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SwedishPod101’s Essential Swedish Travel Phrase Guide

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Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to Sweden. Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag – another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East?

Well, we won’t know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate.

To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at SwedishPod101! Why don’t you take the time to study Swedish travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your Swedish friends or travel guide with your flawless Swedish!

Table of Contents

  1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases
  2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words
  3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases
  4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country
  5. SwedishPod101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

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1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases

Impressing Swedish people or your travel partners will be the least of the benefits you reap from learning these helpful phrases. These are greater ones:

1) Eliminate Travel Frustration: First of all, you’ll be able to cut out a good chunk of travel frustration and inconvenience due to language barriers.

Know how to pronounce and use at least the basic Swedish phrases, and then just look foreign. This should go a long way to help you get by and win you friends, because locals would be more inclined to help someone who took the trouble to learn a smidgen of their language.

Injured Woman In An Ambulance

2) Emergency Readiness: In case of an emergency, you will be able to get help a lot quicker if you know how to ask for what in Swedish. Imagine miming to a doctor or nurse that you have a sore ear but that you’re allergic to penicillin. Not so easy, right?

Rather, you should know basic emergency travel phrases, especially if you suffer from a serious condition. Also, information about life-threatening allergies you have should always be on your person in the language of the country you’re visiting.

3) Sight-Seeing Readiness: Hopefully, you also travel to learn more about a country’s culture. Visiting the main tourist sites in Sweden will be more interesting if you know how to ask pertinent questions in Swedish.

In this blog, we’ll also be giving you important travel phrases to consider – from the 13 essential must-have phrases to ones that are just generally useful and good to know.

Let’s get cracking!

2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words

Preparing to Travel

Seasoned explorers of multiple countries will tell you that certain words and phrases are absolute must-knows in anyone’s travel vocabulary. Learning from them, we collated some of the most essential ones here for you.

If you know these travel phrases and words by heart in Swedish, you will be much better equipped for your visit than most of your movie-binging travel mates.

1) Tack (Thank you)

As a tourist, you will be relying on the kindness of strangers to get by. Repay them with a small acknowledgment of their friendly generosity – know how to say “thank you” in Swedish.

2) Talar du engelska? (Do you speak English?)

While it may be a bit of a cop-out, sometimes you just can’t figure out how to communicate. Maybe you’re blanking on one specific word you need, maybe they’re speaking with a heavy accent, or maybe it’s just really late and you really want to get to the hotel. In that case, try asking if they speak English, and hopefully you can make things a little bit simpler for yourself.

Don’t abuse this phrase, though! If you just try to get by without learning any of the local language, not only will you not learn anything – you’ll be out of luck if they can’t speak English!

Man Greeting Someone

3) Finns det en buss från flygplatsen till staden? (Is there a bus from the airport to the city?)

Public transit is usually cheaper, if slower, than taking a taxi or rideshare. Use this phrase to see if you can get where you’re going when you’re strapped for cash, or just when you’d like to take the scenic route into town!

4) Är detta rätt buss till flygplatsen? (Is this the right bus for the airport?)

Likewise, if you’re the kind of person who can get themselves moving early (or maybe you just have a late flight), maybe you want to take the bus to the airport rather than taking a cab. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be sure you’re actually heading the right way! You wouldn’t want to end up at a lookout point half an hour away, watching your flight take off in the distance, would you?

5) Ursäkta mig, vad är biljettpriset? (Excuse me, what’s the fare?)

If you are paying for a cab, you’ll want to know how much. Most legal taxis will have meters, but when dealing with a currency you’re not familiar with, it can be worth asking just to double check that you’re paying the right amount – especially if the currency has cents.

6) Jag har bokat ett rum (I have a reservation)

This one you can expect to use at least a few times throughout your trip, unless you’re the kind of person who travels by the seat of their pants and just goes to whatever hotel, motel, or hostel has rooms available.

7) Har du några lediga rum ikväll? (Do you have any vacancies tonight?)

If that’s the case, you’ll definitely be using this phrase instead. Quite possibly a lot, depending on how lucky you are!

Couple with a Map

8 ) Var är tågstationen? (Where is the train station?)

If you’re in a country with an expansive commuter rail system (or maybe just a fan of other types of locomotives), you may want to know where the closest station is. Just don’t go looking for pennies on the rails!

9) Jag är allergisk mot jordnötter (I am allergic to peanuts)

Replace “peanuts” with whatever the word for your allergen may be. If your allergy is serious, you probably already know the importance of stating this very clearly in Swedish.

If the condition is life-threatening, be sure to have a letter or prescription from a medical professional in Swedish on your person at all times. Consider getting a medical alert bracelet specially made in Swedish if your stay will be longer than a month or so.

Person Declining Meat

10) Har ni några vegetariska rätter? (Do you have any vegetarian dishes?)

If you dislike eating certain things, or you have certain dietary restrictions, it would be best if you knew how to convey this clearly in Swedish.

Remember, though, that saying “I’m vegan” or “I’m diabetic” may not be enough to get you what you want. The rules for veganism and vegetarianism are not standard everywhere in the world. Also, your patron might not understand what “diabetic” means. If you have a medical condition, it would be best to research some in-depth vocabulary beforehand.

11) Kan jag få en karta? (Could I get a map?)

Planning on exploring your destination? Hopelessly lost? Maybe just an amateur cartographer? No matter the reason, this phrase is sure to come in handy. That said, you’re more likely to get use out of it at some sort of tourist or travel center than you are asking a random passerby on the street.

12) Hur mycket kostar den här? (How much is this?)

Even if you’re not a big shopper, you’re probably going to need this phrase at some point. Knowing how to count in Swedish will, of course, help a lot with purchases too.

13) Tar du kreditkort? (Do you take credit card?)

This is another travel phrase that will smooth your monetary transactions considerably.

Man Giving Credit Card to a Clerk

3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases

Travel Verbs

Unlike the previous phrases, these are not really essential so much as they are useful. Yet, knowing these will still smooth over some bumps on your journey, more than just knowing the crucial phrases would.

1) Är Wi-Fit gratis? (Is the Wi-Fi free?)

If you’re abroad, your normal cellular plans probably won’t have any service, and you’ll be totally reliant on publically available Wi-Fi while you’re out and about. Just ask a server, clerk, or attendant, and they’ll be happy to let you know. Just make sure you’re paying attention when they tell you the password!

2) Kan du ta en bild på mig tack? (Could you take a picture of me please?)

What would a trip be with no photos to commemorate the event? Just be sure to ask this of someone who actually looks like they’d be willing to, unless you’re willing to risk being given the cold shoulder or worse. If you’re at a tourist attraction, you’ll find that most people are more than happy to take one for you, so long as you take one of them as well!

3) Har du några rekommendationer? (Do you have any recommendations?)

Eating alone in a restaurant? Or going out with new Swedish friends or business colleagues? Let them help you decide what to have.

4) Jag skulle vilja ha en rökfri sittplats, tack (I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please)

Though smoking has gone out of fashion in some places, it’s still popular in others. In the event you’re at a restaurant where smoking is allowed on premises, you can always ask this question to the staff and be seated elsewhere.

5) Vatten, tack (Water, please)

If you’ve emptied your glass, or are cutting yourself off after a few drinks, you can always ask for some water. It can be especially useful if the restaurant is busy to the point you need to call out to someone to get service.

6) Kan jag få notan? (Could I have the check?)

To finish off the restaurant related phrases, if you’re eating with friends or really want to impress your colleagues, taking the bill can be a nice treat for them. Of course, this phrase could come in handy as well if you’re eating alone and you’re just impatient to leave.

7) Vad rekommenderar du för souvenir? (What do you recommend for a souvenir?)

Now that your trip is over, what better way to cap it all off than a memento, or maybe a gift for friends and family at home? It’ll be nicer to have something recommended by the locals than a cheap bauble from the airport store, so go ahead and ask someone you’ve met what they think.

4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country

Survival Phrases

When traveling, it’s possible to keep communication smooth when you don’t share a language.

Do so by keeping these five tips in mind. They are aimed to help you communicate with those who cannot speak English very well, and also to keep your traveling experience pleasant!

1. Keep your English simple and easy to understand.
If the person you are talking to speaks very little English, use basic verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and keep sentences short.

However, don’t patronize them by talking in pidgin or like you would address a child. Keep your speech simple but natural, and use the correct grammar.

For instance, don’t say: “You come when?”. If you say: “When will you come?”, you will very likely be understood, and may even help someone who wants to improve their English.

2. Ask someone to write information down.
Apply Rule 1 first at your hotel, where the staff is very likely to be able to speak some English. Get them to write down, in their native language, things like: “I would like to go to the airport, please,” “Please take me to the beach,” or “Where is the closest bathroom?”

These written questions are something you can then give to taxi drivers or any other people who are willing and able to help you. This simple step could make your life a lot easier when you travel to a foreign country!

