Swedish is full of words that feel just right - whether you're chatting over coffee or navigating daily life. Here are 40 terms you’ll hear (and use) all the time.
Greetings & Basics
Hej
/ˈhɛjː/“Hello”
The universal Swedish greeting, suitable for any time of day.
Tack
/tak/“Thanks”
Used for both 'thanks' and 'please' in many contexts.
Ursäkta
/ʉ̟ːˈʂɛkta/“Excuse me”
Polite way to get someone’s attention or apologise.
Ja / Nej
/jɑː/ /nɛj/“Yes / No”
Essential for any conversation.
Food & Drink
Fika
/²fiːka/“Coffee break”
A sacred Swedish ritual involving coffee, pastries, and socialising.
Kanelbulle
/kaˈneːlˌbɵlːɛ/“Cinnamon bun”
The star of every fika.
Smörgås
/ˈsmœrˌɡoːs/“Sandwich”
Open-faced sandwiches are a Swedish staple.
Vatten
/ˈvatːɛn/“Water”
Because hydration is important, even in a fika-heavy diet.
At Home
Hem
/hɛm/“Home”
Where the heart (and probably some IKEA furniture) is.
Sovrum
/ˈsoːvˌrɵm/“Bedroom”
Essential for surviving dark Swedish winters.
Tvättmaskin
/ˈtvɛtːmaˌɧiːn/“Washing machine”
Because even Swedes can’t wear the same clothes forever.
Out & About
Affär
/a¹fɛːr/“Shop”
Where you’ll buy your kanelbullar.
Tåg
/toːɡ/“Train”
Sweden’s efficient rail system makes this a common word.
Buss
/bɵs/“Bus”
For when the tåg doesn’t go your way.
Park
/parːk/“Park”
Swedes love the outdoors, even in winter.
Time & Weather
Idag
/ˈiːdɑːɡ/“Today”
A useful word when making plans.
Imorgon
/ɪˈmɔrɡɔn/“Tomorrow”
For when you’re procrastinating.
Sol
/soːl/“Sun”
A rare but celebrated sight in winter.
Regn
/rɛŋn/“Rain”
More common than sol, unfortunately.
People & Relationships
Vän
/vɛːn/“Friend”
Swedes take time to make these, but they’re worth it.
Familj
/faˈmɪlːj/“Family”
Central to Swedish life, even if they don’t talk about it much.
Kärlek
/ˈɕɛːrˌleːk/“Love”
A word that needs no translation.
Swedish Life
Lagom
/ˈlɑːˌɡɔm/“Just the right amount”
The Swedish philosophy of balance and moderation.
Mysig
/ˈmyːˌsɪɡ/“Cosy”
Essential for surviving long winters.
Panta
/ˈpanta/“Recycle (for deposit)”
Sweden’s bottle recycling system is legendary.
These words are just the beginning. For more on Swedish culture, see our article on lagom living.
