What are the most useful Swedish phrases for beginners?

Hej (hi), tack (thanks), ursäkta (excuse me), jag förstår inte (I don't understand), talar du engelska? (do you speak English?) and hur mycket kostar det? (how much does it cost?) cover most first situations in Sweden.

How do you say I don't understand in Swedish?

Jag förstår inte. Add kan du säga det igen? (can you say that again?) or kan du prata lite långsammare? (could you speak a bit more slowly?) to keep the conversation going in Swedish.

Do Swedes speak English?

Most do, and very well. Starting in Swedish and asking talar du engelska? only if you get stuck is polite, and it gives you real practice.

How do you order a coffee in Swedish?

Kan jag få en kaffe, tack? (Can I have a coffee, please?). Swedish rarely uses a separate word for please here: tack at the end does the job.

Swedish vocabulary

Swedish phrases for beginners

32 phrases for greetings, cafés, shops, directions and introductions.

These are the phrases you will actually need in your first weeks in Sweden: saying hello, introducing yourself, ordering at a café, paying in a shop and asking the way. Each phrase links to the word page of its key word, with forms and example sentences.

Everyday phrases

Swedish phrases for beginners with English meanings and when to use them
#	Swedish	English	When to use
1	Hej!	Hi! / Hello!	greeting anyone, any time of day
2	Hej då!	Bye!	leaving; also written hejdå
3	God morgon!	Good morning!	until about 10 a.m.
4	Hur mår du?	How are you?	asking a friend or someone you know
5	Bra, tack. Och du?	Fine, thanks. And you?	the standard answer to hur mår du?
6	Vad heter du?	What's your name?	meeting someone new
7	Jag heter …	My name is …	introducing yourself
8	Var kommer du ifrån?	Where are you from?	small talk with someone new
9	Jag kommer från …	I'm from …	saying where you are from
10	Trevligt att träffas!	Nice to meet you!	after introductions
11	Jag förstår inte.	I don't understand.	when you lose track
12	Talar du engelska?	Do you speak English?	before switching language; pratar du engelska? is more casual
13	Kan du säga det igen?	Can you say that again?	when you didn't catch something
14	Kan du prata lite långsammare?	Could you speak a bit more slowly?	when someone talks too fast
15	Vad betyder …?	What does … mean?	asking about a word
16	Jag pratar lite svenska.	I speak a little Swedish.	so people know to keep it simple
17	Kan jag få en kaffe, tack?	Can I have a coffee, please?	ordering at a café
18	Hur mycket kostar det?	How much does it cost?	asking a price in a shop or market
19	Kan jag betala med kort?	Can I pay by card?	at the till
20	Jag tittar bara, tack.	I'm just looking, thanks.	when shop staff offer help
21	Kan jag få kvittot?	Can I have the receipt?	after paying
22	Ett glas vatten, tack.	A glass of water, please.	at a café or restaurant
23	Var ligger toaletten?	Where is the toilet?	finding the toilet
24	Ursäkta, hur kommer jag till stationen?	Excuse me, how do I get to the station?	asking a stranger for directions
25	Gå rakt fram.	Go straight ahead.	a common reply when asking the way
26	Sväng till vänster.	Turn left.	directions
27	Det ligger till höger.	It's on the right.	directions
28	Är det långt härifrån?	Is it far from here?	checking whether to walk
29	Kan du hjälpa mig?	Can you help me?	asking for help
30	Förlåt!	Sorry!	a real apology, e.g. bumping into someone
31	Tack så mycket!	Thank you very much!	thanking someone warmly
32	Ingen fara.	No problem. / No worries.	answering förlåt or tack

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Questions about Swedish phrases

What are the most useful Swedish phrases for beginners?: Hej (hi), tack (thanks), ursäkta (excuse me), jag förstår inte (I don't understand), talar du engelska? (do you speak English?) and hur mycket kostar det? (how much does it cost?) cover most first situations in Sweden.
How do you say I don't understand in Swedish?: Jag förstår inte. Add kan du säga det igen? (can you say that again?) or kan du prata lite långsammare? (could you speak a bit more slowly?) to keep the conversation going in Swedish.
Do Swedes speak English?: Most do, and very well. Starting in Swedish and asking talar du engelska? only if you get stuck is polite, and it gives you real practice.
How do you order a coffee in Swedish?: Kan jag få en kaffe, tack? (Can I have a coffee, please?). Swedish rarely uses a separate word for please here: tack at the end does the job.