One of the North Germanic languages, Swedish is most closely related to Danish and Norwegian. It has approximately 9,000,000 speakers. Swedish is an official language in Sweden and in Aland Ahvenanmag, Finland. It has an equal status with Finnish as an official language in Finland and is one of the languages of the European Union.

Pronunciation

Vowels

A: short, as the 'u' in 'cut' or long, as in 'father'

E: short, as in 'bet' or long, as in 'beer'

I: short, as in 'it' or long as in 'marine'

U: short, as in 'pull' or long as in 'ooze'

O: short, as in 'pot' or long as in 'pool'

Y: as the 'ee' in 'feet' but with pursed lips

Å: short as the 'o' in 'pot' or long, as the 'oo' in 'poor'

Ä: as the 'e' in 'bet' or as the 'a' in 'act'

Ö: similar to the 'er' in 'fern'

Consonants

C: as the 's' in 'sit'

Ck: like a double 'k', shortens preceding vowels

Dj: as in the 'y' in 'yes'

G: as in 'go'; sometimes as the 'I' in 'onion' before certain vowels and after r

Sj, ch: similar to the 'ch' in Scottish loch

Tj, rs: as the 'sh' in 'ship'

 

Basics

Hello: Hej.

Goodbye: Adjö/Hej då.

Yes: Ja.

No: Nej.

Please: Snälla/Vänligen.

Thank you: Tack.

That's fine: Det är bra.

You are welcome: Varsågod

Excuse me. (Sorry): Ursäkta mig/Förlåt

Do you speak English?: Talar du engelska?

I don't understand : Jog förstår inte.

How much is it?: Hur mycket kostar den?

What's your name?: Vad heter du?

My name is …: Jag heter …

 

Where is the …?: Var finns …?

Bus stop: busshållplatsen

Train station: tågstationen

Tramstop: spårvagnshållplatsen

What time does the …leave/arrive? : Nar avgar/kommer?

Boat: båten

Bus (city): bussen

Tram: spårvagnen

Train: tåget

 

Signs

Entrance: ingång

Exit: utgång

No vacancies: fullt

Information: information

Open: öppen

Closed: stängd

Police station: polisstation

Rooms available: lediga rum

Toilets: toalett

Men: herrar

Women: damer


 

Around town


Bank: bank

City centre: centrum

… embassy: … ambassaden

my hotel: mitt hotell

market: marknaden

newsagency: nyhetsbyrå

post office: postkontoret

public telephone: offentlig telefon

public toilet: offentlig toalett

tourist office: turistinformation

what time does it open/close?: när öppnar/stänger de?

 

Times & Dates

What time is it?: Vad ar klockan?

Today: idag

Tomorrow: imorgon

Yesterday: igar

Morning: morgonen

Afternoon: eftermiddagen

Night: natt

 

Monday: måndag

Tuesday: tisdag

Wednesday: onsdag

Thursday: torsdag

Friday: fredag

Saturday: lördag

Sunday: söndag

 

Numbers

Zero: noll

One: ett

Two: två

Three: tre

Four: fyra

Five: fem

Six: sex

Seven: sju

Eight: åtta

Nine: nio

Ten: tio

To learn Swedish why not consider some Foreign Language Tution?

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