Learning Swedish: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Swedish course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Swedish is like
Swedish is a Germanic language, so it shares a lot with English and German. Verbs do not change with the person — jag är, du är, han är = "I am, you are, he is". Word order is close to English, which makes it easy to pick up. Nouns come in two groups, the en-words and the ett-words; when you learn a noun, learn its little word: en kaffe, ett glas.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Swedish is mostly phonetic, but three extra vowels (å, ä, ö) and the famous 'sj' sound make it special. Learn these once and you can read almost any word aloud.
- sj — the famous Swedish "sj" sound — a soft "sh" formed deep in the throat, as in sjö = SHUH (a lake) · sju = SHOO (seven).
- å — like "aw" in law — a long, round o, as in gå = GAW (go) · åtta = AW-tah (eight).
- ä — like "e" in bed, as in äpple = APP-leh (apple) · väg = VAIG (road).
- ö — say "eh", then round your lips — like "er" in her, as in öl = UHL (beer) · bröd = BRUHD (bread).
- g — soft "y" sound before e, i, y, ä, ö; hard "g" otherwise, as in gift = YIFT (poison) · gata = GAH-tah (street).
- k — soft "sh" sound before e, i, y, ä, ö; hard "k" otherwise, as in känd = SHEND (famous) · kaffe = KAFF-eh (coffee).
- tj — a soft "sh" sound, like in "chip", as in tjej = SHEY (girl) · tjock = SHOK (thick).
- r — a tapped or rolled r (varies by region), as in rik = REEK (rich).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Swedish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hej | HEY | Hello |
| God morgon | GOO MOR-gon | Good morning |
| Hej då | HEY DOH | Goodbye |
| Vad heter du? | vahd HEH-ter doo | What's your name? |
| Jag heter Alex | yah HEH-ter | My name is... |
| Tack | TAHK | Thank you |
| Tack så mycket | tahk soh MEEK-eh | Thanks a lot |
| Snälla | SNELL-ah | Please |
| Varsågod | VAHR-shoh-goh | You're welcome |
| Ursäkta | OOSH-ehk-tah | Excuse me |
| Ett | EHT | 1 |
| Två | TVOH | 2 |
| Tre | TREH | 3 |
| Fyra | FEE-rah | 4 |
| Tio | TEE-oh | 10 |
| Kaffe | KAFF-eh | coffee |
| Vatten | VAHT-tehn | water |
| Bröd | BRUHD | bread |
| Vin | VEEN | wine |
| Öl | UHL | beer |
| Var är...? | var AHR | Where is...? |
| Till höger | til HOO-ger | to the right |
| Till vänster | til VEN-ster | to the left |
| Rakt fram | RAHKT frahm | straight ahead |
| Toaletten | toh-ah-LET-tehn | the bathroom |
| Hur mycket kostar...? | Hoor MEEK-eh KOS-tar | how much does it cost? |
| Det är dyrt | deh ahr dihrt | it's expensive |
| Kan jag betala? | kan yah beh-TAH-lah | can I pay? |
| Jag tar den | yah tar dehn | I'll take it |
| Hjälp! | YELP | Help! |
How the Swedish course is structured
The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — hej · god morgon · god kväll · hej då
- Polite phrases — tack · snälla · varsågod · ursäkta
- Numbers 1–10 — ett · två · tre · tio
- I want" — jag vill · jag skulle vilja · ha · en/ett
- Food & drink — kaffe · vatten · bröd · notan
- Directions — var är · till höger · till vänster · rakt fram
- Questions & "do you have…?" — har du · finns det · kan jag
- Family & people — familj · mamma · pappa · vän
- Time, days & weather — idag · imorgon · vad är det för väder?
- Small talk & your name — jag heter · vad heter du · trevligt
- Health & emergency — hjälp · läkare · jag förstår inte · jag behöver hjälp
- Tying it together — greetings · ordering · directions · a capstone scene
- Airport & tickets — flygplats · pass · biljett · flyg
- The taxi — taxi · åka · hotell · stanna
- The hotel — bokning · rum · nyckel · natt
- Ask for help — jag förstår inte · långsammare · engelska
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings
Key pieces: hej · god morgon · god kväll · hej då
Let's start with the first word you'll use: hej — hello. Say it out loud.
