Café & Drinks

1. En kopp kaffe, tack

   A cup of coffee, please

   Usage

   Basic phrase for ordering coffee at a café or restaurant — Sweden has one of the highest coffee consumption rates in the world

   Grammar Note

   "Tack" functions as both "thank you" and "please" in requests. "[Item], tack" is the standard polite order format

2. Vad har ni för öl på fat?

   What draft beers do you have?

   Usage

   Used at bars or restaurants to ask about available draft beers

   Grammar Note

   "Vad har ni för…?" = "What kinds of … do you have?" — "ni" is plural "you" used politely to staff

3. Jag skulle vilja ha ett glas vin

   I would like a glass of wine

   Usage

   Polite way to order a glass of wine at a restaurant or bar

   Grammar Note

   "Jag skulle vilja ha" is the most polite form. Casual alternative: "Jag vill ha…" or simply "[item], tack"

4. Har ni alkoholfritt öl?

   Do you have non-alcoholic beer?

   Usage

   Used when requesting non-alcoholic beer — increasingly popular in Sweden

   Grammar Note

   "Alkoholfri" = alcohol + free. As a kind of drink, "öl" is neuter, so the adjective takes the neuter form "alkoholfritt" (compare "alkoholfritt øl"). Sweden has strict drink-driving laws (0.02% BAC limit)

5. Kan jag få en glögg, tack?

   Can I have a glögg, please?

   Usage

   Used at Christmas markets or winter festivals to order glögg, Sweden's spiced mulled wine

   Grammar Note

   "Kan jag få…?" = "Can I have/get…?" — very common polite request. Glögg is served warm with raisins and almonds

6. En juice och ett vatten, tack

   A juice and a water, please

   Usage

   Used to order juice and water together at a café or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Juice" is an English loanword pronounced "YOOS". "Ett vatten" — "vatten" (water) is a neuter noun taking "ett"

7. Systembolaget är stängt idag

   Systembolaget is closed today

   Usage

   Refers to Systembolaget, Sweden's state-run alcohol store — the only place to buy spirits and strong wine

   Grammar Note

   Drinks above 3.5% ABV can only be bought at Systembolaget. It closes early on Saturdays and is closed Sundays

8. Skål!

   Cheers!

   Usage

   Swedish toast for cheers — eye contact with everyone at the table is considered essential etiquette

   Grammar Note

   "Skål" is used across Scandinavia. In Sweden, making eye contact with every person while toasting is crucial etiquette

9. Kan jag få menyn?

   Can I have the menu?

   Usage

   Used to request the menu at a bar or restaurant, including the drinks menu

   Grammar Note

   "Menyn" = "the menu" (definite form). The drinks menu specifically is "dryckesmenyn" (drycker = drinks)

10. Har ni varma drycker?

    Do you have hot drinks?

    Usage

    Useful in Sweden's cold winters to ask about hot beverage options at cafés or restaurants

    Grammar Note

    "Drycker" is the plural of "dryck" (drink). Adjective "varm" (warm) takes the "-a" ending in plural form

11. mineralvatten

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Ask for bottled water; specify "kolsyrat" (sparkling) or "utan kolsyra" (still)

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "mineralvattnet"; the brand "Ramlösa" is used almost as a generic term

12. kranvatten

    Tap water

    Usage

    Ask for free water — Swedish tap water is safe to drink and restaurants serve it at no charge

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "kranvattnet"; a compound of "kran" (tap) and "vatten" (water)

13. utan is

    No ice

    Usage

    Tells staff to leave the ice out; "no ice, please" is "Utan is, tack"

    Grammar Note

    "Utan" (without) + "is" (ice); "is" is an "en" word, definite "isen". The opposite is "med is"

14. varmt vatten

    Hot water

    Usage

    Ask for hot water for instant noodles, baby formula, or to drink plain

    Grammar Note

    "Vatten" is a neuter "ett" word, so the adjective takes the neuter form "varmt"; boiling water is "kokande vatten"

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