3. Avoid asking leading questions!
If you want the correct information from a non-native English speaker, that is.

When you need directions, for instance, don’t ask: “To get to the bus stop, do I need to turn left here?” If the person didn’t really understand you, you will probably just get a smile and a “Yes,” which could possibly make you miss your bus.

Rather, you should ask: “Where is the bus stop?” If they understand you, you will get the correct directions.

4. Pick the right person to ask for help.
Time to look at people and think a bit about their appearance! A younger person who looks like they might be a student is more likely to have English skills than the friendly but ancient lady smiling at you from a fruit stall.

If you don’t see anyone like that, head into town to the nearest bank, hospital, pharmacy, or hotel. The staff at those places usually speak a bit of English.

5. Know when to quit.
If you stuck to the above rules, but the person you are talking to only stares at you blankly, say thank you and leave. Hanging around hoping someone will suddenly understand and respond is just wasting your time, and may irritate them as well. Go find someone else.

5. SwedishPod101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

So, reader, have you found this article helpful?

Do you feel comfortable enough to use some essential travel phrases in Swedish? We’d also love to hear if you think we left out important travel phrases. Leave your suggestions and opinions in the comments!

SwedishPod101 takes the lead with many free learning tools to help you master Swedish reading and speaking easily, and in fun ways.

These tools include:

– An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
– A new Swedish word to learn every day
– Quick access to the Swedish Key Phrase List
– A free Swedish online dictionary
– The excellent 100 Core Swedish Word List
– An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

You will also have access to topic-specific recordings like our Before You Travel: Survival Phrases lesson.

Learn even more efficiently with the help of a personal tutor, after taking an assessment test to personalize and tailor your training.

Getting a tutor is also a good option if you meet challenges in your learning, or need to fast-track correct pronunciation and diction. Your very own friendly, Swedish-speaking teacher will be only a text away on a special app, anywhere, anytime – an excellent option for business persons!

Using a guided learning system that was developed by experts in language and online education, you’ll receive personal feedback and constant support to improve in no time. You’ll also be tasked with weekly assignments in reading, writing, and speaking to hone your Swedish speaking skills.

Imagine how impressed your Swedish friends or colleagues will be when you display your excellent conversational skills! With SwedishPod101, getting there will be easy and fun.

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How to Use Swedish Numbers for Daily Usage

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Especially if you’re planning a prolonged visit to Sweden, using the correct Swedish numbers for counting in Swedish could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes.

Table of Contents

  1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems
  2. Why is it Important to Learn Swedish Numbers?
  3. Learning Swedish Numbers
  4. Why Choose SwedishPod101 to Learn all about Swedish Numbers?

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1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems

Abacus

1. The Ishango Bone

The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal system was found to be only between 20,000 and 35,000 thousand years old. This discovery came around 1960 in the form of the so-called Ishango Bone found in the Congo, Central Africa.

The 10cm/4 inch piece of bone was a fibula from a baboon. It showed markings with a neat, unified pattern of small lines – far too organized and sophisticated to have formed spontaneously. Archeologists believe that those thin markings were carved to keep score of, or count, something. The lines seemed to represent a sequence of prime numbers and a series of duplications. Some even called it the first-ever pocket calculator!

2. Mesopotamia and Greece

Yet, evidence suggests that it wasn’t until about 4,000 years ago that humans truly started counting and using numbers. Together with the development of civilization came developed agriculture, and the need for measurement and score-keeping was increased.

For this reason, a formal number system and mathematics were developed first in the Middle East, in what was then called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was roughly situated in the area of modern-day Iraq and Kuwait. Allegedly, the system was pretty simple at first. Citizens used tokens that represented a certain number of items, such as one token equalling four goats, etc. This eventually evolved into a system of score marks pressed into clay, which ultimately went on to influence Greek mathematics.

3. Hindu-Arabic Numbers

Zero, meanwhile, was conceived later and elsewhere. Inspired by the Hindu religion, which allows for the concept of infinity and eternity, the Indians invented a symbol to represent nothing. The magic of the zero lies not in itself but its combination with other numbers.

The Indians were also the creators of today’s numbers, which are often referred to as Hindu-Arabic numbers. These comprise one or a combination of just ten symbols or digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.

Europe learned of this numeric system only around 1200 A.D., when they were introduced to it by an Italian mathematician called Leonardo Pisano Bigollo.

Pisano, also known as Fibonacci, is famous for the discovery of a mathematical sequence with countless applications. Yes, math buffs, it’s the well-known Fibonacci sequence, also called the Golden Mean.

The Roman numeric system, which was clumsy next to the newer inventions, gradually lost popularity in the West. It’s from here that they “slowly spread to conquer the world,” as Steven Law puts it.

2. Why is it Important to Learn Swedish Numbers?

For us at SwedishPod101, this is an easy question to answer! Because we know that numbers are a global unifier.

Counting and numbers have made our lives easier since they were first formulated, even in their most primitive forms.

Numbers in Industry

Without knowing your numbers, you can’t properly communicate about or deal with the following:

1) Your date/time of birth, i.e., your age: This is vital information to be able to give to people like doctors, employers, law enforcement, and so forth.

2) Banking: Worldwide, our monetary systems are built on numbers. Interest, credit scores, and loans all rely on math beyond simple finger counting.

3) Time: Without knowing how to say numbers, you can’t talk or ask about the time and expect to get a useful response. You don’t want to miss an appointment or schedule something for the wrong hour!

4) Ordering data: Numbers bring order to a mostly random life! Scientists even say that numbers and the way they are organized underpin the whole universe. From using them to count your meals’ calories and the number of likes your posts get on social media, to drawing up intricate data charts and explaining existence itself – numbers are what makes these things possible.

All of the above and more are reasons why it is important to know your numbers if you plan on travelling or becoming a foreign worker abroad, in Sweden or anywhere else!

Little Girl Counting

3. Learning Swedish Numbers

Now, let’s explore the Swedish number system a bit more! Take a look at this infographic.

Language Numbers

Can you make out for yourself what the Swedish numbers between one (1) and nine (9) look and sound like? Easy, right?

Or, if you struggled a bit, no problem. Why not listen to how Swedish numbers one (1) through ten (10) sound when pronounced by our native Swedish speaker and friendly SwedishPod101 teacher?

Then, share with us in the comments your native language’s romanized pronunciation of your number system. We’d love to see all the different ways the same numbers can be pronounced!

Hand With a Thumbs Up

When you have mastered the first ten numbers, you have basically nailed the most significant part of the number system. Well done! Curious to learn the numbers from eleven upward? No problem! Why not subscribe and enroll with us now to immediately enjoy this lesson, teaching you all about Swedish numbers eleven (11) to one hundred (100)?

Finally, if you’re curious how the numbers look once you’ve broken one hundred, why not check out our Swedish number vocabulary page? You can see the numbers we’ve just covered, all the way up to four thousand (4,000). Plus, you can also see the Swedish words for different numbers used in example sentences, to get an idea of how you can use them in your day-to-day conversations!

4. Why Choose SwedishPod101 to Learn all about Swedish Numbers?

SwedishPod101, like all Innovative Language Learning ventures, takes the pain out of learning a new language by adding a lot of fun. It’s never an easy thing to learn a new language, but we formulated all your lessons so they’re nicely bite-sized, and geared to keep you motivated!

Also, we created a great number of fantastic tools to help keep struggle and boredom out of the learning process.

  • Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn – what a beautiful cycle! SwedishPod101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective, and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect with! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Swedish!
  • Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
  • Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Swedish with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Swedish dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about SwedishPod101…!
  • Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Swedish teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
  • Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Swedish word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Swedish level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

So, why wait? Sign up with SwedishPod101 right away! Also, let us know in the comments if you’ve used this blog post, or any of the free lessons anywhere to master Swedish numbers. Or, even better – share your birthdate using what you’ve learned!

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How To Post In Perfect Swedish on Social Media

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You’re learning to speak Swedish, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Swedish.

At Learn Swedish, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Swedish in the process.

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1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Swedish

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d want to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Swedish. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

Anders eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Anders’s post.

Äntligen fredag! Testar Slussen’s nya restaurang!
“Finally Friday! Trying out Slussen’s new restaurant!”

1- Äntligen fredag!

First is an expression meaning “Finally Friday!.”
An expression that is frequently used in Swedish, implying that the weekend is just around the corner, since Swedish people mostly work Mon-Fri.

2- Testar Slussen’s nya restaurang.

Then comes the phrase – “Trying out Slussen’s new restaurant. .”
“Testar” means to try out, and is often used when someone tries something for the first time. For example, a restaurant, a product or an activity. “Slussen” is the name of an area in Stockholm.

COMMENTS

In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

1- Smaklig måltid!

His girlfriend, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “Have a nice meal!”
Use this expression to show you want your friend to have a good time.

2- Njut!

His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Enjoy!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling warm-hearted.

3- Åh, vad avis jag är! Jobbar hela helgen!

His high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Oh, I’m so jealous! Working all weekend!”
Use this expression to express that you wish you could be there too.