- hej (HEY) — hello
- god morgon (GOO MOR-gon) — good morning
- god dag (GOO DAHG) — good day
- god kväll (GOO KVELL) — good evening
- hej då (HEY DOH) — goodbye
To say “Hello, good morning” in Swedish: Hej, god morgon (HEY, GOO MOR-gon). Built from hej = hello; god morgon = good morning.
Trevligt att träffas = nice to meet you — handy when you greet someone for the first time.
To say “Nice to meet you” in Swedish: Trevligt att träffas (TREHV-leet aht TREHF-fahs). Built from trevligt = nice; att träffas = to meet.
To ask how someone is: Hur mår du? The reply is bra, tack — well, thanks.
To say “How are you?” in Swedish: Hur mår du? (Hoor MOR doo). Built from hur = how; mår du? = are you?.
Polite phrases
Key pieces: tack · snälla · varsågod · ursäkta
The two most useful words: tack (thank you) and snälla (please).
- tack (TAHK) — thank you
- snälla (SNELL-ah) — please
- varsågod (VAHR-shoh-goh) — you're welcome
- ursäkta (OOSH-ehk-tah) — excuse me
- förlåt (fur-LOHT) — sorry
- ja (YAH) — yes
- nej (NAY) — no
To say “Thank you very much” in Swedish: Tack så mycket (tahk soh MEEK-eh). Built from tack = thanks; så mycket = so much.
Varsågod does double duty as "you're welcome" and "here you go". It's everywhere in shops and cafés.
To say “Yes, please” in Swedish: Ja, snälla (YAH, SNELL-ah). Built from ja = yes; snälla = please.
To get attention or apologize: Ursäkta (excuse me) or förlåt (sorry).
To say “Excuse me, where is...?” in Swedish: Ursäkta, var är...? (OOSH-ehk-tah, var AHR). Built from ursäkta = excuse me; var är...? = where is...?.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: ett · två · tre · tio
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: ett, två, tre .
- ett (EHT) — 1
- två (TVOH) — 2
- tre (TREH) — 3
- fyra (FEE-rah) — 4
- fem (FEM) — 5
- sex (SEKS) — 6
- sju (SHOO) — 7
- åtta (AW-tah) — 8
- nio (NEE-oh) — 9
- tio (TEE-oh) — 10
To say “Two coffees, please” in Swedish: Två kaffe, tack (TVOH KAFF-eh, tahk). Built from två = two; kaffe = coffee; tack = please.
Hur mycket kostar det? = how much does it cost? The key shopping phrase.
To say “How much is it?” in Swedish: Hur mycket kostar det? (Hoor MEEK-eh KOS-tar deh). Built from hur mycket = how much; kostar det? = does it cost?.
To say “It's five kronor” in Swedish: Det kostar fem kronor (deh KOS-tar fem KROH-nor). Built from det kostar = it costs; fem = five; kronor = kronor.
I want"
Key pieces: jag vill · jag skulle vilja · ha · en/ett
The magic phrase for ordering: jag skulle vilja — I would like. Gentler than "I want".
The simpler version is jag vill ha… — I want (to have). Both work; skulle vilja is the polite one.
To say “I would like a coffee” in Swedish: Jag skulle vilja ha en kaffe (yah SKUH-leh VIL-yah hah en KAFF-eh). Built from jag skulle vilja = I would like; ha = to have; en kaffe = a coffee.
To say “I want a water” in Swedish: Jag vill ha vatten (yah vil hah VAHT-tehn). Built from jag vill = I want; ha = to have; vatten = water. ≈ English water.
En is 'a' for most nouns (en kaffe); some take ett instead (ett glas). Learn them together.
To say “I would like the bill” in Swedish: Jag skulle vilja ha notan (yah SKUH-leh VIL-yah hah NOO-tahn). Built from jag skulle vilja = I would like; ha = to have; notan = the bill.
Food & drink
Key pieces: kaffe · vatten · bröd · notan
Eating out? Key words: kaffe (coffee), vatten (water), bröd (bread).
- kaffe (KAFF-eh) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
- vatten (VAHT-tehn) — water Memory hook: ≈ English water.
- bröd (BRUHD) — bread
- vin (VEEN) — wine Memory hook: ≈ English wine.
