Many Swedes are fluent in English. This comes not only from school, but from movies, tv, and the internet.

However, there are also many Swedes who are uncomfortable speaking English, or who cannot converse in English. Signs and other messages are also in Swedish, so it is good for you to know some common words and phrases.

The Swedish language uses the same alphabet as English, with three additional letters:

Å comes after Z, and is pronounced like a long O in English.

Ä comes after Å, and is pronounced somewhat like a short a or short e in English.

Ö is the last letter of the alphabet, and is pronounced a bit like the U in the word “put”.

NEVER confuse Å or Ä with A, or Ö with O.

Important phrases

English

Swedish

Phonetic pronunciation

(very approximate)

Hi!

Goodbye

Good day

My name is

Where is _____ ?

restroom

car

Thank You

Thank you so much.

Help yourself. Here you are.

Welcome

How much?

One, two, three, four, five

six, seven, eight, nine, ten

eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen

sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty

thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy

eighty, ninety, one hundred, one thousand

money

Hej!

Hej, då!

Goddag

Jag heter

Var är ____?

toalett

bil

Tack

Tack så mycket

Varsågod

Välkommen, Välkomna

Hur mycket?

Ett (en), två, tre, fyra, fem

sex, sju, åtta, nio, tio

elva, tolv, tretton, fjorton, femton

sexton, sjutton, arton, nitton, tjugo

trettio, förtio, femtio, sextio, sjuttio

åttio, nittio, ett hundra, ett tusend

pengar

Hey

Hey doe

good dog

ya hater

var a

toalet

beel

tock

tock so micke

var so good

velkommen, velkomna

hoor micke?

ett (en), tvo, tray, firra, fem

sex, shoo, oata, neeo, teeo

elva, tolv, tretton, fyorton, femton

sexton, shooton, arton, nitton, chugo

tretty, furty, femty, sexty, shooty

oaty, nitty, ett hoondra, ett toosend