4- Hört att det är lite på den dyra sidan.

His girlfriend’s nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “I’ve heard that it’s a bit on the expensive side. ”
Use this expression to show you are worried about the pricing of the food. This doesn’t have to be a cynical or negative comment; it’s just an observation. But take care not to post too many comments that could put out someone’s positivity!

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • testar: “to try”
  • måltid: “meal”
  • njut: “enjoy”
  • avis: “jealous”
  • den dyra sidan: “the expensive side”
  • So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

    Now go visit a Swedish restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

    2. Post about Your Mall Visit in Swedish

    Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most people love it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these Swedish phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

    Amanda shops with her sister at the mall, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Hittade snyggaste brillorna i stan!
    “Found the nicest glasses in town!”

    1- Hittade snyggaste brillorna…

    First is an expression meaning “Found the nicest glasses….”
    Brillor’ is slang for ‘glasses’ or ‘sunglasses’. The phrase “Hittade snyggaste …” can be used in a lot of different contexts.

    2- … i stan!

    Then comes the phrase – “… in town!.”
    …i stan’ is a phrase that is added at the end of a sentence, such as ‘bästa restaurangen i stan’, meaning ‘the best restaurant in town’.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Har inte du redan typ tio par…?

    Her boyfriend, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t you already have like ten pairs…?”
    Use this expression to show you are questioning if the person needs any more. It can also be somewhat humorous.

    2- Snygging!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Hottie!”
    Use this expression to compliment someone on their looks.

    3- Ser bra ut!

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Looking good!”
    Use this casual expression to note that someone looks good.

    4- Sommaren är väl slut snart?

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Isn’t summer over soon?”
    This questions the wisdom of the purchase. A valid comment, but unless the poster is feeling humorous and teasing the poster, this could come across as a negative and critisizing comment.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • brillor: “glasses, sunglasses”
  • typ: “like”
  • snygging: “hottie”
  • Ser bra ut!: “Looking good!”
  • väl: “well”
  • So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

    3. Talking about a Sport Day in Swedish

    Sports events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunities for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in Swedish.

    Anders plays with his friends at the beach, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’s post.


    “Here we go! Blue versus red, come on!”

    1- Nu kör vi!

    First is an expression meaning “Here we go!.”
    “Kör” actually means drive, but in the expression “Nu kör vi” or “nu kör jag,” it means “here we go”, or “here I go”. It’s usually said in situations where a person is about to take a risk or attempt something. For example, a sports game, testing out something new, cleaning out the house, etc.

    2- Kom igen!

    Then comes the phrase – “Come on!.”
    Kom igen! is similar to the English phrase “Come on!”. This phrase is used when cheering someone up, or cheering for someone, but it can also be used sarcastically like the English “Come on!”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Nu kör vi! Blå mot röd, kom igen!

    His girlfriend, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “You’re not forgetting dinner tonight, right?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling like the person may have forgotten previously-made plans.

    2- Du låter taggad!

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “You sound psyched!”
    Use this expression to show you are being supportive.

    3- Vi vill se bilder!

    His high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “We want to see pictures!”
    Use this expression to show that you are engaged in what’s happening.

    4- Ha så kul men trampa inte på glas!

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Have fun, but don’t step on glass!”
    This is a well-wish, with an expression of concern about the poster’s wellbeing.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • mot: “against”
  • att glömma: “to forget”
  • taggad: “psyched”
  • bild: “photo”
  • att trampa: “to step”
  • Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

    But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

    4. Share a Song on Social Media in Swedish

    Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

    Amanda shares a song she just heard at a party, posts an image of the artist, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Kan inte sluta lyssna på Rihannas nya låt! Älska!
    “Can’t stop listening to Rihanna’s new song! Love!”

    1- Kan inte sluta…

    First is an expression meaning “Can’t stop….”
    This is a common expression on social media. It just means that the person cannot stop doing something. For example: “I can’t stop eating chocolate”, or “I can’t stop listening to this song”.

    2- Älska!

    Then comes the phrase – “Love!.”
    Älska is used to express your love or strong feelings for something. It’s used very similar to Facebook’s “Like” button. Instead of a long sentence explaining that you like or love something, you just write “Älska” on social media.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Jag vet… Kan texten utantill nu älskling…

    Her boyfriend, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “I know… I know the lyrics by heart now, honey.”
    Use this expression to show you are want to show that you are aware of the information, but in a nice way.

    2- Åh, den är skitbra!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Oh, it’s awesome!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling supportive and appreciative of whatever what was posted.

    3- Har du hört hennes låt Stay?

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Have you heard her song ‘Stay’?”
    Use this expression to partake in the conversation.

    4- Den är ju fett gammal nu ju.

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “That’s so old now!”
    A criticism of the poster’s choice in music – unless you know each other well, and can joke around using sarcasm, you won’t be making yourself popular with comments like this.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • Älska!: “love”
  • utantill: “by heart”
  • skitbra: “awesome”
  • låt: “song”
  • Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

    Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

    5. Swedish Social Media Comments about a Concert

    Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just has to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers in Swedish!

    Anders goes to a concert, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’s post.

    Köat fyra timmar men snart är det dax! Kan knappt vänta!
    “Queued for four hours, but it’s almost time! Can barely wait!”

    1- Snart är det dax!

    First is an expression meaning “It’s almost time!.”
    Snart äre dax! — “äre” is short for “är det” meaning “is it” or “it is”. And “dax” is slang for “dags” meaning “time”. So the expression means “it’s almost time.” It can be used independently or as part of a longer sentence. For example: “Det är snart dax för helg”, which means “It’s almost time for the weekend.”

    2- Kan knappt vänta!

    Then comes the phrase – “Can barely wait!.”
    An expression that is used when someone is excited about something. Can be used independently or as part of a longer sentence. For example: “Kan knappt vänta till semestern”, which means: “Can barely wait till the holidays!”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Ha kul, du förtjänar det!

    His girlfriend, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “Have fun, you deserve it!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling supportive and warm-hearted.

    2- Vad äre för konsert?

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “What kind of concert is it?”
    Use this expression to show you are interested in the topic and want to know more.

    3- Akta dig för moshpiten!

    His college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “Watch out for the mosh pit!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling playful. “Moshing” or “slamdancing”, according to Wikipedia:”… is a style of dance in which participants push or slam into each other, typically performed in “aggressive” live music. Moshing usually happens in the center of the crowd, generally closer to the stage, in an area called the “pit”.” It is a very energetic spot, with lots of full-body contact.

    4- Palla köa i fyra timmar!

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “How can you queue for four hours?!”
    Again, a question criticising the poster’s wisdom. You can get away with this if you know the poster very well, or you might become known as the “wet rag”, or “spoil sport”!

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • att köa: “to queue”
  • att förtjäna: “to deserve”
  • konsert: “concert”
  • Akta dig!: “Watch out!”
  • If a friend posted something about a concert, which phrase would you use?

    6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in Swedish

    Oh dear. You broke something by accident. Use these Swedish phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

    Amanda accidentally breaks her mobile phone, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Tappade luren i golvet. Vet någon var jag kan laga en iPhone skärm billigt?
    “Dropped my phone on the floor. Does anyone know where I can fix an iPhone screen cheaply?”

    1- Tappade luren i golvet.

    First is an expression meaning “Dropped my phone on the floor. .”
    “lur” is slang for phone and is commonly used in Sweden. Unfortunately people drop their phones a lot, so you may hear “tappade” (dropped) “luren” or “telefonen” (the phone) “i golvet” (on the floor) often.

    2- Vet någon var jag kan laga en Iphone skärm billigt?

    Then comes the phrase – “Does anyone know where I can fix an iPhone screen cheaply?”
    “Vet någon” is a good way of asking a question. It means “Does anyone know?”. “Laga” in this sentence means “to fix” or “to repair”, but in other contexts, it can also mean “to cook”. This is similar to English, when we say: “I’ll fix us something for supper”, for instance, and also: “Have your cell-phone fixed”.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Älskling, inte igen!

    Her boyfriend, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Honey, not again!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling disappointed.

    2- Åh neeej, hatar när det händer!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Oh nooo, hate when that happens!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling empathic and caring.

    3- Äsch, kanske dags att skaffa en ny?

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Well, maybe it’s time to get a new one?”
    Use this expression to be humorous, and a bit sarcastic.

    4- Har du drulleförsäkring på den?

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Do you have accident insurance on it? ”
    Use this expression to show you are practical, even concerned.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • Att tappa: “to drop”
  • Inte igen!: “Not again!”
  • Att hata: “to hate”
  • att skaffa: “to get”
  • If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

    So, now you know how to discuss an accident in Swedish. Well done!

    7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in Swedish

    Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in Swedish!

    Anders gets bored at home, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’s post.

    Vilken seg dag! Uttråkad, några tips?
    “What a slow day! Bored. Any tips?”

    1- Vilken seg dag!