- öl (UHL) — beer
- mat (MAHT) — food
- notan (NOO-tahn) — the bill
To say “Coffee and a cinnamon bun, please” in Swedish: Kaffe och en kanelbulle, tack (KAFF-eh ohk en KAH-nel-BUHL-leh, tahk). Built from kaffe = coffee; och = and; en kanelbulle = a cinnamon bun; tack = please.
To say “I would like the menu” in Swedish: Jag skulle vilja ha menyn (yah SKUH-leh VIL-yah hah meh-NOON). Built from jag skulle vilja = I would like; menyn = the menu.
Gott! = tasty / delicious. Say it and you'll make the cook's day.
To say “It's delicious!” in Swedish: Gott! (GOT). Built from gott = delicious.
Directions
Key pieces: var är · till höger · till vänster · rakt fram
The most useful question in any city: Var är…? — where is…?
- Var är...? (var AHR) — Where is...?
- till höger (til HOO-ger) — to the right
- till vänster (til VEN-ster) — to the left
- rakt fram (RAHKT frahm) — straight ahead
- stationen (STAH-shoh-neh) — the station Memory hook: ≈ English station.
- toaletten (toh-ah-LET-tehn) — the bathroom Memory hook: ≈ English toilet.
To say “Where is the station?” in Swedish: Var är stationen? (var AHR STAH-shoh-neh). Built from var är = where is; stationen = the station.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Swedish: Var är toaletten? (var AHR toh-ah-LET-tehn). Built from var är = where is; toaletten = the bathroom.
Till höger and till vänster tell you which way to turn. Straight ahead is rakt fram .
To say “Straight ahead” in Swedish: Rakt fram (RAHKT frahm). Built from rakt = straight; fram = forward.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: har du · finns det · kan jag
To ask if someone has something: Har du…? = do you have…? It works in shops and restaurants.
To say “Do you have a table?” in Swedish: Har du ett bord? (har doo eht BOOR). Built from har du = do you have; ett bord = a table.
Finns det…? = is there…? Great for checking what's available.
To say “Is there wifi?” in Swedish: Finns det wifi? (fins deh WEE-fee). Built from finns det = is there; wifi = wifi. ≈ English wi-fi (same word).
Kan jag…? = can I…? / may I…?. For polite requests.
To say “Can I pay?” in Swedish: Kan jag betala? (kan yah beh-TAH-lah). Built from kan jag = can I; betala = to pay.
Family & people
Key pieces: familj · mamma · pappa · vän
Family words: familj (family), mamma (mother), pappa (father).
- familj (fah-MEEL) — family Memory hook: ≈ English family.
- mamma (MAHM-mah) — mother
- pappa (PAHP-pah) — father
- bror (BROOR) — brother Memory hook: ≈ English brother.
- syster (SOS-ter) — sister Memory hook: ≈ English sister.
- vän (VEN) — friend
To say “I have a friend” in Swedish: Jag har en vän (yah har en VEN). Built from jag har = I have; en vän = a friend.
Jag har = I have. It's the key verb to say what you've got.
To say “I have a family” in Swedish: Jag har en familj (yah har en fah-MEEL). Built from jag har = I have; en familj = a family.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: idag · imorgon · vad är det för väder?
Today is idag , tomorrow is imorgon .
- idag (ee-DAHG) — today
- imorgon (ee-MOR-gon) — tomorrow
- i går (ee GOHR) — yesterday
- måndag (MON-dahg) — Monday
- Vad är det för väder? (vahd ahr deh fer VEH-der) — what's the weather?
To say “See you tomorrow” in Swedish: Vi ses imorgon (vee sehs ee-MOR-gon). Built from vi ses = see you; imorgon = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: Vad är det för väder? The answer might be det regnar — it's raining.
To say “It's raining” in Swedish: Det regnar (deh RENG-nar). Built from det = it; regnar = is raining.
Small talk & your name
Key pieces: jag heter · vad heter du · trevligt
Introduce yourself: Jag heter… = my name is…, and trevligt att träffas = nice to meet you.
To say “My name is Alex” in Swedish: Jag heter Alex (yah HEH-ter Alex). Built from jag heter = my name is; Alex = your name.
To ask someone's name: Vad heter du?
To say “What's your name?” in Swedish: Vad heter du? (vahd HEH-ter doo). Built from vad = what; heter du? = are you called?.
