1600+ Essential Swedish Phrases: Easy to Intermediate Pocket Size Phrase Book for Travel

By Fluency Pro

Struggling to speak Swedish like a native?

This Swedish phrasebook is an invaluable guide for learning and speaking Swedish while traveling. Designed for both beginners and advanced learners, learn how to speak in real life conversations with this organized guide.

Our book provides useful phonetic transcriptions of Swedish words and phrases to use in the most common situations including greetings, ordering food, booking hotels, emergency situations, small talk… and so much more!

The layout is straightforward, so you can easily move from chapter to chapter and look up words at your own pace. This phrasebook is comprehensive and easy to use, providing you with quick reference to learn Swedish fast and effectively.

Features include:

• 1600+ Conversational Words and Phrases Organized by Situation
• Includes Swedish and English Translations
• Phonetic Descriptions for Each Entry, Providing Easy Reference for Pronunciation

• Language: English
• Publisher: CB Books
• Release date: Jan 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223375050

Book preview

Disclaimer

Without the publisher's prior written consent, no portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the United States Copyright Act of 1976. Although every precaution has been taken in preparing this book, the publisher is not liable for any mistakes, omissions, or damages resulting from the use of the material included within. This book is intended solely for entertainment and educational purposes. The opinions presented are those of the author alone and should not be construed as professional advice or directives. The reader's activities are his or her own responsibility. The author and publisher take no responsibility or liability for the purchaser or reader of these contents. The reader is responsible for his or her own usage of any products or techniques referenced in this publication.

1600+ Essential Swedish Phrases

First Edition: March 26, 2023

Copyright © 2023 Caliber Brands Inc.

Cover images licensed through Shutterstock.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

ORDERING FOOD

BUYING TRAVEL TICKETS

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

TECH SUPPORT

SMALL TALK

ON A DATE

SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES

SIMPLE ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

ASKING FOR AND GIVING DIRECTIONS

COMMON BUSINESS STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS

STAYING AT A HOTEL

WEATHER

AT THE HOSPITAL

AT THE DOCTOR

WORKING OUT AT A GYM

COMMON GREETINGS

BANKING

COMMON TRAVELER QUESTIONS

COMMON RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

PETS

COLORS

NUMBERS

HANDLING A RUDE PERSON

AT THE DENTIST

COMMON QUESTIONS IN A NEW COUNTRY

POLITE RESPONSES

DESCRIBING PEOPLE

DESCRIBING THINGS

MAKING A SUGGESTION

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

MAKING PLANS

TALKING ABOUT DAILY ROUTINES

GIVING AND ASKING FOR ADVICE

TALKING ABOUT LIKES AND DISLIKES

EXPRESSING AGREEMENT OR DISAGREEMENT

MAKING EXCUSES

ASKING AND GIVING PERMISSION

MAKING COMPARISONS

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE AND APOLOGIES

MAKING PHONE CALLS

DESCRIBING FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

DISCUSSING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

DESCRIBING JOBS AND PROFESSIONS

GIVING AND RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS

EXPRESSING UNCERTAINTY AND PROBABILITY

SKILLS

FAMILY

BUSINESS NEGOTIATION

DESCRIBING ARTWORK

WATCHING EUROPEAN SOCCER

VISITING A BARBER OR HAIRSTYLIST

SHOPPING AT A GROCERY STORE

INTRODUCTION

Welcome! This book contains important phrases that will help you interact with others in Sweden or Finland and do everyday things like order food or ask for directions.

There are about 10 million native Swedish speakers, mostly in Sweden but also in some parts of Finland. Several individuals around the globe have learned it as a second language.

Swedish, the country's official language, is widely spoken and understood. It's used in all spheres of society, from classrooms to newspapers to boardrooms. Thus, Swedish is spoken by the majority of the population and plays an important role in everyday life.

Ostrobothnia and Åland, two coastal regions of Finland, have the highest concentrations of Swedish speakers outside of Sweden. Swedish is spoken not only in Sweden, but also by communities in other countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Learning Swedish might open up a lot of doors for you. To begin, being able to speak Swedish may greatly improve one's chances of finding work in Sweden or with Swedish firms. Knowing Swedish will set you apart in the employment market, as many industries want bilingual candidates. Furthermore, understanding Swedish can provide entry to academic programs and scholarship opportunities that may be unavailable to non-Swedish speakers.

How This Book Is Organized

In this book, you will find over 1600 common Swedish phrases organized by usage or situation.

Each entry follows a standard style that gives you the English sentence, the Swedish translation, and a phonetic description of how to pronounce the Swedish word. You can use the phonetic transcription to familiarize yourself with the Swedish pronunciation of printed words. Each transliteration has been broken down into syllables using dashes. Spaces separate the words. Capitalized syllables are stressed, but lowercase ones are not.

Vowels

Vowels in Swedish are crucial to the creation of meaning and the differentiation of words. There are a total of nine vowels in the Swedish language, five short and four long.

Short vowels are frequently pronounced more swiftly and with less emphasis than long vowels. The Swedish language has five short vowels: a, e, , i, o, and u. Many common Swedish words, such as sommar (summer) and fisk, begin with these vowels (fish).

In Swedish, the four long vowels are ä, ö, å, y. These vowels last longer than short vowels and can change the meaning of a word. In Swedish, the term lärare means teacher, but converting the a to å creates the word låtare, which means player.

