Så pls » : Please – “ God natt » : Good night – “ Hej då » : Goodbye – “ Nej » : No / « Ja » : Yes – “ Hur mår du? » : How are you? – “ Tack » : Thank you – “ Och du? What about you? – “ Trevligt att träffas » How do you do? – “ Jag med » : Me too – “ Vad heter dude? » : What’s your name? – “ Jag heter... » : My name is... – “ Vad gör du? » : What are you doing? – “ Förlåt » : I'm sorry – “ Med » : You too – “ Engelska Talar »: Are you speaking English? – “ Hur säger jag "___" på svenska? » : How do we say "___" in Swedish?
2. Varsågod
Varsågod is a combination of var + så + god = "Be so good," "Please." It has several meanings depending on the context. Very common expression, she was equivalent to "nothing!" after a thank-you, but also "and here" after a hand-to-hand donation.
Example :
“Thank you for the meal! » – “ Varsågod ! » (Nothing!)
3. Inga problem
Here is a common expression that can be used in public transport, in the street, everywhere if you are smashed or that one of your interlocutors is mistaken on a particular subject: you have guessed it, inga problem means “no problem” or “there is no harm”, to answer an accepted excuse.
Example :
– “Sorry for this delay! » – “ Inga problem! (There is no harm!)
4. Vad mysigt
Vad mysigt means an English equivalent It’s cozy "comfortable." But vad mysigt is used to describe everything that is positive, like a soft bed, a romantic dinner, a comfort sofa, a movie evening, a tame light, etc.
Example : “It’s a beautiful light!” will say “ Vad mysigt! »
5. Fredagsmys
A very widespread sophistication that could be found in a Swedish phrase among friends, Fredagsmys is the equivalent of an English word, again: cocooning . He works in particular to designate a cinema evening wrapped in a plaid with his/her companion, watch a movie by nibbling, a night to read with the fire.
6. Dra says pepparn växer
A very common little jar in Sweden, Dra says pepparn växer , literally means "Get out where the pepper grows!": this phrase means "go away", the pepper being grown in hot countries, supposed to be unbearable for a native person of the north.
Example : « Leave me alone! Go away!" Dra says pepparn växer!
7. Skitstövel
Literally, this expression means "Botte de crap". She works in Sweden as an insult to say: “Sald! "
Example “This man scammed me, he’s a bastard!” Skitstöve!
8. Dra åt helvete!
Faced with a disconcerting or disturbing situation – one thinks of the state of wrath leading to send someone on the roses -, one often says in French "go get to see you", or "go there if I am there". The Swedes say Dra åt helvete ! You will have understood it, it is a vulgar and familiar way of telling someone to leave the place.
9. Skägget i brevlådan
"Put the beard in the mailbox ! » But what can you say this expression? You guess the French equivalent? It is “taken hand in the bag”. Like to tell someone caught in flagrante delicto, or taken on the fact.
Example “I have seen you go through my things!” Skägget i brevlådan!
10. Din jävla förbannade
Din jävla förbannade equals in French to "you, you are a satané ...", "species of", "maudited". He works as an insult to mark the dedain towards someone.
11. Ha det (så) bra
How to translate Take care Swedish? The expression Ha det (så) bra equals to "be well." It is very common in Sweden, especially to express a greeting, when people leave, both in writing, virtually and physically: letters, telephone, emails. This mark of respect indicates a closeness between people, like our French "taking care of you".
12. Skål
This may be one of the most well-known Swedish expressions, especially thanks to the legacy of the Vikings, used every time we trinque before drinking a drink of alcohol: “At your health”, “tchin-tchin”, “at yours”, “health”!
How to learn other expressions and vocabulary in Swedish?
Learning is good, but it requires some assiduity. To do so, we have selected you some books to perfect your Swedish practice, and thus work the language a little more every day:
- Swedish pocket - Swedish - Swedish in 20 lessons
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