Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [276]
Insect Bites & Stings
Mosquitoes, blackflies and deerflies are common from mid-June to the end of July, and fly swarms in northern areas are horrific. To avoid bites, completely cover yourself with clothes and a mosquito head net. Any exposed areas of skin, including lower legs (and even underneath trousers), should be treated with a powerful insect repellent containing DEET (although frequent application of DEET isn’t recommended). Calamine lotion, a sting relief spray or ice packs will reduce the pain and swelling of bites.
Sunburn
In high northern latitudes you can get sunburnt surprisingly quickly, even through clouds, and especially when there’s complete snow cover. Use sunscreen, a hat, and a barrier cream for your nose and lips. Calamine lotion or commercial after-sun preparations are good for mild sunburn. Protect your eyes with good quality sunglasses, particularly if you’ll be near water, sand or snow.
Water
Tap water is safe to drink in Sweden, but drinking from streams may be unwise due to the presence of farms, old mine workings and wild animals. The clearest-looking stream water may contain giardia and other parasites, and despite the assurances of wildlife guides and rangers, it’s best to be cautious.
If you don’t have a filter and can’t boil water, it should be treated chemically: iodine is effective and is available in both liquid and tablet form.
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Language
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CONTENTS
Pronunciation
Accommodation
Conversation & Essentials
Directions
Health
Emergencies
Language Difficulties
Shopping & Services
Time & Date
Transport
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The national language of Sweden is Swedish, a Germanic language belonging to the Nordic branch that is spoken throughout Sweden and in parts of Finland. Swedes, Danes and Norwegians can make themselves mutually understood, and most Swedes speak English as a second language.
Since they share common roots, and the Old Norse language left sprinklings of words in Anglo-Saxon, you’ll find many similarities between English and Swedish – albeit with different pronunciations. There are three letters at the end of the Swedish alphabet that don’t exist in the English version, namely å, ä and ö.
Swedish verbs are the same regardless of person or number: ‘I am, you are’ etc are, in Swedish, jag är, du är and so on. There are two genders, common (non-neuter) and neuter. Gender is reflected in the articles en and ett (a/an). The definite article (the) is added to the ends of nouns, eg ett hus (a house), huset (the house). Unfortunately there are no set rules for determining gender – it’s something that has to be learnt word by word.
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PRONUNCIATION
Sweden is a large country with considerable dialectal variety. There are sounds in Swedish that don’t exist in English, so in the following pronunciation guides we’ve tried to give the closest English equivalents. In terms of dialect, we’ve gone with the version you’ll hear in Stockholm. If you follow the pronunciation guides and listen to the way the Swedes themselves speak the language, you’ll soon start getting the hang of it. The first thing you’ll need to master is the songful rise and fall that is so characteristic of Swedish and Norwegian.
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ACCOMMODATION
hotel
hotell ho·tel
guesthouse
gästhus yest·hoos
youth hostel
vandrarhem vaan·dra·hem
camping ground
campingplats kam·ping·plats
Where is a cheap/good hotel?
Var är ett billigt/bra hotell?
vaa air et bil·ligt/braa ho·tel?
What’s the address?
Vilken adress är det?
vil·ken aa·dres air det?
Could you write the address, please?
Kan du skriva ner adressen?
kan doo skree·va neer a·dre·sen?
Do you have any rooms available?
Finns det några lediga rum?
fins de nor·gra le·di·ga room?
How much is it per person/night?
Hur mycket kostar det per person/natt?
her moo·ket ko·sta det per per·soon/nat?
I’d like …
Jag skulle vilja … ya skool·le vil·ya …
a single room
ha ett enkelrum haa et en·kel·room
a double room
ha ett