Swedish vowels can also be altered using diacritic symbols such as the umlaut (¨), which changes the pronunciation of the vowel. The letter a with an umlaut (ä), for example, is pronounced like the letter a in cat, whereas the letter o with an umlaut (ö) is sounded like the i in bird.

Consonants

Swedish consonants are an important part of the language since they help to generate meaning and distinguish between different words. The Swedish language features 18 consonant sounds, including some that are not found in English.

In Swedish, consonants are either voiceless or voiced. Voiceless consonants are uttered without the use of the vocal chords, whereas voiced consonants are pronounced with the use of the vocal cords.

The Swedish language likewise has a number of consonant clusters. These are consonant groups that are spoken as a single syllable. In Swedish, common consonant clusters include sk, st, and sm.

The tonal accent, a pitch fluctuation used to distinguish between distinct meanings of a word, is one distinguishing element of Swedish consonants. For example, the word kött (flesh) has a high pitch on the first syllable, whereas the word kott (seed) has a low pitch on the first syllable.

Swedish consonants can also be modified using diacritic symbols, such as the acute accent ('), which alters the consonant's sound. The letter s with an acute emphasis ('s), for example, is pronounced like the sh in shoe.

Stressors and Intonation

Swedish pronunciation relies heavily on stress and intonation to express meaning and emphasize specific words or phrases.

Stress in Swedish refers to the emphasis given on specific syllables within a word. For example, the first syllable of the word kamera (camera) is stressed, but the second syllable of the word akademisk (academic) is stressed. Appropriate use of stress can aid in distinguishing between words that may otherwise sound similar.

In contrast, intonation refers to the rise and fall of pitch in a sentence or phrase. Swedish intonation often follows a pattern of increasing pitch near the end of a sentence, followed by a fall pitch at the finish. This pattern is frequently used to indicate a query or to imply uncertainty.

ORDERING FOOD

Hi, table for two, please.

Hej, bord för tvî tack.

Hey, BAWRD foR TVOH, tahck.

Could we have a booth/table, please?

Skulle vi kunna fî en bîs/bord, tack?

SKUHL-le vih KUHN-nah foh EHN BOHS/BOHRD, tahck?

Can we see the menu list, please?

Kan vi fî se menyn, tack?

KAHN vih foh seh MEN-yhn, tahck?

Can we see the wine list, please?

Kan vi fî se vinlistan, tack?

KAHN vih foh seh VIN-lis-tahn, tahck?

What do you recommend?

Vad rekommenderar du?

VAHD REH-koh-men-DEH-rahr doo?

Could we have some water, please?

Kan vi fî lite vatten, tack?

KAHN vih foh LEE-teh VAH-tahn, tahck?

I'd like to order the salmon, please.

Jag skulle vilja bestèlla laxen, tack.

Jahg SKUHL-leh VIL-yah be-STEL-la LAHK-sehn, tahck.

Can I have the steak well-done, please?

Kan jag fî biffen vèl genomstekt, tack?

KAHN yahg foh BEEF-fen VELL YOH-grohms-tekt, tahck?

Could I get a side of fries with that?

Kan jag fî en sida med pommes frites till det?

KAHN yahg foh ehn SEE-dah mehd POMS freet-ehs teel deht?

Could we have some more bread, please?

Kan vi fî lite mer brÜd, tack?

KAHN vih foh LEE-teh mehr BROHD, tahck?

I'm allergic to nuts, is there any dish without them?

Jag èr allergisk mot nÜtter, finns det nîgon rètt utan dem?

Jahg ehr AHL-er-gisk mohnt NOH-ter, fihns deht NOH-gon reht ootahn dehm?

Can we pay separately, please?

Kan vi betala separat, tack?

KAHN vih beh-TAH-la sehpah-RAHT, tahck?

This was delicious!

Det hèr var lèckert!

Deht hahr vahr LEH-kehrt!

Do you have any vegetarian options?

Har ni nîgra vegetariska alternativ?

HAHR nee NOH-grah veh-geh-tar-EE-ska AHL-tehr-NEE-tiv?

How spicy is this dish?

Hur stark èr den hèr rètten?

HOOR stark ehr dehn hehr REHT-tehn?

Can I have a glass of red/white wine?

Kan jag fî ett glas rÜtt/vitt vin?

KAHN yahg foh ehtt glahs REWT/VEET vin?

Could we have some more napkins, please?

Kan vi fî lite mer servetter, tack?

KAHN vih foh LEE-teh mehr sehr-VEHT-tehr, tahck?

This is not what I ordered.

Det hèr èr inte vad jag bestèllde.

Deht hehr ehr IN-teh vahd yahg beh-STEL-leh-deh.

Can you please heat this up?

Kan du vènligen vèrma upp detta?

KAHN doo VEN-li-gen VER-mah OHPP deh-toh?

Can we have the leftovers to go, please?

Kan vi fî matresterna med oss, tack?

KAHN vih foh MAHT-reh-stehr-nah mehd oss, tahck?

Excuse me, is the service charge included?

Ursèkta mig, ingîr serviceavgiften?

OOR-sehk-tah mehj, ING-her SER-vees-ahv-gif-ten?

Can we split the bill?

Kan vi dela pî notan?

KAHN vih DEH-lah poh NOH-tahn?

Can I get a to-go box for this?

Kan jag fî en matlîda till detta?

KAHN yahg foh ehn MAHT-loh-dah till deh-toh?

Is service included?

Çr service inkluderad?

Ehr SER-vees een-kloo-DEH-rad?

Can