Greetings and Basic Courtesy
Swedes appreciate politeness, even if they switch to English the moment you hesitate. Start strong:
- Hej (hey) – The universal greeting, day or night.
- Tack (tack) – “Thanks.” Say it twice (Tack tack!) for extra warmth.
- Ursäkta (oor-sek-ta) – “Excuse me.” Essential for crowded trams or interrupting someone’s fika break.
Fika
/²fiːka/“Coffee break”
A sacred Swedish ritual involving coffee, pastries, and mandatory small talk. Do not disturb a Swede mid-fika.
Navigating Cities and Transport
Stockholm’s metro might look like a modern art exhibit, but these phrases will keep you on track:
- Var är närmaste tunnelbanestation? (var air nair-mas-ta tun-nel-bahn-eh-sta-shon) – “Where’s the nearest metro station?”
- En biljett till centralen, tack (en bil-yett till sen-trah-len tack) – “One ticket to the city centre, please.”
- Går den här bussen till Gamla Stan? (gor den hair boo-sen till gam-la stan) – “Does this bus go to the Old Town?”
Pro tip: Swedes rarely strike up conversations with strangers. If someone chats to you unprompted on public transport, they’re either drunk, lost, or both.
Food and Drink
Ordering surströmming is optional. Surviving the experience is not.
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Jag skulle vilja ha… | yag skool-leh vil-ya ha | “I’d like to have…” (starter for any order) |
| En kopp kaffe | en kop kaf-eh | Essential for surviving Swedish winters |
| Var är toaletten? | var air too-a-let-ten | After too many snaps |
Emergencies and Problems
Hopefully unused, but critical:
- Hjälp! (yelp) – “Help!” (Yes, it sounds like a dog’s yelp.)
- Ring polisen! (ring po-lee-sen) – “Call the police!”
- Jag har tappat mitt pass (yag har tap-at mitt pass) – “I’ve lost my passport.”
Sweden’s emergency number is 112. Memorise it before you need to scream HJÄLP!
Bonus: Sound Like a Local
Impress Swedes by nailing these:
- Lagom (lah-gom) – “Just the right amount.” The national philosophy. Use when refusing more coffee or describing the weather.
- Förlåt, jag är dansk (fur-lot yag air dansk) – “Sorry, I’m Danish.” Guaranteed laughs (or scowls).