    First is an expression meaning “What a slow day!.”
    A common phrase used in Sweden when people feel like time is passing slowly. For example: “Vilken seg arbetsdag!” (“What a slow workday!” ) It can also be used when describing people. For example: “Erik, kan du sluta vara så seg?”, which means: “Erik, can you stop being so slow?”

    2- Uttråkad, några tips?

    Then comes the phrase – “Bored, any tips?.”
    On social media we tend to express ourselves in shorter phrases than we would when speaking. “Uttråkad, några tips?” is a good example. You can change the phrase to any topic you would like to get tips or advice about. For example: “Hungrig, några tips?”, which means: “Hungry, any tips?”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du kanske vill städa golven innan jag kommer hem?

    His girlfriend, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “Maybe you’d like to clean the floors before I get home?”
    Use this expression if you feel humorous and are teasing the poster. Rather not give serious instructions about householding on social media to your beloved!

    2- Vill du ta en fika vid lunch?

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Do you want to go for a coffee around lunch time?”
    This is an invitation to alleviate the poster’s boredom. It’s friendly and caring.

    3- Jag med! Less på att vara arbetslös nu.

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Me too! Fed up with being unemployed right now.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling cynical.

    4- Gör som alla andra, glo på YouTube videos haha!

    His high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Do what everyone else does. Watch YouTube videos haha!”
    Use this expression to be humorous while also making a suggestion.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • seg: “slow”
  • att städa: “to clean”
  • fika: “to have a coffee “
  • arbetslös: “unemployed”
  • att glo: “to stare, to look”
  • If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

    Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

    8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in Swedish

    Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in Swedish about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

    Amanda feels exhausted after a long day at work, posts an image of herself looking tired, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Åh, så trött att jag tror jag avlider!
    “Oh, I’m so tired, I think I’ll die!”

    1- Så trött

    First is an expression meaning “So tired.”
    In English we use the word “so” to make it clear how strongly we feel about something. For example: “I’m so tired!” In Swedish we use “så” in the same way. For example: “Jag är så hungrig!” which means
    ‘I’m so hungry!” Or: “Jag fryser så mycket!” which means, “I’m so cold!”

    2- att jag tror att jag avlider.

    Then comes the phrase – “that I think I’ll die..”
    We often use the phrase “att jag tror att jag avlider,” meaning “that I think I’ll die.” A common expression is: “Jag fryser så mycket att jag tror att jag avlider”, which means “I’m so cold I think I’m going to die.” We also use “att jag tror att jag dör”, meaning the exact same thing. For example: “Jag är så trött att jag tror att jag dör!” which means “I’m so tired, I think I’ll die!”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Skynda dig hem, nu är det filmkväll och mys!

    Her boyfriend, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Hurry home. It’s movie night and cuddles now!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling loving and supportive.

    2- Vad är det som har hänt?

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “What happened?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warm-hearted and caring.

    3- Nej, dö inte!!

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “No, don’t die!!”
    Use this expression when you feel humorous.
    .

    4- Varför? Vad händer?

    Her college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “Why? What’s happening?”
    Use this expression to show you want to know what’s going on.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • att avlida: “to die”
  • mys: “cuddles, coziness”
  • att hända: “to happen”
  • Dö inte!: “Don’t die!”
  • Vad händer? : “What’s happening?”
  • If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

    Now you know how to say you’re exhausted in Swedish! Well done.

    9. Talking about an Injury in Swedish

    So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in Swedish.

    Anders suffers a painful injury, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’s post.

    Hej på dig sjukskrivning, nu är det dags att vara sängliggandes ett tag då.
    “Hello, sick leave. It’s time to be bedridden for a while now.”

    1- Hej på dig sjukskrivning

    First is an expression meaning “Hello to you sick leave.”
    “Hej på dig” is a phrase commonly used when greeting people, but in Sweden we can also greet an object or an event, and not always with a positive spirit. “Hej på dig” can be shortened to just “Hej”.

    2- nu är det dags att vara sängliggandes ett tag då.

    Then comes the phrase – “it’s time to be bedridden for a while now then..”
    “Nu är det att” means “now it’s time to…” This phrase can be used for anything that is about to happen, such as going somewhere or doing something. For example: “Nu är det middagsdags då!”, which means “It’s dinner time now!”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Tur i oturen, nu kanske du får lite vila i alla fall!

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Blessing in disguise. At least you might get some rest now!”
    Use this phrase when you are feeling warm-hearted and are trying to cheer someone up. .

    2- Så illa är det inte, det är bara en stukning.

    His girlfriend, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “It’s not that bad. It’s just a sprain.”
    This type of post is probably intended to inform and reassure the other posters. Otherwise, it could sound like you’re making light of the poster’s discomfort.

    3- Lever du? Ska jag komma över med glass och soppa?

    His high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Are you alive? Should I come over with ice cream and soup?”
    Use this expression to be funny and light-hearted.

    4- Du är för gammal för att klättra på taket vet du väl!

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “You’re too old to be climbing the roof, you know!”
    Use this expression to be a bit sarcastic and humorous simultaneously.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • sjukskrivning: “sick leave”
  • Tur i oturen!: “Luck in disguise!”
  • stukning: “sprain”
  • att komma över: “to come over”
  • If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

    We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

    10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in Swedish

    Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

    Amanda feels disappointed about today’s weather, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Jag såg fram emot att tillbringa min lediga dag på stranden, men självklart ska det regna!
    “I was looking forward to spending my day off on the beach, but of course it had to rain!”

    1- Jag såg fram emot…

    First is an expression meaning “I was looking forward to….”
    This phrase is used when expressing disappointment over ruined or cancelled plans. For example: “Jag såg fram emot att gå ut och äta…” which means “I was looking forward to going out to eat.” This phrase is usually followed by “men,” meaning “but,” and the reason why the plans were ruined or cancelled.

    2- Men självklart ska…

    Then comes the phrase – “But of course it had to….”
    This is the second half of the expression. Jag såg fram emot …. men självklart ska det… “I was looking forward to …. but of course it had to…” For example: “Jag såg fram emot en shoppingdag men självklart ska plånboken bli stulen”. “I was looking forward to a day of shopping, but of course my wallet had to get stolen.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Vad sägs som att äta lunch ute?

    Her boyfriend, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “What do you say about going out for lunch?”
    Use this expression when you are inviting someone out. “Lunch” can of course be substituted with other nouns.

    2- Åh nej, vad synd!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Oh no, what a shame!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warm-hearted and caring.

    3- Vi får göra det bästa av situationen ändå!

    Her college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “We’ll make the best of it.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic and encouraging.

    4- Den här sommaren är ovanligt regnig.

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “This summer’s unusually rainy. ”
    This is a comment about the weather. In this particular context, it’s in agreement with the poster.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • att tillbringa: “to spend”
  • situation: “situation”
  • Vad synd!: “What a shame!”
  • göra det bästa av situationen: “to make the best of a situation”
  • ovanlig: “unusual”
  • How would you comment in Swedish when a friend is disappointed?

    Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though!

    11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in Swedish

    Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

    Anders changes his status to “In a relationship”, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’s post.

    Då var det dags att göra det officiellt!
    “It’s time to make it official!”

    1- Då var det dags…

    First is an expression meaning “It’s time….”
    This expression is used when explaining that it’s time for something, usually a change. For example: “Då var det dags att söka nytt jobb!” which means “It’s time to look for a new job!”

    2- att göra det officiellt!

    Then comes the phrase – “to make it official!.”
    “…att göra det officiellt” is an expression that is used when declaring news or a change. It can be either informal or formal. Another commonly used expression is “Nu är det officiellt” which means “It’s official now”.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Du gör mig så lycklig!

    His girlfriend, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “You make me so happy!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling appreciative and loving.

    2- Slut på ungkarlsdagarna?

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Bachelor days are over?”
    Use this expression when you feel humorous but in a warm-hearted way.

    3- Det var på tiden!

    His supervisor, Oliver, uses an expression meaning – “About time!”
    This is a comment that shows something has been coming or in the making for a while – probably too long!

    4- Själv är man fortfarande singel.

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “I’m still single. ”
    This is a bit of personal information about a relationship status that could fuel the conversation nicely.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • officiell: “official”
  • lycklig: “happy”
  • ungkarl: “bachelor”
  • Det var på tiden!: “It’s about time!”
  • singel: “single”
  • What would you say in Swedish when a friend changes their relationship status?

    Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news – don’t be shy to spread it!

    12. Post about Getting Married in Swedish

    Wow, so things got serious, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in Swedish.

    Amanda is getting married today, so she leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Det här är den bästa dagen i mitt liv!
    “This is the best day of my life!”

    1- Det här är den bästa dagen…

    First is an expression meaning “This is the best day….”
    This expression is used to express the superlative form of something. For example: “Det här är den värsta lägenheten…” which means “This is the worst apartment…”

    2- … i mitt liv!

