SwedishPod101.com Blog

Ever thought to yourself: What is a verb?  In addition to nouns, verbs are one of the most important parts of any sentence. They are the words we use to talk about actions (sjunga - sing), states of being (existera - exist), or occurrences (utveckla - develop), and they have to agree with the subject, which is who or what performs the action described.  Basically, all sentences need a verb to be complete, and this is why it’s so important to get them right when studying a foreign language!  Verbs and tenses in Swedish are actually not as complicated to learn as those of other languages—and in this article, you’ll find out why. We’ll look at how to form the main tenses in Swedish and discuss when to use each one; by the end,... Show more

Learning to understand, speak, and think in a different language is an amazing and fulfilling process. When we learn a foreign language, not only do we add a new skill to our repertoire, but we also change the very way we see and think about the world and our relationship to it.  If you’re considering taking up Swedish, you’ve likely asked these questions at some point: How long will it take to learn Swedish? And is it worth the commitment? We’ll get to the first question in a bit. As for the second question: Absolutely!  Did you know, for example, that if you learn Swedish you’ll also be able to understand Norwegian and Danish? This will open up the whole Scandinavian world to you! Three languages for the price of one!  ... Show more

Proverbs are popular sayings that provide a little dose of wisdom, a truth that is sometimes so obvious it’s overlooked.  Can you think of a proverb in your native language that touched you in an important moment of your life? Well, I can think of one: "There is no time like the present." So let’s get to it! Proverbs add versatility and color to our spoken language, so today we’ll introduce you to the thirty most common Swedish proverbs. Using any one of these at just the right moment is sure to impress native speakers! If you really want your language skills to shine, knowing proverbs in the Swedish language is a great way to start. And of course, it will also help you better fit in with Swedes and gain a deeper understanding of... Show more

Imagine a summer’s day spent strolling along waterfront promenades and harbors, surrounded by pencil-colored historical buildings and leafy parks…  But wait, you don’t need to imagine it. Just visit Stockholm! The capital of Sweden is made up of fourteen islands, through which the freshwater Lake Mälaren flows out into the Baltic Sea. Sounds like an idyllic place, doesn’t it? And that’s not all: Outside of the city, the Stockholm Archipelago continues with over 30,000 more islands. In this travel guide, you’ll discover Stockholm’s top eleven destinations as well as some extra tips and hints.  As St. Augustine said, "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." And I assure you, the pages of this... Show more

It’s no secret that Swedes speak English well. But if you dropped in unexpectedly on a Swedish company’s conference call, you might be a little surprised to hear everyone speaking in English despite the fact that everyone working there was born and raised in-country. What gives? Shouldn’t they be speaking...Swedish? Well, because of many different factors, there are quite a few modern colloquial English words in Swedish. They call this phenomenon "Swenglish," and here’s what it’s all about. Table of Contents Putting Swenglish in Context Examples of Swenglish English Loanwords What a Swedish Accent Sounds Like in English English Words Originally From Swedish Conclusion Putting Swenglish in Context ... Show more

How long was it after you heard the word "IKEA" that you started studying Swedish? IKEA, like meatballs and beautiful nature, produces a strong image of Swedish culture and the Swedish people. When you study a language, it’s important to know about the culture of where that language is spoken. If you learn from dictionaries and textbooks alone, you’ll never get a sense of what life is like on the streets in that country; if you only watch YouTube street interviews, you’ll never know what the literature is like. How up-to-date or complete are your mental images of Sweden? On this page, you’ll get to know Swedish culture a bit better. This knowledge, in turn, will act as an important complement to your language studies now and in... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SM9HcdbG-1M Witches, sorcerers, costumes, tricks, and superstition...no, it’s not Halloween! We’re talking about Valborgsmässoafton (Valborg or Walpurgis Night) in Sweden. While you might not associate the beginning of spring with witchcraft and sorcery, this correlation has some interesting roots in numerous European countries. In this article, you’ll learn about the origins of this mystical holiday and how it’s celebrated today.  Let’s go! 1. What is Walpurgis Night in Sweden? In Sweden, Walpurgis and May Day take place each year on the night of April 30 and day of May 1 respectively. This festival is also common in a number of other European countries, including Germany,... Show more

Would you say that you’re the adventurous type? One for tall waves on high seas, long journeys, and tough challenges? Whether you’re a beginner or an expert in Swedish, you know that the Swedish language can have its rough spots. Why not anchor yourself with something nice and tasty, something closely connected to Swedish culture? Aside from language, cuisine is one of the most tangible aspects of culture. Go down any main street in any town and you’ll see restaurants serving local and foreign foods right alongside each other. But what about Swedish food? You may be lucky enough to have Swedish restaurants nearby, or perhaps you have Swedish relatives who can cook nice meals for you. None of the above? Well in that case, it... Show more

https://www.youtube.com/embed/v7JhfNUmli4 What if I told you there was one day a year when you could eat all the waffles you could possibly want? Yes, I’m talking about Waffle Day (formerly known as Our Lady Day) in Sweden.  If you have a mighty sweet tooth on you (or just love pastries a lot), it’s your lucky day! We’ll discuss the origins of this holiday, get your mouth watering with some info on Swedish waffles, and cover some key vocabulary.  Let’s get started! 1. What is Waffle Day? In Sweden, Våffeldagen (Waffle Day) is a springtime holiday during which the general population can indulge in a feast of waffles! But despite the holiday’s festive and indulgent nature, it was originally celebrated as a... Show more

A quick glance at some photos of Swedish cities, and you may realize that Sweden doesn’t look all that different from English-speaking countries. And didn’t the Vikings end up living in the British Isles for a while? Similarly, Swedish grammar isn’t too far off from English grammar. Whether you look at the vocabulary, word order, or verb conjugation, you’re likely to see some major similarities. Of course, when you’re learning a language, you’re probably a bit more concerned with the differences. That’s why we’ve created this page: to give you a broad overview of some of the grammatical features of Swedish and how they differ from English. The more you know now, the better-prepared you’ll be in the future! In this Swedish grammar... Show more