Fika
A coffee break with something sweet, usually with friends or colleagues. Ska vi fika? (shall we have fika?) is one of the friendliest things you can say in Sweden.
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Swedish is kind to English speakers: verbs don't change with the person, and plenty of words look familiar. The melody is the tricky part, and that only comes from talking. Talvo gives you a tutor to talk to, at your level.
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Swedish · First phrasesTrevligt att träffas!
TREEV-lit aht TREF-fahs
Nice to meet you!
BaristaHej! Vad får det vara?Hi! What can I get you?
Your first Swedish phrases
Twelve phrases for fika, shops and meeting people, with a guide to the sounds English doesn't have.
| Swedish | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hej! / Hej då! | HAY / hay-DOH | Hi! / Bye! |
| Hur mår du? | hewr MOHR dew | How are you? |
| Bra, tack! | BRAH, TAHK | Good, thanks! |
| Jag heter Sam. | yah HEE-ter sam | My name is Sam. |
| Trevligt att träffas! | TREEV-lit aht TREF-fahs | Nice to meet you! |
| En kaffe, tack. | en KAHF-feh, TAHK | A coffee, please. |
| Vad kostar det? | vah KOS-tar deh | How much is it? |
| Kan jag få notan? | kahn yah FOH NOO-tahn | Can I have the check? |
| Var är toaletten? | VAHR air too-ah-LET-ten | Where's the restroom? |
| Jag förstår inte. | yah fur-SHTOHR IN-teh | I don't understand. |
| Kan du prata långsammare? | kahn dew PRAH-tah LONG-sahm-mah-reh | Can you speak more slowly? |
| Tack så mycket! | TAHK soh MEW-keh | Thanks a lot! |
Swedish u and y are rounded sounds that don't exist in English, written ew here. å sounds like the o in more, and ä like the e in bed.
A conversation you'll practice
Fika at a café in Stockholm: coffee and a cinnamon bun. The tutor plays the barista.
BaristaHej! Vad får det vara?Hi! What can I get you?
YouEn kaffe och en kanelbulle, tack.A coffee and a cinnamon bun, please.
BaristaVill du ha mjölk i kaffet?Would you like milk in your coffee?
YouNej tack, svart.No thanks, black.
BaristaDet blir sextiofem kronor.That'll be sixty-five kronor.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
En or ett, and the at the end
Nouns are en words or ett words: en bil (a car), ett hus (a house). “The” goes on the end: bilen (the car), huset (the house).
Two melodies
Swedish has a pitch accent: anden can mean the duck or the spirit, depending on the melody. You'll be understood either way, but copying it makes your Swedish sound right.
Du for everyone
Almost everyone uses du, including with strangers, doctors and bosses. The formal ni is rare.
How Talvo teaches Swedish
- Tap Replay or Slowly on any line the tutor says, and Show translation when you need it
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Swedish
Will I understand Norwegian and Danish too?
Written Norwegian and Danish are close to Swedish, and Swedes and Norwegians usually understand each other when speaking. Spoken Danish is harder to follow. Talvo teaches standard Swedish.
Can I learn Swedish with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Swedish sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.