    Then comes the phrase – “… of my life!.”
    This can be added on to the superlative expression. For example: “Det här är den värsta lägenheten jag sett i mitt liv”, which means “This is the worst apartment I’ve seen in my life.” It expresses that within your lifetime, this is the worst you have experienced.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du och jag mot världen!

    Her husband, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “You and me against the world!”
    Use this expression when you are being supportive and loving.

    2- Nu ska vi fira!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Now, let’s celebrate!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling enthusiastic and optimistic.

    3- Jag kommer gråta och se ut som en tvättbjörn!

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “I’m going to cry, and I’ll look like a raccoon!”
    Use this expression when you’re feeling emotional, and try to hide it by being funny.

    4- Jag tror inte på giftermål…

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “I don’t believe in marriage…”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling cynical.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • liv: “life”
  • Du och jag mot världen!: “You and me against the world!”
  • att fira: “to celebrate”
  • tvättbjörn: “raccoon”
  • giftermål: “marriage”
  • How would you respond in Swedish to a friend’s post about getting married?

    For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

    13. Announcing Big News in Swedish

    Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it in Swedish.

    Anders finds out he and his wife are going to have a baby, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Idag fick jag veta att jag ska bli pappa! Vilken stolthet jag känner!
    “Today, I found out that I’m going to be a dad! I feel so proud!”

    1- Idag fick jag veta att jag ska bli pappa!

    First is an expression meaning “Today, I found out that I’m going to be a dad!”
    “Idag fick jag veta”, meaning “Today I found out”, is a good way to start a sentence when proclaiming news. “idag” (today) can be substituted for “den här veckan” (this week) or another time frame.

    2- Vilken stolthet jag känner!

    Then comes the phrase – “The pride I feel!”
    Vilken stolthet jag känner! is a strong expression to use when you are so proud that you can barely contain it. “Stolthet” (pride) can be substituted for other emotions such as “sorg” (sadness) or “lycka” (happiness).

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Vi vet inte om det är en pojke eller flicka ännu.

    His wife, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl yet.”
    This expression explains that you don’t know the gender of your baby yet.

    2- Har ni funderat på namn ännu?

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Have you thought about names yet?”
    Use this phrase if you want to know more information.

    3- Tvillingar?

    His supervisor, Oliver, uses an expression meaning – “Twins?”
    With this word, you’re also indicating that you want more information about the baby.

    4- Vänta tills ni köper barnvagn, det är så jäkla dyrt!

    His nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Wait until you buy a stroller, it’s so expensive!”
    This is a cynical expression that can be just about sharing information, or it can be a real downer.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • stolhet: “pride”
  • pojke eller flicka: “boy or girl”
  • att bestämma: “to decide”
  • tvillingar: “twins”
  • barnvagn: “stroller”
  • Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

    So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

    14. Posting Swedish Comments about Your Baby

    Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in Swedish.

    Amanda plays with her baby, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Kan knappt tro att den här gullungen är min! Alltså, titta på leendet!
    “I can barely believe this sweet kid is mine! I mean, look at that smile!”

    1- Kan knappt tro att den här gullungen är min!

    First is an expression meaning “Can barely believe this sweet kid is mine!.”
    “Kan knappt tro” means “I can barely believe,” and it’s used when expressing something unbelievable, shocking or surprising. For example: “Jag kan knappt tro att det är sant!” (“I can barely believe it’s true!” )

    2- Alltså, titta på leendet!

    Then comes the phrase – “I mean, look at that smile!.”
    “Alltså” is slang and can be translated to many English words, such as well, therefore, and so. “Alltså” is used to fill out a sentence, but is not actually needed. It does not change the meaning of the sentence, but it can change the feeling or attitude. For example: “Alltså, titta vad dyrt!” (“I mean, look how expensive!” ). Or without “alltså” – “Titta vad dyrt!” (“Look, how expensive!” ).

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Hon brås på sin farsa minsann!

    Her husband, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “She takes after her dad, indeed!”
    Use this expression to show you are being boastful and proud.

    2- Finis!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Gorgeous!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling enthusiastic and appreciative.

    3- Hon ser ju ut som dig när du var liten!

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “She looks like you when you were a kid!”
    Use this expression to be funny and sweet.

    4- De växer ju så det knakar!

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “They grow so quickly!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling practical and maybe a bit cynical, in this particular context.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • gullunge: “cute kid”
  • att brås: “to take after”
  • finis: “a beautiful/good looking person”
  • “växa så det knakar”: “A Swedish expression used for someone/something that’s growing very quickly. Literally means “grow to the point of creaking”. “
  • If your friend is the mother or father, which phrase would you use on social media?

    Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in Swedish! But we’re not done with families yet…

    15. Swedish Comments about a Family Reunion

    Family reunions – some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

    Anders goes to a family gathering, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Alla vet ju att släkten är värst, varför måste vi då gå på familjemiddag?!
    “Everyone knows that family is the worst, so why do we have to go to family dinners then?!”

    1- Alla vet ju att släkten är värst

    First is an expression meaning “Everyone knows that family is the worst.”
    “Alla vet ju” is a common expression meaning “Everyone knows”. It’s used when speaking to a group of people, where most of those people “know” something. It’s an expression used to exaggerate. “Vet” (know) can be substituted for another verb. For example: “Alla har ju iPhones” (Everyone has iPhones), but this is an exaggeration commonly used in most languages, because not every person in the world owns an iPhone!

    2- varför måste vi då gå på familjemiddag?!

    Then comes the phrase – “so why do we have to go to family dinners then?”
    “varför måste vi” (Why do we have to) is a common expression. You can substitute “vi” (we) for “jag” (I) or any other person. For example: “Varför måste jag städa mitt rum nu?” (“Why do I have to clean my room now?” )

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Så illa kan det väl inte vara?

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “It can’t be that bad?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warm-hearted and concerned.

    2- Smyg med dig en fickplunta, du vet ifall att…

    His high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Sneak a hip flask with you, just in case…”
    Make this suggestion as a joke.

    3- Om jag ska lida, så får du också lida. Det kallas kärlek.

    His wife, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “If I have to suffer, you have to suffer too. It’s called love. ”
    This is an expression that shows a specific belief about love and relationships.

    4- Var glad att du inte är spansk, jag har hört att de umgås med familjen varje helg!

    His nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Be happy you’re not Spanish; I’ve heard they hang out with family every weekend!”
    This is a humorous way to encourage someone to take heart cause things could’ve been worse.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • släkt: “family”
  • illa: “bad”
  • fickplunta: “hip flask”
  • att lida: “to suffer”
  • Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

    16. Post about Your Travel Plans in Swedish

    So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in Swedish about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

    Amanda waits at the airport for her flight, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Nu bär det av till Spanien! Nu sticker vi!
    “We’re off to Spain! We’re taking off now!”

    1- Nu bär det av till Spanien!

    First is an expression meaning “Now we’re off to Spain!.”
    “Nu bär det av till” is an expression used when you are about to depart. It’s most commonly used when leaving for a destination far away, such as another country or city.

    2- Nu sticker vi!

    Then comes the phrase – “We’re leaving now!.”
    “att sticka” actually means “to sting”, but it’s also a slang expression meaning “we’re leaving”. “Nu sticker jag!” (I’m leaving now!)

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Farväl regniga Sverige! Sol och bad, här kommer vi!

    Her husband, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Farewell, rainy Sweden! Sun and sea, here we come!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling enthusiastic and excited.

    2- Får man följa med?

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Can I come?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling a bit envious and wants to join in the fun.

    3- Håll hårt i pass och plånböcker!

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Hold on to your passports and wallets!”
    Use this expression to demonstrate your concern for the poster’s safety and possessions.

    4- Kan ni smuggla med mig i resväskan eller?

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Can you smuggle me in your suitcase or what?”
    Use this expression to be funny, also to demonstrate that you’re somewhat envious of the poster’s plans.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • Nu sticker vi!: “We’re leaving now!”
  • farväl: “farewell”
  • att följa: “to follow”
  • Håll hårt i: “hold on tight to”
  • att smuggla: “to smuggle”
  • Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in Swedish!

    17. Posting about an Interesting Find in Swedish

    So maybe you’re strolling around at your local market, and find something interesting. Here are some handy Swedish phrases!

    Anders finds an unusual item at a local market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Tala om för mig vad detta är! Jag har ingen aning!
    “Tell me what this is! I have no idea!”

    1- Tala om för mig vad detta är!

    First is an expression meaning “Tell me what this is!”
    “Tala om för mig” means “tell me” and is used when asking someone to explain something. It’s used informally and can be considered rude if used in a formal situation. If you want to use it in a polite way, you can add “Kan du” (Could you) before the phrase and “är du snäll” (please) after the phrase. För example: “Kan du tala om för mig hur jag tar mig till tågstationen är du snäll?” (“Could you tell me how I can get to the train station, please?” )

    2- Jag har ingen aning!

    Then comes the phrase – “I have no idea!.”
    “Jag har ingen aning” is a phrase used by a person who really had no idea about the answer to a question, or what should be done in a certain situation. It’s a common expression among both children and adults.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Vad tusan är det där?

