Electronics

1. mobiltelefon

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   In speech it is almost always shortened to "mobil". The "telefon" in the Basic Nouns category is the general word covering landlines too

2. surfplatta

   Tablet

   Usage

   Swedish coined its own word rather than borrowing "tablet" — literally a "surf plate", and it is what the shop signs say

3. bärbar dator

   Laptop

   Usage

   Literally "portable computer", though people also just say "laptop". Show it when you want to ask a café for a socket

4. laddare

   Charger

   Usage

   "Jag har glömt min laddare" — I forgot my charger. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

5. laddkabel

   Charging cable

   Usage

   EU rules mean new devices sold in Sweden all use USB-C, so asking for a "USB-C-kabel" works in any shop

6. powerbank

   Power bank

   Usage

   Used as the English word. Essential in winter, when the cold drains a phone battery fast. The Swedish-sounding alternative is "extrabatteri"

7. reseadapter

   Travel adapter

   Usage

   Sweden uses the round two-pin Type C / Type F socket, so a Japanese plug will not fit — bring one. The supply is 230 V, so some devices also need a converter

8. eluttag

   Power socket

   Usage

   "Var finns det ett eluttag?" — where is there a socket? Long-distance trains and most cafés have one at every seat

9. batteri

   Battery

   Usage

   Covers both loose cells and built-in batteries. "Batteriet är slut" — the battery is dead. Used batteries go in the collection box at the shop, by law

10. wifi

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Written in lower case in Swedish. Free and near-universal — cafés, libraries, even long-distance coaches

11. wifi-lösenord

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    The same word as in "Vad är wifi-lösenordet?" in the Internet & WiFi category. It is often printed on your receipt

12. SIM-kort

    SIM card

    Usage

    Prepaid ones are called "kontantkort" and are sold in supermarkets and kiosks. You may be asked for ID when you buy one

13. eSIM

    Usage

    Activated by QR code with no physical card. "Har ni eSIM?" — do you offer eSIM? All the main Swedish carriers do

14. minneskort

    Memory card

    Usage

    For buying an SD card for a camera. Saying "SD-kort" works too

15. hörlurar

    Headphones / Earphones

    Usage

    Always plural. The same word covers in-ear and over-ear; wireless ones are "trådlösa hörlurar"

16. kamera

    Camera

    Usage

    "Kan du ta en bild?" — could you take a picture? For the northern lights you will need a "stativ", a tripod

17. ficklampa

    Torch / Flashlight

    Usage

    Literally "pocket lamp", and genuinely useful when darkness falls at three in the afternoon. Swedes more often carry a "pannlampa", a head torch

18. luftkonditionering

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    Shortened to "AC". Many Swedish homes and hotels simply have none, and a summer heatwave is survived with a fan — worth checking before you book

19. fjärrkontroll

    Remote control

    Usage

    For asking at a hotel when you cannot find the one for the TV or the heating

20. fläkt

    Fan

    Usage

    What to ask for in a room with no AC: "Finns det en fläkt?"

21. kylskåp

    Fridge

    Usage

    Literally "cooling cupboard". Use it when checking whether your accommodation has one. A freezer is a "frys"

    Grammar Note

    Norwegian spells it "kjøleskap" and Danish "køleskab" — do not mix them up

22. TV

    Usage

    Pronounced "tay-vay". Swedish television subtitles foreign programmes rather than dubbing them, which is often credited for the country's English

23. mikrovågsugn

    Microwave

    Usage

    Usually shortened to "mikro". "Kan du värma den?" — could you heat this up?

24. vattenkokare

    Electric kettle

    Usage

    Literally "water boiler". Swedish tap water is drinkable as it comes, so the kettle is mostly for tea and coffee

25. tvättmaskin

    Washing machine

    Usage

    Swedish apartment blocks have a shared "tvättstuga" that you book on a time board. The etiquette is famous — running over your slot is taken seriously

26. hårtork

    Hair dryer

    Usage

    "Finns det en hårtork?" — is there a hair dryer? Japanese models often will not take 230 V, so check before plugging in

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