To say “Nice to meet you” in Swedish: Trevligt att träffas (TREHV-leet aht TREHF-fahs). Built from trevligt = nice; att träffas = to meet.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: hjälp · läkare · jag förstår inte · jag behöver hjälp
The most important words if you need help: hjälp (help!), läkare (doctor), apotek (pharmacy).
- hjälp! (YELP) — help!
- en läkare (en LEH-kah-reh) — a doctor
- apotek (ah-poh-TEHK) — the pharmacy
- Jag förstår inte (yah fer-STOHR een-teh) — I don't understand
To say “Help!” in Swedish: Hjälp! (YELP). Built from hjälp = help.
To say “I don't understand” in Swedish: Jag förstår inte (yah fer-STOHR een-teh). Built from jag = I; förstår = understand; inte = not.
To say you need help: Jag behöver hjälp .
To say “I need help” in Swedish: Jag behöver hjälp (yah beh-HUH-ver YELP). Built from jag behöver = I need; hjälp = help.
Tying it together
Key pieces: greetings · ordering · directions · a capstone scene
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Swedish: Hej, hur mår du? (HEY, Hoor MOR doo). Built from hej = hello; hur mår du? = how are you?.
To say “I would like a coffee, please” in Swedish: Jag skulle vilja ha en kaffe, tack (yah SKUH-leh VIL-yah hah en KAFF-eh, tahk). Built from jag skulle vilja = I would like; en kaffe = a coffee; tack = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Swedish: Var är stationen? (var AHR STAH-shoh-neh). Built from var är = where is; stationen = the station.
To say “How much is it?” in Swedish: Hur mycket kostar det? (Hoor MEEK-eh KOS-tar deh). Built from hur mycket kostar det? = how much is it?.
Airport & tickets
Key pieces: flygplats · pass · biljett · flyg
You have landed. The building is the flygplats . Your document is a pass .
- flygplatsen (FLEEG-plat-sehn) — the airport
- passet (PAHSS-et) — the passport
- biljetten (bil-YET-tehn) — the ticket
- flyget (FLEEG-et) — the flight
- gaten (GAYT-en) — the gate
To say “Where is the airport?” in Swedish: Var är flygplatsen? (var AHR FLEEG-plat-sehn). Built from var är = where is; flygplatsen = the airport.
To say “Here is my passport” in Swedish: Här är mitt pass (hair ahr mit pahss). Built from här är = here is; mitt pass = my passport.
To say “A ticket, please” in Swedish: En biljett, tack (en bil-YET, tahk). Built from en biljett = a ticket; tack = please.
To say “Where is the gate?” in Swedish: Var är gaten? (var AHR GAYT-en). Built from var är = where is; gaten = the gate.
The taxi
Key pieces: taxi · åka · hotell · stanna
The driver is waiting. taxi is the word you need. Tell them where to go with jag vill åka .
- taxi (TAHK-see) — the taxi
- föraren (FUR-ah-rehn) — the driver
- jag vill åka (yah vil OH-kah) — I want to go
- stanna här (STAH-nah hair) — stop here
To say “Taxi, please” in Swedish: Taxi, tack (TAHK-see, tahk). Built from taxi = taxi; tack = please.
To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Swedish: Jag vill åka till hotellet (yah vil OH-kah til hoo-TELL-et). Built from jag vill åka = I want to go; till hotellet = to the hotel.
To say “Stop here, please” in Swedish: Stanna här, tack (STAH-nah hair, tahk). Built from stanna här = stop here; tack = please.
To say “How much is it?” in Swedish: Hur mycket kostar det? (Hoor MEEK-eh KOS-tar deh). Built from hur mycket = how much; kostar det? = does it cost?.
The hotel
Key pieces: bokning · rum · nyckel · natt
At the desk: Jag har en bokning — I have a reservation.
- hotellet (hoo-TELL-et) — the hotel
- bokning (BOOK-ning) — the reservation
- rummet (ROOM-et) — the room
- nyckeln (NUCK-eln) — the key
- en natt (en naht) — one night
To say “I have a reservation” in Swedish: Jag har en bokning (yah har en BOOK-ning). Built from jag har = I have; en bokning = a reservation.
To say “A room for one night, please” in Swedish: Ett rum för en natt, tack (et room fur en naht, tahk). Built from ett rum = a room; för en natt = for one night; tack = please.