    His college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “What is that?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling confusion, same as the poster.

    2- Har aldrig sett något liknande!

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “I’ve never seen anything like it!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling surprised.

    3- Lever man tillräckligt länge så får man se allt…

    His wife, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “If you live long enough, you get to see everything…”
    Use this phrase to express something that means roughly the same as “There’s nothing new under the sun”.

    4- Vad i??

    His nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “What the??”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling great surprise

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • att ana: “to suspect”
  • Vad tusan?: “What the heck?”
  • något liknande: “something like it”
  • tillräcklig: “enough”
  • Vad i??: “What the?”
  • Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

    Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

    18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in Swedish

    Let your friends know what you’re up to in Swedish, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

    Amanda visits a famous landmark, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Hur häftigt är inte detta? Jag står på toppen av Frihetsguddinnan!
    “How cool is this? I’m standing at the top of the Statue of Liberty!”

    1- Hur häftigt är inte detta?

    First is an expression meaning “How cool is this?.”
    This is used when expressing strong emotions over something. You’re not actually expecting an answer to your question. You can substitute “häftigt” (cool) for other adjectives such as “snyggt” (beautiful/cool), “dåligt” (bad), or “mysko” (weird). “Hur mysko är inte detta?” means “How weird is this?”

    2- Jag står på toppen av Frihetsguddinnan!

    Then comes the phrase – “I’m standing at the top of the Statue of Liberty!.”
    “Jag står” means “I’m standing.” It can be changed to “Jag sitter” (“I’m sitting” ) or “Jag är” (“I am” ), and the location. For example: “Jag sitter på tåget”. (“I’m sitting on the train” ), or “Jag är på kryssningsfartyget nu”. (“I’m on the cruise ship now” ). It is an expression that’s used to tell people where you are and what you are doing.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Tog du trapporna upp eller fuskade du och tog hissen?

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Did you take the stairs up or did you cheat and take the elevator? ”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warm-hearted and making a joke.

    2- Jag trodde Anders var höjdrädd?

    Her supervisor, Oliver, uses an expression meaning – “I thought Anders was afraid of heights?”
    Use this expression to be lightly teasing, or it can also be a serious question to clarify whether someone has a fear of heights.

    3- Du är inte rädd för höjder, va?

    Her nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “You’re not afraid of heights, right? ”
    With this phrase, you make a statement, but also wants confirmation of its accuracy.

    4- Jag valde ju då att skippa detta…

    Her husband, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Well, I chose to skip this…”
    This is sharing a report on your activities; in this case, you chose not to partake in an activity.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • häftig: “cool”
  • att fuska: “to cheat”
  • höjdrädd: “afraid of heights”
  • rädd: “scared”
  • att skippa: “to skip”
  • Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

    Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

    19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in Swedish

    So you’re doing nothing yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in Swedish!

    Anders relaxes at a beautiful place, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Det här är livet! En kall bira och solsken!
    “This is life! A cold drink and sunshine!”

    1- Det här är livet!

    First is an expression meaning “This is life!.”
    “Det här är livet!” is an expression used when life is really good. A variation of the expression is “Det här är det goda livet!” meaning “This is the good life!”

    2- En kall bira och solsken!

    Then comes the phrase – “A cold beer and sunshine!.”
    “bira” is slang, meaning “öl” (beer). Most men consider a cold beer to be one of the best things in the world.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Najs! Du tänkte inte bjuda med mig?

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Nice! You weren’t going to invite me? ”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted but maybe also somewhat left out.

    2- Du sparar en till mig också?

    His wife, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “You’ll save one for me too?”
    Use this expression to show you want to be included.

    3- Det var länge sen man hade en riktig slappdag.

    His nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “It’s been a long time since I had a real chill day.”
    Use this expression to share that you haven’t had a nice, relaxing day for a long time.

    4- Somliga jobbar ju hela dagen idag…

    His supervisor, Oliver, uses an expression meaning – “Some people work all day today…”
    Use this expression to be old fashioned and a bit sarcastic, in this context.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • bira: “beer”
  • att bjuda: “to invite”
  • att spara: “to save”
  • slappdag: “chill day”
  • somliga: “some people”
  • Which phrase would you use to comment in a friend’s feed?

    The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

    20. What to Say in Swedish When You’re Home Again

    And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

    Amanda returns home after a vacation, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Borta bra men hemma bäst! Helt rätt!
    “Away is good, but home is best! Absolutely right!”

    1- Borta bra men hemma bäst!

    First is an expression meaning: “Away is good, but home is best!.”
    This is a popular expression used in Swedish. It’s used to express that traveling is fun and good, but home is still the best place to be. This expression is often used when returning home after being away for some time.

    2- Helt rätt!

    Then comes the phrase – “Completely right!.”
    This is an expression used when you completely agree with what someone says. Another expression that means the same thing is “Det stämmer”, which means “That’s correct.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Välkommen tillbaka!

    Her supervisor, Oliver, uses an expression meaning – “Welcome back!”
    Use this expression to be welcoming and kind.

    2- Nä, själv tycker jag att gräset är grönare på andra sidan!

    Her college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “Nah, personally, I think the grass is greener on the other side!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous and humorous.

    3- Men gumman, du var ju bara borta en vecka!

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “But honey, you were only away for a week!”
    Use this expression to be funny and caring.

    4- Önskar jag också fick åka på semester!

    Her friend, Anneli, uses an expression meaning – “Wish I could go on a holiday too!”
    Use this expression when you want to express a wish about going away on holiday.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • rätt: “correct”
  • välkommen: “welcome”
  • gräs: “grass”
  • gumman: “honey”
  • att önska: “to wish”
  • How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

    What do you post on social media during a public holiday and festival, such as Midsummer Day?

    21. It’s Time to Celebrate in Swedish

    It’s a celebratory day and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

    Anders attends Midsummer Festival celebrations, posts a photo of the events, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Glad midsommar! Nu ska det firas!
    “Happy Midsummer! It’s time to celebrate now!”

    1- Glad midsommar!

    First is an expression meaning “Happy Midsummer!.”
    This Swedish expression is used on Midsummer eve to wish people a happy celebration. Midsummer is celebrated in June.

    2- Nu ska det firas!

    Then comes the phrase – “It’s time to celebrate now!.”
    An expression used when it’s time to celebrate. It can be used on any holiday that is commonly celebrated.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Detta blir årets bästa middag!

    His friend, Anneli, uses an expression meaning – “This will be the best dinner of the year!”
    Use this expression to show you are excited about the event.

    2- Skål på er allihopa!

    His wife, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “Cheers to all of you!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling kind and wish everyone well.

    3- Nu blir det dans runt midsommarstången med barnen!

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Now it’s time to dance around the maypole with the kids!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling excited about the festivities taking place.

    4- Kan knappt tro det, en midsommar utan regn!

    His high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “(I) can hardly believe it; a midsummer without rain!”
    Use this phrase to express amazement at the weather.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • att fira: “to celebrate”
  • middag: “dinner”
  • Skål!: “Cheers!”
  • att dansa: “to dance”
  • utan: “without”
  • If a friend posted something about a holiday, which phrase would you use?

    Midsummer’s Day and other public commemoration days are not the only special ones to remember!

    22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in Swedish

    Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

    Amanda goes to her birthday party, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Tack för den fantastiska festen! Då var man ett år äldre då!
    “Thank you for the fantastic party! I guess I’m one year older now!”

    1- Tack för den fantastiska festen!

    First is an expression meaning “Thank you for the fantastic party!.”
    “Tack för” (Thank you for) is a phrase used when thanking people for something. For example: “den underbara middagen” (the wonderful dinner).

    2- Då var man ett år äldre då!

    Then comes the phrase – “I’m one year older now then!.”
    This is a phrase often used jokingly by someone who’s just had their birthday, suggesting that they’ve aged. It’s said by middle-aged people the most and is commonly seen on birthday cards with jokes.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du ser inte en dag äldre ut!

    Her husband, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “You don’t look a day older!”
    Use this phrase to compliment someone on their youthful appearance, despite their age.

    2- Man är bara så gammal som man känner sig!

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “You’re only as old as you feel!”
    This is a common saying that means just what it says – if you don’t feel old, you are not old! Comment like this simply to partake in the online conversation.

    3- Ha den äran!

    Her college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday!”
    Use this traditional expression when you want to wish someone a happy birthday.

    4- Stort grattis på den stora dagen!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “Big happy birthday on your big day!”
    This is a warm-hearted variation of the traditional birthday wish.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • fantastisk: “fantastic”
  • äldre: “older”
  • att känna: “to feel”
  • Ha den äran!: “Happy Birthday!”
  • grattis: “Happy birthday!”
  • If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

    23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in Swedish

    Impress your friends with your Swedish New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

    Anders celebrates the New Year, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Gott nytt år! Snart är det dags för nedräkningen!
    “Happy New Year! It’s time for the countdown soon!”

    1- Gott nytt år!

