How do you say hello in Swedish?

by Shane on January 8, 2009 · 2 comments

I bought a book today, a Swedish book, for Swedish kids. Its called ‘min första engelska ordbok’, my first English dictionary.

I need to increase my Swedish vocabulary so thought it could be a good book to work through. Yes they are the most basic Swedish words but they are very useful words for learning Swedish. I will reproduce some here as I know a lot of people visit the blog looking for help with learning Swedish.

Learn Swedish
How to Say Hello

Hello -hej

Darling – älskling (cant think when I would use this – whats the Swedish for ‘awlright treacle’)

How are you? Hur mår du?

See You Soon – Vi ses snart

Mr, Mrs – herr, fru, very very rare to call someone Mr or Mrs here, its just not done, I am not a snob but I expected my bank manager to call me Mr not by first name.

See You Tomorrow – Vi ses i morgon

Excuse Me -Ursäkta mig. ( not a word you hear as often as in England unfortunately)

Sorry – förlåt. Some Swedes look at you funny when you use this as they arent used to people pushing by and saying Sorry.

Thank You – tack

This is – detta är

Welcome – välkommen

Good Evening – Godkväll
Godkväll
Godkväll vi har väntat dig Mr Bond

Good Morning – Godmorgon sounds like gomorron!

Goodnight – godnatt

Good Afternoon – Godmiddag, never heard this at all! Maybe I should start using it.

Goodbye – hej då (hey door) or more formal adjö like the French adieu but never heard it said.

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{ 2 comments }

1 Emma January 8, 2009 at 7:49 pm: A couple of amendments, if you like…
If you bump into someone on the street you say “ursäkta”, not “förlåt”. Förlåt is more used in the contex “I’m sorry honey, I should have known you were right”
This is – det här är. “Detta” is very formal, and rarely used.
Both “godkväll” and “godmiddag” are old-fashioned terms that we don’t use. Just say hej! and you’ll be fine!
2 JSD October 8, 2009 at 6:51 pm: I have been a couple of times in Sweden, like.. 8? but it wasn’t until last time that I realised how true the Mr/Ms thing is!
I was at the hotel, checking in, and suddenly the staff called me Judith. I must say I was first a bit shocked, but then I realised why.
I live in Austria for some years now and here the Mr/Mrs and the “Sie” is a MUST almost everytime you don’t know the person (except Starbucks and Lush maybe). And even if you do, it might get tricky at work, for example. So I unfortunately kinda got used to it… so much that the first name calling sounded weird.
But I actually prefer it. It makes things easier, nicer, more personal.