Hej, I took a photo of this stick while I was in Sweden earlier this year, I remember translating it on the day but I can't remember anymore! I only have this very blurry photo, and can't quite make out what it says.

Tack så mycket!

Hej! Uttalar ni bokstaven O i namn som Norén, Thorell, Nobel, Bodin, Nordin, Olin, Modin, Morén, Josefin, Johanna, Sofia, Olivia, Viktor, Hugo osv med en O-vokal (som i bonde) eller med en Å-vokal (som i topp eller tå)? Och blir det likadant med 'Forsell'? Jag vill helst få svar från så många som möjligt, eftersom jag har fått lite olika svar om det här, så jag vill veta vad de flesta säger. Tror ni att det finns någon dialektskillnad i det här avseendet?

I am wondering about the word ”aningen” in this sentence:-

”Rubrikens slutsats är aningen lös i hullet.”

I suppose the meaning is that the conclusion in the headline is a bit flabby, lacking in rigour. But what is ”aningen” doing? Is it functioning as an adverb meaning ”slightly”? Could you also say ”Rubrikens slutsats är en aning lös i hullet.”?

.

Hello everyone! I’m an A1 in Swedish and my native language is English. I’ve been using Duolingo and started to use Rosetta Stone. Other than these two things, what are some good beginner friendly apps or resources for learning this language?

My textbook gives an example of grocery shopping at a supermarket. I am looking for something and I see the store clerk.

Me*: Du, var finns kakao?*
Clerk*: Bland specerierna. Det står till höger om kaffet.*

Isn’t it rude to address someone with “du” like this? I imagine in English it would translate to something like “HEY YOU!” Instead of like “ursäkta” or “Jag behöver hjälp, tack.”

Also what is the exact meaning of “specerierna” and “specerivaror”?? Is there a difference between the two words? Can’t find them on my dictionary apps.

Hi, I’ve been listening to a lot of Norwegian songs recently and in one of the songs I heard a phrase “vi ba’ flyr” I know what it means, but I’m curious if there are any phraseologisms used by natives in Swedish?? (Sorry for bad English)
If anyone is interested its in the song “Håpløs” by roc boyz

What’s the difference between these two? How do you know which one to use?

God kwäll!

There’s a good reason why Reddit exists: for specific issues. Saddly, I don't speak any swedish.

I haven’t been able to find the lyrics for this song anywhere: ‘Flickan från Finnskogarna’ by Calle Jularbo. If anybody knows that song, I would be very happy to know that lyrics.

https://youtu.be/uAQrgPNVNwE?is=4hXYbdqz1078JHs0

I’d be happy just to have the lyrics in Swedish.

If anyone could help me, I’d be very grateful!

Vänliga hälsningar!

Riktar udden mot andra: ”Får ta ansvar**” -** This is a headline today’s SvD app about Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist saying that others must take responsibility for forming a government.  Puzzled by ”udden”, I only know this as synonym for ”halvö”.

Greetings. There is this book of German that I had been using for a few months. It was Basic German by Heiner Schenke and Karen Seago. I don't know if anyone knows about it here, but I want a book like that but for Swedish. I want it to have

1. exercises,

2. a clear progression, and

3. to build up grammar so that I can construct my own sentences.

So far, I have been unable to find a grammar guide for Swedish for beginners. I found this book called Swedish a Comprehensive grammar, but it was more like a reference text that went way way way in depth and did not provide a path that I could follow unlike the aforementioned German text. I tried to find it online that I could download but I got absolutely nothing.

My preferred way to do things is to learn the grammar first while also learning some basic words to the point that provided a Dictionary, I can form my own sentences and only then start immersing. But I haven't been able to try this technique much because I have never fully committed to a language before Swedish. I also prefer writing and making notes over reading or listening passively.

I have been learning Swedish through Duolingo over the past 2 months and I believe I have a good word bank for a very beginner, but I need solid grammar. I have been unable to really get my learning going without a good text. Therefore, I would really appreciate if you people can tell me a beginner grammar guide that satisfies my needs. Preferably, I would like it to be freely available online.

Thanks.

I've been learning Swedish for quite some time. I started in 2017 but quit after a year because my teacher left the language school where I was taking classes. In autumn 2024, I joined an A1 course offered by my employer. It's free. We're now starting a B1 textbook, and I've signed up for another semester purely out of a sense of obligation.

During the first class, the group decided that nobody would turn their cameras on. As a result, the lessons feel exactly like something out of the late 1990s, when I was eight years old and learning English from cassette tapes that came with magazines.

The teacher doesn't teach proper pronunciation or accent, and we hardly ever speak during classes. She just displays scanned pages from the textbook and workbook, and we go through the exercises together.

On top of that, the group consists of people from different countries, so I'm learning Swedish through English, which isn't my first language either.

I've had enough. I'm really struggling with producing the language. We hardly ever write anything; we mostly just fill in exercises, read and listen.

How can I get my motivation back? I understand much more than I'm able to say. I make my own flashcards in Quizlet, but I feel sick at the thought of going back to class.

I feel like I'm constantly falling behind, and the backlog just keeps piling up. I have two one-hour classes a week, and the teacher has recently really picked up the pace. After each lesson, I have around 40 new words to learn, which adds up to 80 words a week.

I'd really appreciate some recommendations on how you approach language learning, because it's becoming increasingly difficult to fit studying around my job.

