vatten
Water
Usage
The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word; definite "vattnet". Sparkling water is "kolsyrat vatten"
mat
Food
Usage
The general word when you are looking for something to eat
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "maten"; uncountable
pengar
Money
Usage
Comes up when paying or changing currency
Grammar Note
Always plural; definite "pengarna"
toalett
Toilet
Usage
The word alone is enough to ask for directions
Grammar Note
An "en" word: definite "toaletten", plural "toaletter"
pappersnäsduk
Tissue
Usage
For asking at a shop or a diner
Grammar Note
An "en" word compounding "papper" (paper) and "näsduk" (handkerchief)
medicin
Medicine
Usage
The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "medicinen"; a pharmacy is "ett apotek"
bagage
Luggage
Usage
For checking in, picking up, or storing bags
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, uncountable; a suitcase is "en resväska"
nyckel
Key
Usage
For collecting or returning it at hotel reception
Grammar Note
An "en" word: definite "nyckeln", plural "nycklar"
biljett
Ticket
Usage
The base word for transport and admission tickets
Grammar Note
An "en" word: definite "biljetten", plural "biljetter"
pass
Passport
Usage
Comes up at every check-in and border control
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "passet"; identical in the plural
telefon
Phone
Usage
Refers to the device and to making a call
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "telefonen"; a mobile is "en mobil"
laddare
Charger
Usage
When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "laddaren"; from "ladda" (to charge)
station
Station
Usage
The easiest landmark to name when asking directions
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "stationen"; the main one is "centralstationen"
sjukhus
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
A neuter compound of "sjuk" (ill) and "hus" (house); definite "sjukhuset"
polis
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "polisen"; used both for the force and an officer
affär
Shop
Usage
The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "affären"; "butik" is a synonym
rum
Room
Usage
For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "rummet"; identical in the plural
väg
Road
Usage
Used when asking directions, often over a map
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "vägen"; a town street is "en gata"
familj
Family
Usage
Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with
Grammar Note
An "en" word; definite "familjen"
namn
Name
Usage
For confirming a booking or introducing yourself
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "namnet"; surname "efternamn", first name "förnamn"
huvud
Head
Usage
Point to this for a headache or a head injury; a headache is "huvudvärk"
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "huvudet", plural "huvuden"; hair is a separate word, "hår"
öga
Eye
Usage
Point to this for eye pain or something in your eye
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "ögat", irregular plural "ögon"; glasses are "glasögon"
tand
Tooth
Usage
Point to this for toothache; a dentist is "tandläkare" and toothache "tandvärk"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "tanden", plural "tänder" with a vowel change
hals
Throat
Usage
Point to this for a sore throat; the sentence is "Jag har ont i halsen"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "halsen". "Hals" covers both the throat and the front of the neck; the nape at the back is a different word, "nacke"
mage
Stomach / belly
Usage
Point to this for stomach ache; the sentence is "Jag har ont i magen"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "magen"; the everyday word covers both the belly and the stomach, while the organ itself is "magsäck"
rygg
Back
Usage
Point to this for back pain; also useful at a massage clinic
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "ryggen"; back pain is "ryggont" or "ryggvärk"
ländrygg
Lower back
Usage
Point to this for lower-back pain; Swedish has no single word matching Japanese "koshi", so it is named as the lower part of the back
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "ländryggen"; the colloquial "korsrygg" refers to the same area
fot
Foot
Usage
Point to this for foot pain, and point at your own foot to show where
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "foten", plural "fötter". The leg is a different word, "ben", which also means bone
hand
Hand
Usage
Point to this for pain or an injury in the hand
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "handen", plural "händer"; the wrist is "handled"
bröstkorg
Chest (ribcage)
Usage
Point to this for chest pain or tightness — a chest complaint is treated as urgent
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "bröstkorgen". Plain "bröst" can also mean a breast, so the ribcage compound avoids the ambiguity
hotell
Hotel
Usage
Use in a taxi or when asking directions to your accommodation; show it together with your booking
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "hotellet" (plural unchanged); a hostel is "vandrarhem"
flygplats
Airport
Usage
Show this when you need to get to the airport; Stockholm's main airport is Arlanda
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "flygplatsen"; a compound of "flyg" (flight) and "plats" (place)
busshållplats
Bus stop
Usage
Use when asking where the bus stop is; signs often just read "hållplats"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "busshållplatsen"; a coach terminal is "bussterminal"
tunnelbana
Metro / subway
Usage
Use when looking for the metro; entrances are marked with a blue "T" sign
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "tunnelbanan", usually shortened to "T-bana". Only Stockholm has a metro — Gothenburg has trams ("spårvagn") and commuter trains are "pendeltåg"
ambassad
Embassy
Usage
Show this when you need your embassy, e.g. after losing a passport; a consulate is "konsulat"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "ambassaden"; the Japanese embassy is "Japans ambassad"
bankomat
ATM
Usage
Use when asking where you can withdraw cash; Sweden is nearly cashless and ATMs are sparse
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "bankomaten"; originally a trademark, now the everyday term. The formal word is "uttagsautomat"
växlingskontor
Currency exchange
Usage
Use when looking for a bureau de change — Forex Bank at airports and in big cities is the usual option; ordinary bank branches often handle no cash at all
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "växlingskontoret" (plural unchanged); "växla pengar" means to change money
tvättomat
Laundromat
Usage
Use when looking for a coin laundry; most Swedes use the shared laundry room ("tvättstuga") in their building, so public laundromats exist only in big cities
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "tvättomaten"; a dry cleaner is "kemtvätt"
brandbil
Fire engine
Usage
Show this to say a fire engine is needed; in Sweden the fire service is reached on the same emergency number, 112
Grammar Note
An "en" word: definite "brandbilen", plural "brandbilar", compounding "brand" (fire) and "bil" (car). The general term for fire vehicles is "brandfordon" and the fire brigade is "brandkåren"
konsulat
Consulate
Usage
Show this when you need your country's mission outside the capital; the embassy is a different place, "ambassad"
Grammar Note
An "ett" word: definite "konsulatet", plural unchanged. A consulate-general is a "generalkonsulat" and an honorary consulate a "honorärkonsulat"
More Swedish phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences