Ultimate and Printable Guide: Basic Swedish for Travelers
Are you planning a trip to Sweden soon? Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the third-largest in the European Union and is visited by about 7 million people annually. Sweden is a beautiful country with kind and welcoming citizens. The official language there is Swedish, which is natively spoken by approximately 10 million people.
Having some knowledge of basic Swedish words and phrases in your repertoire is a great asset before departing on your trip. Even if a large percentage of Swedes know some English, they may not be comfortable using it. I have found many Swedes to be notorious for saying their English ‘isn’t so good’, only to find it quite immaculate! Nevertheless, knowing some of their language is respectful and part of the experience of traveling to a new place.
Some Swedish words are quite similar to English as you will see. However, the pronunciation of some Swedish sounds, particularly the vowels, can be quite daunting. You may not have a community of native Swedish speakers at your disposal to help with pronouncing new words either. While talking with native speakers is the best way to learn, online tools like Google Translate or Duolingo can help in the meantime.
Without further adieu, here are some great Basic Swedish Words and Phrases you should know before traveling to Sweden:
General Greetings
- Hello — Hej
- Thank You — Tack
- Good Morning — God morgon
- What time is it? — Vad är klockan?
- Excuse Me — Ursäkta mig
- Good Evening — God kväll
- Goodbye — Hej då
- Please — Snälla
- Sorry — Förlåt
- My name is *name* — Mitt namn är *name*
- How are you doing? — Hur mår du?
- Do you speak English? — Pratar du engelska?
Places
- Airport — Flygplats
- Train Station — Tågstation
- Restaurant — Restaurang
- Washroom — Tvättrum
- Hotel — Hotell
- Museum — Museet
- Metro — Tunnelbanestation
Travel
- Car — Bil
- Taxi — Taxi
- Bus — Buss
- Ticket — Biljett
- Road — Väg
- Passport — Pass
- Luggage — Bagage
Food and Drink
- Water — Vatten
- Beer — Öl
- Coffee — Kaffe
- ‘Coffee Time’ — Fika
- Bread — Bröd
- Cheese — Ost
- Breakfast — Frukost
- Lunch — Lunch
- Dinner — Middag
- Food — Mat
- Drinks — Drycker
- Menu — Meny
Quick Note
Something to remember whenever you are traveling abroad: the emergency number in a foreign country may not be the same as your own. For instance, in Sweden, it is 112. Something important to note before traveling to a new place, just in case you need it!
With some Basic Swedish words and phrases in your repertoire, you’re ready to enjoy your visit to Sweden!