    First is an expression meaning “Happy New Year!.”
    This is the Swedish expression for wishing people a Happy New Year! The Swedes shout this out at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve.

    2- Snart är det dags för nedräkningen!

    Then comes the phrase – “It’s time for the countdown soon!.”
    “Snart är det dags” (It’s time for …. soon.) “nedräkning” means countdown. The Swedish people also count down the last seconds of the old year until the clock strikes midnight.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Ännu ett underbart år tillsammans, låt oss hoppas att nästa år blir ännu bättre!

    His wife, Amanda, uses an expression meaning – “Yet another wonderful year together; let’s hope next year will be even better!”
    Use this to express your positive feelings about the year past, and hopes for the year ahead.

    2- Vilket jäkla år, tack Gud att det är över!

    His nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “What a heck of a year; thank goodness it’s over!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling relieved that the old year is past.

    3- Har ni några nyårslöften?

    His supervisor, Oliver, uses an expression meaning – “Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?”
    Use this question if you wish to keep the conversation about New Year going.

    4- Jag ska leva livet!

    His college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “I’m going to live life!”
    Use this phrase to express your positive intention with your life in the New Year.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • nedräkning: “countdown”
  • underbar: “wonderful”
  • “tack gud”: “Thank you God”
  • nyårslöfte: “New Year’s resolution”
  • att leva: “to live”
  • Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

    But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

    24. What to Post on Christmas Day in Swedish

    What will you say in Swedish about Christmas?

    Amanda celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Amanda’s post.

    Nu äre jul igen, nu äre jul igen! Julstök i full gång!
    “It’s Christmas again, it’s Christmas again! Christmas preparations in full swing!”

    1- Nu äre jul igen!

    First is an expression meaning “It’s Christmas again!.”
    “äre” is short for “är det” (“it is” or “is it” ) and is used when speaking, but not often in writing, unless it’s informal. “Nu är det jul igen” is a famous Christmas carol that everyone in Sweden knows off by heart. The phrase originally comes from the song but is often used to say “It’s Christmas again.”

    2- Julstök i full gång!

    Then comes the phrase – “Christmas preparations in full swing!.”
    “i full gång” means in full swing. It can be used for anything that is currently underway and is causing you to be very busy. For example: “Tentaplugg i full gång!” (“Exam studies are in full swing!” )

    COMMENTS

    In response, Amanda’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Jag kommer över med glögg och lussekatter straxt!

    Her neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “I’m coming over with mulled wine and saffron buns soon!”
    Use this expression to state your plans for the festivities. (Mulled wine and saffron buns are traditional Christmas Day food.)

    2- Har familjen varit snäll i år? Blir det några presenter från tomten?

    Her high school friend, Molly, uses an expression meaning – “Has the family been good this year? Will there be any presents from Santa?”
    These are questions that show an interest in the poster’s family, and to keep the conversation going.

    3- Efter mycket om och men så är julgranen äntligen uppe!

    Her husband, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “After a lot of trouble the Christmas tree is finally up!”
    Use this expression as an account of your activities on the day, specifically regarding erecting the Christmas tree.

    4- Julen är magisk! Nu ska det pyntas så ni inte kan tro!

    Her friend, Anneli, uses an expression meaning – “Christmas is magical! Now, it’s time to decorate like you wouldn’t believe!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic and enthusiastic about the festivities.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • julstök: “Christmas preparations”
  • glögg: “mulled wine”
  • tomten: “Santa”
  • Efter mycket om och men: “After a lot of trouble”
  • att pynta: “to decorate”
  • If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

    So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

    25. Post about Your Anniversary in Swedish

    Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which Swedish phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

    Anders celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anders’ post.

    Idag har det gått tre år sedan jag gifte mig med mitt livs kärlek! Grattis på bröllopsdagen älskling!
    “It’s been three years since I got married to the love of my life! Happy anniversary, honey!”

    1- Idag har det gått tre år sedan jag gifte mig med mitt livs kärlek!

    First is an expression meaning “It’s been three years since I got married to the love of my life!.”
    “mitt livs kärlek” (“the love of my life” ) is often used when referring to your partner, married or not married.

    2- Grattis på bröllopsdagen älskling!

    Then comes the phrase – “Happy anniversary, honey!.”
    “Grattis på bröllopsdagen” is the Swedish way to say “happy anniversary.” It’s said when celebrating a year, two years, etc., with your married partner.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anders’ friends leave some comments.

    1- Jag önskar er all lycka i världen!

    His neighbor, Caroline, uses an expression meaning – “I wish you all the luck in the world!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warm-hearted, wishing the couple well.

    2- Grattis på er tredje bröllopsdag! Jag trodde inte ni skulle klara det…

    His nephew, Alex, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations on your three-year anniversary! I didn’t think you would make it…”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling humorous, using sarcasm to be funny and tease the couple.

    3- Är det redan läderbröllop för er?

    His friend, Anneli, uses an expression meaning – “It’s already the leather anniversary for you?”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling supportive. (On the third-year anniversary of a marriage, it’s customary to give the couple gifts made from leather.)

    4- Önskar er allt gott, även om jag själv inte tror på giftermål.

    His college friend, Elias, uses an expression meaning – “Wishing you all the best, even though I don’t believe in marriage. ”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • mitt livs kärlek: “love of my life”
  • värld: “world”
  • bröllopsdag: “wedding anniversary”
  • läderbröllop: “leather anniversary”
  • giftemål: “marriage”
  • If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

    Conclusion

    Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

    Master these in fun ways with Learn Swedish! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!

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    How to Start Thinking in Swedish

    Learn 4 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Swedish

    Going through Swedish lessons is enough to get by and learn the basics of Swedish, but to truly become fluent you need to be able to think in Swedish. This will allow you to have conversations with ease, read smoothly, and comprehensively understand natives. To do this, you need to go beyond just completing daily or weekly lessons.

    We naturally translate in our heads because it’s viewed as the easiest way to learn the definitions needed when learning a language. This way of learning can actually hinder your skills and fluency later on. If your brain has to make neural connections between the word you’re learning, what it means in your native tongue, and the physical object the connection will not be nearly as strong. When you bypass the original translation between Swedish and your native language then there is a more basic and strong connection between just the Swedish vocabulary word and the tangible object.

    start thinking in Swedish

    In this blog post, you will learn the 4 important techniques to easily and naturally begin to speculate about the daily occurrences in your life. The best part is all of these techniques are supported and can be achieved through SwedishPod101.com.

    Create Your Free Lifetime Account and Start Learning the whole Swedish Language from the Beginning!

    1. Surround yourself with Swedish

    Surround Yourself

    By surrounding yourself with Swedish constantly you will completely immerse yourself in the language. Without realizing it you’ll be learning pronunciation, sentence structures, grammar, and new vocabulary. You can play music in the background while you’re cooking or have a Swedish radio station on while you study. Immersion is a key factor with this learning process because it is one of the easiest things to do, but very effective. Even if you are not giving the program your full attention you will be learning.

    One great feature of SwedishPod101.com is the endless podcasts that are available to you. You can even download and listen to them on the go. These podcasts are interesting and are perfect for the intention of immersion, they are easy to listen to as background noise and are interesting enough to give your full attention. Many of them contain stories that you follow as you go through the lessons which push you to keep going.

    2. Learn through observation
    learn through observation

    Learning through observation is the most natural way to learn. Observation is how we all learned our native languages as infants and it’s a wonder why we stop learning this way. If you have patience and learn through observation then Swedish words will have their own meanings rather than meanings in reference to your native language. Ideally, you should skip the bilingual dictionary and just buy a dictionary in Swedish.

    SwedishPod101.com also offers the materials to learn this way. We have numerous video lessons which present situational usage of each word or phrase instead of just a direct translation. This holds true for many of our videos and how we teach Swedish.

    3. Speak out loud to yourself
    talk to yourself

    Speaking to yourself in Swedish not only gets you in the mindset of Swedish, but also makes you listen to how you speak. It forces you to correct any errors with pronunciation and makes it easy to spot grammar mistakes. When you speak out loud talk about what you did that day and what you plan to do the next day. Your goal is to be the most comfortable speaking out loud and to easily create sentences. Once you feel comfortable talking to yourself start consciously thinking in your head about your daily activities and what is going on around you throughout the day.

    With SwedishPod101.com you start speaking right away, not only this, but they have you repeat words and conversations after a native Swedish speaker. This makes your pronunciation very accurate! With this help, you are on the fast path to making clear and complex sentences and then actively thinking about your day.

    4. Practice daily

    If you don’t practice daily then your progress will be greatly slowed. Many people are tempted to take the 20-30 minutes they should be practicing a day and practice 120 in one day and skip the other days. This isn’t nearly as effective because everyday you practice you are reinforcing the skills and knowledge you have learned. If you practice all in one day you don’t retain the information because the brain can realistically only focus for 30 minutes at most. If you’re studying for 120 minutes on the same subject little of the information will be absorbed. Studying everyday allows you to review material that you went over previous days and absorb a small amount of information at a time.

