Essential Swedish Vocabulary and Phrases for Complete Beginners

Getting Started with Essential Swedish Vocabulary

Swedish is a friendly, melodic language spoken in Sweden and parts of Finland. As a beginner, you do not need thousands of words to start communicating. A few essential phrases and everyday words will help you greet people, ask simple questions, and survive in basic situations like shopping or travelling.

Below you will find core Swedish vocabulary and phrases, always shown with English translations. Focus first on understanding and pronouncing them clearly; correct grammar will come with time.

Pronunciation Tips (Very Short Overview)

You do not need perfect pronunciation to be understood, but a few tips help:

å sounds a bit like aw in “law” (e.g. tack så mycket).
ä sounds like e in “bed” but longer (e.g. värld – world).
ö is similar to the vowel in British “bird” (e.g. öl – beer).
Stress is usually on the first syllable: TA-cka (to thank), HEJ (hi).

Basic Greetings and Polite Phrases

These are the first Swedish phrases you should learn. You will use them every day.

Simple Greetings

Hej – Hi / Hello
Hej hej – Hi (friendly, casual)
Hallå – Hello (informal)
God morgon – Good morning
God dag – Good day
God kväll – Good evening
God natt – Good night

Polite Phrases

Tack – Thank you
Tack så mycket – Thank you very much
Tack själv – Thank you (in reply)
Varsågod – You’re welcome / Here you go
Ursäkta – Excuse me / Sorry (to get attention or pass by)
Förlåt – I’m sorry (apology)
Snälla – Please (often added for politeness, e.g. “Snälla, hjälp mig”)

Example Mini-Dialogues

Example 1

Person A: Hej!
Person B: Hej hej!

Translation: A: Hi! B: Hi!

Example 2

Customer: Tack så mycket.
Shop assistant: Varsågod.

Translation: Customer: Thank you very much. Shop assistant: You’re welcome.

Introducing Yourself

When you meet new people, these phrases help you say who you are and where you are from.

Core Phrases

Jag heter … – My name is …
Vad heter du? – What is your name?
Jag kommer från … – I come from … / I am from …
Var kommer du ifrån? – Where are you from?
Trevligt att träffas – Nice to meet you
Hur mår du? – How are you?
Jag mår bra, tack. – I’m fine, thank you.
Inte så bra – Not so good

Example Conversation

Person A: Hej, jag heter Anna. Vad heter du?
Person B: Hej, jag heter David. Trevligt att träffas!
Person A: Trevligt att träffas. Var kommer du ifrån?
Person B: Jag kommer från England.

Translation:

A: Hi, my name is Anna. What is your name?
B: Hi, my name is David. Nice to meet you!
A: Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
B: I am from England.

Essential Question Words

Question words are extremely useful. With them, you can build many simple questions.

Vad – What
Vem – Who
Var – Where
När – When
Varför – Why
Hur – How
Vilken / Vilket / Vilka – Which (depends on noun gender/number)

Useful Question Phrases

Vad är det? – What is that?
Vad gör du? – What are you doing?
Var är toaletten? – Where is the toilet?
Hur mycket kostar det? – How much does it cost?
När går bussen? – When does the bus leave?
Varför ler du? – Why are you smiling?

Numbers and Time Basics

Numbers are important for prices, time, and dates. Start with 0–10.

Numbers 0–10

noll – zero
ett – one
två – two
tre – three
fyra – four
fem – five
sex – six
sju – seven
åtta – eight
nio – nine
tio – ten

Time Expressions

tid – time
klocka – clock
Vad är klockan? – What time is it?
klockan är två – it is two o’clock
idag – today
igår – yesterday
imorgon – tomorrow

Everyday Survival Phrases

These phrases are extremely practical when travelling or living in Sweden.

Getting Help and Clarification

Jag förstår inte. – I don’t understand.
Förstår du? – Do you understand?
Kan du hjälpa mig? – Can you help me?
Jag pratar inte svenska så bra. – I don’t speak Swedish very well.
Kan du prata långsammare? – Can you speak more slowly?
Kan du säga det igen? – Can you say that again?
Vad betyder det? – What does that mean?
Hur säger man … på svenska? – How do you say … in Swedish?

At a Restaurant or Café

Jag skulle vilja ha … – I would like to have …
En kaffe, tack. – A coffee, please.
En öl, tack. – A beer, please.
Notan, tack. – The bill, please.
Är det här ledigt? – Is this seat free?

Shopping and Money

Hur mycket kostar det? – How much does it cost?
Kan jag betala med kort? – Can I pay by card?
Kontant eller kort? – Cash or card?
Jag bara tittar. – I’m just looking.

Useful Everyday Vocabulary

Here are some common words you will see and hear often.

People and Family

man – man
kvinna – woman
barn – child
vän – friend
mamma – mom
pappa – dad
bror – brother
syster – sister

Places

hus – house
lägenhet – apartment
affär – shop / store
restaurang – restaurant
skola – school
arbetsplats – workplace
sjukhus – hospital
busshållplats – bus stop

Common Verbs (Infinitive Form)

att vara – to be
att ha – to have
att göra – to do / to make
att gå – to go / to walk
att komma – to come
att vilja – to want
att äta – to eat
att dricka – to drink
att bo – to live (reside)

Simple Example Sentences

Jag är trött. – I am tired.
Jag har en bror. – I have a brother.
Vi går hem. – We are going home.
Jag vill äta nu. – I want to eat now.
Jag bor i Stockholm. – I live in Stockholm.

Talking About Likes and Dislikes

It is useful to say what you like, love, or do not like.

Jag tycker om … – I like …
Jag älskar … – I love …
Jag gillar … – I like … (informal)
Jag tycker inte om … – I don’t like …

Examples

Jag tycker om kaffe. – I like coffee.
Jag älskar musik. – I love music.
Jag tycker inte om vinter. – I don’t like winter.

Simple Everyday Questions You Can Practice

Here are some very practical beginner questions. Try to answer them about yourself in Swedish.

Var bor du? – Where do you live?
Vad jobbar du med? – What do you work with? / What is your job?
Vad gör du på fritiden? – What do you do in your free time?
Tycker du om Sverige? – Do you like Sweden?
Vilken mat tycker du om? – What food do you like?

How to Practice These Words and Phrases

To remember this vocabulary, use it actively:

Write mini-dialogues using hej, tack, ursäkta, and jag heter ….
Label objects in your home with Swedish words like dörr (door), stol (chair), bord (table).
Practice ordering in Swedish when you are in a café in Sweden, even if you switch to English later.
Repeat key phrases aloud every day: Jag kommer från …, Jag bor i …, Jag tycker om ….

With these essential Swedish words and phrases, you already have a strong foundation. Use them often, listen to native speakers, and slowly add new vocabulary. Lycka till! – Good luck!