Food & Drinks

1. Kan jag få menyn, tack?

   Can I have the menu, please?

   Usage

   Standard phrase to request a menu after being seated

   Grammar Note

   "Kan jag få" (can I have) is the standard polite request form in Swedish

2. Jag är vegetarian

   I am a vegetarian

   Usage

   Inform restaurant staff of dietary restrictions; Sweden has many vegetarian options

   Grammar Note

   Swedish "är" is the only present tense form of "be" — it doesn't change with subject

3. Smaklig måltid

   Enjoy your meal / Bon appétit

   Usage

   Said before eating or when serving food, equivalent to bon appétit

   Grammar Note

   Literally "flavorful meal". The Swedish equivalent of "bon appétit"

4. Det var jättegott

   That was delicious

   Usage

   Compliment the food after eating; "jättegott" is a very common expression

   Grammar Note

   "Jätte-" (giant) used as intensifier prefix meaning "super/very" — very colloquial

5. Jag skulle vilja ha köttbullar

   I would like to have meatballs

   Usage

   Order Sweden's iconic dish — köttbullar are a national staple

   Grammar Note

   "Skulle vilja" is the polite conditional for wishes, softer than "vill ha" (want)

6. Notan, tack

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Standard phrase to request the check at the end of a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Tack" works as both "thank you" and "please" depending on context

7. Kan jag få en kaffe, tack?

   Can I have a coffee, please?

   Usage

   Coffee is central to Swedish fika culture — a cherished daily tradition

   Grammar Note

   Fika is more than a coffee break — it's a cultural institution of social bonding

8. Är det glutenfritt?

   Is it gluten-free?

   Usage

   Ask about dietary restrictions; Swedish restaurants are very accommodating

   Grammar Note

   Yes/no question: verb "Är" comes first. "det" is the subject pronoun "it"

9. Jag är allergisk mot nötter

   I am allergic to nuts

   Usage

   Important phrase for communicating food allergies

   Grammar Note

   "Mot" (against/to) is the preposition used with "allergisk" to name the allergen

10. Vad rekommenderar ni?

    What do you recommend?

    Usage

    Ask staff for their recommendation; useful at any restaurant

    Grammar Note

    "Ni" is plural "you" but also used as a polite form of address to staff

11. ris

    Rice

    Usage

    Ask for rice as a side; say "kokt ris" if you specifically mean cooked rice

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "riset". The same word covers both raw and cooked rice, so add "kokt" (boiled) when it matters

12. bröd

    Bread

    Usage

    Ask for bread; the Swedish crispbread is "knäckebröd"

    Grammar Note

    A neuter "ett" word, definite "brödet" (plural unchanged); rye bread is "rågbröd"

13. nudlar

    Noodles

    Usage

    Refers to Asian-style noodles; Italian pasta is called "pasta"

    Grammar Note

    Normally used in the plural; the singular is "en nudel" and the definite plural "nudlarna"

14. stark

    Spicy (hot)

    Usage

    Checks whether a dish is hot with chilli; "not spicy, please" is "Inte stark, tack"

    Grammar Note

    The same word also means "strong", so it reads as chilli-hot only in a food context — say "stark mat" to be sure. Temperature-hot is a different word, "varm"

15. söt

    Sweet (taste)

    Usage

    Checks whether something tastes sweet — use it only about food and drink

    Grammar Note

    Said of a person or animal the same word means "cute", so point at the food when you show it; "not too sweet" is "inte så söt"

16. rå

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Checks whether something is uncooked; "well done, please" is "Väl genomstekt, tack"

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; the neuter form is "rått" ("rått kött" raw meat, "rå fisk" raw fish). It can also mean crude or coarse, but not when paired with a food word

17. soppa

    Soup

    Usage

    Order soup, including as something light when you are not feeling well

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word, definite "soppan", plural "soppor"; broth or stock is "buljong"

18. tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Ask for tofu as a vegetarian option; sold in supermarkets and Asian grocers

    Grammar Note

    An "en" word, definite "tofun"; note that it counts as soy for anyone with a soy allergy

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