    It’s tough to find motivation to study everyday, but SwedishPod101.com can help. It’s easy to stay motivated with SwedishPod101.com because we give you a set learning path, with this path we show how much progress you’ve made. This makes you stick to your goals and keep going!

    Conclusion

    Following the steps and having patience is the hardest part to achieving your goals, it’s not easy learning a new language. You are essentially teaching your brain to categorize the world in a completely new way. Stick with it and you can do it just remember the 4 tools I taught you today! With them, conversations, reading, and understanding will become much easier. The most important thing to remember is to use the tools that SwedishPod101.com provides and you will be on your way to being fluent!

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    4 Reasons Why Swedish Slang Words Will Make You Fluent

    Learn 4 honest reasons you need Swedish slang words and why they are so vital to truly learning and mastering the language.

    Teachers may normally cringe at the thought of their students learning Swedish slang words. After all, slang words and phrases are typically defined as being grammatically incorrect. So why would your teacher want you to spend time learning the “wrong way” to speak Swedish? Here are 4 of the top reasons why you should study slang words and expressions when learning Swedish or any new language.

    reasons to learn swedish slang words

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    1. Native Speakers Use Slang Expressions in Everyday Conversation

    If you are going to study a foreign language and plan to use it to speak with native speakers, then you have to learn slang words and expressions. Otherwise, just using formal expressions and grammar may alienate you from native speakers and make it more difficult to establish a real connection. So it is best to at least learn some common slang words and expressions if you’re planning to meet or speak socially with someone.

    2. Slang Words Are Used All Throughout Swedish Culture

    If you turn on any popular Swedish TV show, listen to any song, or watch any movie, you are quickly going to see the value of learning Swedish slang phrases. Just like everyday conversations between native speakers, Swedish culture is filled with slang phrases and expressions. Without at least some knowledge of the more common slang phrases, popular culture and most conversations will be very confusing and potentially alienating.

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    3. Slang Expressions Help You Better Express Your True Thoughts and Feelings

    Only relying on formal grammar and vocabulary is very limiting, especially in social situations. Just like in your native language, using the appropriate Swedish slang words can help you express a broader range of emotions, thoughts, and feelings.

    4. Proper Use of Slang Makes You Sound More Natural

    We’ve all met foreigners who technically used formal language perfectly but still sounded odd and well….foreign. But when you use the right slang words and expressions, you will sound more natural and like a true native speaker. If you notice, even most politicians include a sprinkling of slang expressions and words throughout their speeches to help them sound more natural and to better connect with the audience.

    The Dark Side of Slang Expressions

    Learning Swedish slang words can indeed help you sound more natural, better understand the people and culture, and make integration much easier. However, there is a dark side: using the wrong slang expressions can also make you look foolish, uneducated, and potentially disrespectful.

    But how do you know which slang words or phrases to use and when?

    The truth is that you can’t learn the most modern and appropriate slang words in textbooks or formal classroom settings. By the time the information gets incorporated into a formal curriculum, it’s already outdated and no longer in use by actual Swedish people. And while you can learn current slang expressions from Swedish TV shows, movies, songs, and games, you may not understand the context. If that happens, you may use the right Swedish slang words but in the wrong situation and still look like a fool or possibly even offend someone.

    Step out from the darkness and Get Your FREE PDF eBook to Start Learning Swedish!

    So where can you learn current slang expressions and the right context in which to use them?

    At SwedishPod101, native speaking instructors create audio and video lessons that can include slang expressions and words. Our instructors provide context and examples for all the Swedish slang words used in any lesson to make sure students understand the right time and place to use them.

    Swedish slang words and expressions may be grammatically incorrect but they are vital to truly understanding and immersing yourself in the culture. In fact, it will be very difficult to fully understand any movie, TV show, song, game, or even 1-on-1 conversation without knowing a few of the more common slang expressions.

    However, it is important to learn the proper context and use of even popular slang expressions or you may come across as confusing, disrespectful, or uneducated.
    At SwedishPod101, you’ll learn how to use slang phrases and words to draw the right attention and avoid these problems.

    Don’t forget to sign up for a Free Lifetime Account on SwedishPod101.com to access tons of FREE lessons and features to become fluent in Swedish!

    How to Learn Swedish in Your Car?

    How to Learn Swedish in Your Car? Learn language in car

    Stuck in traffic? Losing time in your car? Have you ever felt that in all this wasted time, you could have watched the 750 episodes of One Piece, finished the last Super Mario ten times, or even better…you could have learned Swedish? Between family, friends and work, in addition to this time-consuming commute, it can become difficult to find time to properly learn Swedish.

    Fortunately, every problem has a solution, and what could be a better solution than turning that commute time into learning time? Stop passing the time mindlessly listening to the radio and try some of our best tips for mastering Swedish in your car!

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    Click Here To Start Learning Swedish Right Now!

    You can learn Swedish in your car, hands free
    While driving, it’s important that you keep your focus on the road, so this is why our top tips won’t require you to use your hands!

    Listening to Swedish audio content in the car is a good way to learn
    This is because it is a fun and efficient way to learn. With SwedishPod101.com podcasts, you will be able to discover Swedish culture through topics about everyday life. Instead of the radio, listen to a Swedish podcast adapted to your level, from Absolute Beginner to Advanced, and you will make progress sooner that you would expect!

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    You can listen to Swedish music in the car
    Did you know that you can learn Swedish by singing while driving? Listen to songs from cartoon or drama and try to identify some words you learned.

    Challenge yourself! Use the Swedish you’ve studied up to this point and see how much you understand! Making the jump to real-life Swedish is a scary one, but friendly children’s songs are a great place to start!

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    You can learn alone in your car
    When you’re driving alone, you can be as loud as you want – there is nothing better for remembering your Swedish lessons than repeating loudly, again and again. Next time you see a driver who seems to be talking alone, you will know he or she is just learning Swedish!

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    You can learn through repetition with your passengers
    If there are passengers in the car, it can be more stimulating to learn together. You can set a role play with Swedish dialogues. With SwedishPod101.com, you can download all the lessons transcript including the dialogues, as a PDF. Print it out and have some fun speaking in Swedish!

    One of the passengers can answer the quiz available on each of our lessons, while another can correct that person. Listening to someone at a more advanced level of Swedish or a better accent is positive and helps you improve.

    You can learn Swedish offline
    Do you have a poor connection or are unable to use the Internet? It’s not a problem for learning Swedish! Before you start your commute, use our App to download the lessons you want to study and the podcast you want to listen to in your car, and you will be able to enjoy your lessons offline. Entering a tunnel won’t be a problem anymore. What a pleasure to listen to audio content without having the host freezing every 5 seconds!

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    Click here to download the App and learn offline!

    You can learn every day at your own pace
    One of the best approaches for learning a language is little by little and often. It’s not efficient to take in a huge amount of information at one time. What you need is to study on a regular basis – a little bit of Swedish every day. You commute several days a week, and that is all time you can take advantage of!

    You have the freedom to choose the lessons and podcasts you want to focus on, at your own rhythm. You may want to do a little revision or discover how to talk about a new topic. And if you’re wondering what to learn next, you can use the new Learning Paths, which is our customized pathway feature that gives you a step-by-step way to learn Swedish without getting lost!

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    Click here to access Learning Paths at SwedishPod101!

    If you don’t have a car and commute by another method, these tips are still valid! Learning Swedish is no longer limited to the classroom or your house; there are so many benefits to learning in your car or elsewhere. Reaching a conversational level will take you less time than you could ever have imagined! Don’t forget to sign up for your Free Lifetime Account and enjoy our content!

    10 Monthly Goals to become fluent in Swedish

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    Hey Swedish Learner!

    Shortcuts for learning and tips to remember Swedish words are useful but it’s even also important to fix objectives to reach every month! What Is Your Language Learning Goal for the Month?
    In your journey to become fluent and conversational here are 10 monthly goals you can go after!

    Click Here To Start Learning Swedish Right Now!

    1) I’ll finish Survival Phrases series on SwedishPod101.com by listening to two lesson a day.

    2) I’ll give a 3 minute introductory speech in Swedish to my Swedish friends.

    3) I’ll finish reading one Swedish book by reading 10 pages a day.

    4) I’ll pass my Swedish test.

    5) I’ll write 10 postcards in Swedish to my Swedish friends.

    6) I’ll memorize 5 Swedish songs.

    7) I’ll finish memorizing 350 words with Flashcards on SwedishPod101.com.

    8 ) I’ll fully understand one Swedish movie by watching it every day.

    9) I’ll learn how to talk about past, present and future events.

    10) I’ll master 150 words by memorizing 5 words a day.

    No money, no credit card required, just you and the ton of lessons!

    If you follow those monthly goals, you will be sure to make some amazing progress. And remember, if you’re really interested in getting on the fast-track to fluency, sign up for a FREE lifetime account at SwedishPod101.com!