To say “The key, please” in Swedish: Nyckeln, tack (NUCK-eln, tahk). Built from nyckeln = the key; tack = please.
To say “Where is my room?” in Swedish: Var är mitt rum? (var AHR mit room). Built from var är = where is; mitt rum = my room.
Ask for help
Key pieces: jag förstår inte · långsammare · engelska
When the language is too fast: Långsammare, tack — slower, please.
- långsammare (LONG-sahm-ah-reh) — slower
- igen (ee-YEN) — again
- engelska (ENG-el-skah) — English
- kan du hjälpa mig? (kan doo YEL-pah may) — can you help?
To say “I don't understand” in Swedish: Jag förstår inte (yah fer-STOHR een-teh). Built from jag = I; förstår = understand; inte = not.
To say “Slower, please” in Swedish: Långsammare, tack (LONG-sahm-ah-reh, tahk). Built from långsammare = slower; tack = please.
To say “Can you help me?” in Swedish: Kan du hjälpa mig? (kan doo YEL-pah may). Built from kan du = can you; hjälpa = help; mig = me.
To say “Do you speak English?” in Swedish: Talar du engelska? (TAH-lar doo ENG-el-skah). Built from talar du = do you speak; engelska = English.
Culture and etiquette
Fika is sacred
The fika is a coffee break with friends — usually coffee and a kanelbulle (cinnamon bun). It isn't a quick caffeine hit; it's a pause to slow down and talk. You'll be invited to fika a lot.
Lagom — just right
Lagom means "just the right amount". Swedes aim for balance in work, food and life. You'll hear it often — an easy way to say "not too much, not too little".
Kronor, not euros
Sweden uses the krona (kr), not the euro, even inside the EU. Prices can be high and cards are everywhere — paying by phone is completely normal.
Hej is universal
Swedes are informal. Hej (or a casual tja) works for anyone, from a shopkeeper to a stranger on the street. You'll rarely hear titles like "sir" or "madam".
Systembolaget
Beer and wine above a light level are sold only at Systembolaget, the state-run chain. Expect queues on Friday and fair-but-not-cheap prices — you'll learn to plan ahead.
A little Swedish goes far
Almost all Swedes speak excellent English, but they light up when you try their language. A hej and a tack open every door — effort matters more than perfection.
Example dialogues
At a café (fika)
You: God morgon! En kopp kaffe, tack. (GOO MOR-gon, en KOHP KAFF-eh, tahk) — Good morning! A cup of coffee, please.
Barista: Varsågod. Ska det vara något mer? (VAHR-shoh-goh, skah deh VAH-rah NOH-got mehr) — Here you go. Anything else?
You: Ja, en kanelbulle, snälla. (YAH, en KAH-nel-BUHL-leh, SNELL-ah) — Yes, a cinnamon bun, please.
Barista: Det blir femtio kronor. (deh bleer FEM-ti-oh KROH-nor) — That will be fifty kronor.
You: Tack så mycket! (tahk soh MEEK-eh) — Thank you very much!
At the station
You: Ursäkta, var är stationen? (OOSH-ehk-tah, var AHR STAH-shoh-neh) — Excuse me, where is the station?
Local: Det är till höger, där borta. (deh ahr til HOO-ger, dahr BOOR-tah) — It's to the right, over there.
You: Tack. En biljett till Stockholm, tack. (tahk, en bee-YET til STOCK-holm, tahk) — Thanks. A ticket to Stockholm, please.
Attendant: Det blir tvåhundra kronor. Tåget går vid nio. (deh bleer TVOH-hoon-drah KROH-nor, TOH-get gohr veed NEE-oh) — That will be two hundred kronor. The train leaves at nine.
At a restaurant
Waiter: God kväll! Har ni bokat bord? (GOO KVELL, har nee BOH-kaht boor) — Good evening! Have you booked a table?
You: Ja, för två personer. (YAH, fer TVOH pehr-SOH-ner) — Yes, for two people.
Waiter: Varsågod. Här är menyn. (VAHR-shoh-goh, hahr ahr meh-NOON) — Here you are. Here is the menu.
You: Jag skulle vilja ha laxen och ett glas vin. (yah SKUH-leh VIL-yah hah LAHK-sehn oh eht glahs veen) — I would like the salmon and a glass of wine.
Waiter: Utmärkt val! (OOT-mehrkt vahl) — Excellent choice!
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.