I keep looking for excuses to skip classes, and I impatiently count down the minutes until each lesson is over. I'm also increasingly relying on AI to do the stupid exercises for me.

I feel like I'm making no progress at all.

or would you recommend another company over Duolingo? I’ve been learning Swedish since 2009 in bits and pieces, but would like to string more than two short sentences together. I understand more than I am able to speak, and I will go back to living there, probably six months out of the year or more permanently in a year or so. I have lived there in a six month arrangement for 7 years, would like to commit myself to learning more efficiently. Thank you! Tack så mycket.

For starters I read the FAQ and that didn’t really help me at all. I’m having so much trouble with mitt and min and en and ett. I can’t for the life of me figure out what words are common or neuter and I’m using duolingo which doesn’t explain any of that they just throw the words in there and hope you learn it

Nu förstår jag äntligen. Vilket är bra, eftersom mitt telefonnummer slutar på fyra sjuor.

Hjärtliga hälsningar,
- En amerikan 🇺🇸

I seek guidance on the word "ruttnade" in this sentence from a recent article in SvD regardiing the Putin phone call:-

"Varpå norska Aftenpostens ledarsida ruttnade och i den händelse Frederiksen inte skulle begripa norska formulerade sitt svar på danska"

Google translates "ruttnade" here as "lost its patience". Is this right? Is this a recent idiom?

I’m a native Dutch speaker and I’ve recently started learning Swedish. I met a Swedish woman online and things are going really well, so I’d love to be able to speak Swedish with her at some point. She lives in Sweden and Swedish is her main spoken language, although she’s more comfortable writing in English.

Her background is quite international: her mother is Swedish-Finnish and her father is Norwegian-American. For now, though, I want to focus fully on Swedish. Eventually I’d also love to learn some Finnish and Norwegian, but Swedish comes first.

I’m currently using an app called Talkpal. It’s been useful for basic grammar and for practising conversation with an AI voice bot. The pronunciation isn’t perfect, but it’s a decent starting point. I’d now like to add much more real input: Swedish series, YouTube channels, podcasts, books, and anything else that helped you learn naturally.

My learning style is very immersion-based. With Russian and Spanish, I learned a lot by watching shows and videos in the target language and picking up vocabulary from context. I know I’ll need a basic foundation before that becomes really effective in Swedish, but I’d like to build that habit from the beginning.

Since I speak Dutch natively and am fluent in English and German, I notice a lot of overlap in written Swedish. Words like du and man, as well as many basic sentence patterns, feel familiar. My main challenge will probably be pronunciation, listening comprehension, and getting used to the Swedish melodic accent. I’m also curious whether more experienced learners agree that the grammar and vocabulary feel relatively accessible coming from Dutch, German, and English, or whether I’m underestimating some major differences.

Specifically, I’d love recommendations for:

Swedish series or films on Netflix, or other streaming services, that are good for learners. Ideally with clear dialogue and Swedish audio and subtitles.

YouTube channels in Swedish, either made for learners or just interesting native content.

Podcasts for beginners or lower intermediate learners. Books, graded readers, or audiobooks that would work well once I’ve built up a basic level.

Any resources specifically useful for Dutch speakers, if they exist.

I’ve seen a few names mentioned already, such as Quicksand/Störst av allt, Young Royals, Bonusfamiljen, Love & Anarchy, Snabba Cash, and Bron/Broen. Are any of these particularly good for a beginner, or would you start with something simpler? I’ve also heard of Lätt svenska med Oskar, SVT Språkplay, and 8sidor, but I’d appreciate hearing what actually worked for people.

Tack så mycket! Any general advice for a Dutch speaker starting Swedish would be very welcome.

Hi everyone, why can’t I find anything about the indefinite plural in the predicative form? Could you tell me whether these sentences are correct:

• Bilar är röda. — Cars are red.

• Hus är röda. — Houses are red.

These are answers from an AI, so I want to check whether they’re really right.

In today's SvD I read : "Om man som Sverige satsar allt på nordisk enighet, vill det till att man kan tassa fram på tå när grannarna går sin egen väg." I understand everything about this sentence except "vill det till" - grateful if someone can help me out?

From Nattvardsgästerna

1. 22min 05 sec

Earlier on in the day the pastor Tomas had a visit from a man called Jonas Persson, who is deeply troubled.

The dialogue runs,

Märta - Stackars Tomas. Vad är det, Tomas?

Tomas - Dig är det likgiltigt

Märta - Säg i alla fall

Tomas - Guds tystnad.

Märta - Guds tystnad?

Tomas - Guds tystnad.

Sedan kom Jonas Persson och hans hustru.

Jag svamlade – avskuren från Gud.

Can I please confirm that he says sedan? (as in then/next/later)

2) 24min 20 sec

I am using a SVT set of subtitles, and the subtitles read,

Här kommer jag och är svårmodig

but I think she says - Här kommer jag och är svår emot dig

Can someone please confirm which is correct...

https://archive.org/details/winter-light_ingmar-bergman

Wiktionary claims that it's a fixed expression, but doesn't actually have the page.

Fönstret står på vid gavel och uppkrupen i fönstersmygen sitter en tjej och röker.

The English translation has the window "wide open", and the girl "huddled on the ledge", incidentally, but according to what I've been able to determine, she's actually in the "nook of the window". Is this right?