Directions

1. Hur kommer jag till centralstationen?

   How do I get to the central station?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to the central train station — essential for navigating Swedish cities

   Grammar Note

   "Centralstationen" = "the central station" with definite suffix "-en" for common gender nouns in Swedish

2. Gå rakt fram

   Go straight ahead

   Usage

   Basic direction phrase telling someone to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Gå" in imperative form is standard for giving directions. "Rakt fram" = straight ahead (literally "straight forward")

3. Sväng till vänster vid trafikljusen

   Turn left at the traffic lights

   Usage

   Used when giving directions involving a left turn at traffic lights

   Grammar Note

   Learn "vänster" (left) with its pair "höger" (right). "Vid" means "at" or "by" a landmark

4. Det är på höger sida

   It is on the right side

   Usage

   Used to indicate that a destination is on the right-hand side

   Grammar Note

   "På höger sida" (right side) and "på vänster sida" (left side) are useful pairs to remember

5. Hur långt är det härifrån?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Härifrån" = "här" (here) + "ifrån" (from). Swedish often compounds directional prepositions with place adverbs

6. Ta tunnelbanan till Gamla Stan

   Take the metro to Gamla Stan

   Usage

   Directions to Stockholm's historic Old Town using the tunnelbana (metro)

   Grammar Note

   "Tunnelbana" = tunnel + track/line. Stockholm's metro is sometimes called "T-bana" for short

7. Är det nära härifrån?

   Is it close from here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether a destination is nearby

   Grammar Note

   "Nära" (near) contrasts with "långt" (far). Swapping them changes the meaning to "Is it far from here?"

8. Kan du visa på kartan?

   Can you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are confusing — asking someone to point on a map

   Grammar Note

   "Kartan" = "the map" — definite form of "karta" (map). Common gender nouns ending in -a take "-n" as the definite suffix

9. Var ligger hotellet?

   Where is the hotel located?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of a hotel

   Grammar Note

   "Var ligger…?" is the standard way to ask "where is … located?" in Swedish. "Ligga" = to be situated/located

10. Jag har gått vilse

    I have gotten lost

    Usage

    Used to tell someone you are lost and need help finding your way

    Grammar Note

    "Gå vilse" is the set phrase for "get lost". Present perfect tense: "har + past participle" (gått)

11. höger

    Right

    Usage

    The one-word way to indicate "right" in a taxi or when asking directions — readable at a glance while driving

    Grammar Note

    "Turn right" is "Sväng höger" and "on the right" is "till höger"

12. vänster

    Left

    Usage

    The one-word way to indicate "left" in a taxi or when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    "Turn left" is "Sväng vänster" and "on the left" is "till vänster"

13. rakt fram

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show this when you want to keep going straight on

    Grammar Note

    "Rakt" (straight) + "fram" (forward); with a verb it becomes "Gå rakt fram" or "Kör rakt fram"

14. tillbaka

    Back / go back

    Usage

    Show this to have the driver or guide turn back; "go back" is "Kör tillbaka" or "Gå tillbaka"

    Grammar Note

    An adverb; on its own it only marks the direction and is often paired with "Vänd" (turn around)

15. Stanna

    Stop (here)

    Usage

    Show this when you want a taxi or car to pull over; "stop here" is "Stanna här"

    Grammar Note

    The imperative of "stanna"; a polite version is "Kan du stanna här, tack?"

16. norr

    North

    Usage

    Used when matching a map or road sign to a compass direction; signs abbreviate it as "N"

    Grammar Note

    The compass point; "northwards" is "norrut" and the adjective is "norra" (as in "Norrland", the north of the country)

17. söder

    South

    Usage

    Used when matching a map or road sign to a compass direction; signs abbreviate it as "S"

    Grammar Note

    The compass point; "southwards" is "söderut" and the adjective is "södra", as in Stockholm's Södermalm

18. öster

    East

    Usage

    Used when matching a map or road sign to a compass direction; signs abbreviate it as "Ö"

    Grammar Note

    The compass point; "eastwards" is "österut" and the adjective is "östra"

19. väster

    West

    Usage

    Used when matching a map or road sign to a compass direction; Swedish signs abbreviate it as "V", not "W"

    Grammar Note

    The compass point; "westwards" is "västerut" and the adjective is "västra"

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