• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

aktie bolaget (AB) – company

allemansrätt – literally ‘every person’s right’; a tradition allowing universal access to private property (with some restrictions), public land and wilderness areas

ank – arrives, arrivals (abbreviation for ankommer)

apotek – pharmacy

aquavit – a potent, vodka-like spirit

ateljé – gallery, studio

avg – departs, departures (abbreviation for avgång)

avgift – payment, fee (seen on parking signs)

avhämtning – takeaway

bad – swimming pool, bathing place or bathroom

bakfickan – literally ‘back pocket’; a low-profile eatery usually associated with a gourmet restaurant

bankautomat – cash machine, ATM

barn – child

bastu – sauna

bensin – petrol, gas

berg – mountain

bibliotek – library

bil – car

biljet – ticket

biljetautomat – ticket machines (eg for street parking)

biluthyrning – car hire

bio, biograf – cinema

björn – bear

bokhandel – bookshop

bro – bridge

bruk – factory, mill, works

bryggeri – brewery

buss – bus

busshållplats – bus stop

butik – shop

båt – boat

campingplats – camping ground

centrum – town centre

cykel – bicycle

dag – day

dagens rätt – daily special, usually on lunchtime menus

dal – valley

diskotek – disco

domkyrka – cathedral

drottning – queen

dubbelrum – double room

duodji – Sami handicraft

dusch – shower

dygn – a 24-hour period

dygnet runt – around the clock

dygnskort – a daily transport pass, valid for 24 hours

ej – not

enkelrum – single room

exkl – excluded (abbreviation)

expedition – office

fabrik – factory

fest – party, festival

fika – coffee and cake

fjäll – mountain

fjällstation – mountain lodge

fjällstugor – mountain huts

fjärd – fjord, drowned glacial valley

flod – large river

flyg – aeroplane

flygbuss – airport bus

flygplats – airport

folkdräkt – folk dress

folkhemmet – welfare state

fr o m – from and including (abbreviation used in timetables)

friluft – open-air

frukost – breakfast

fyr – lighthouse

fågel – bird

färja – ferry

färjeläge – ferry quay

fästning – fort, fortress

förbjuden – forbidden, prohibited

förbund – union, association

förening – organisation, association

förlag – company

galleri, galleria – shopping mall

gamla staden, gamla stan – the ‘old town’, the historical part of a city or town

gammal, gamla – old

gatan – street (often abbreviated to ‘g’)

gatukök – literally ‘street kitchen’; kiosk, stall or grill selling fast food

glaciär – glacier

grotta – grotto, cave

grundskolan – comprehensive school

gruva – mine

gräns – border

gymnasieskolan – upper secondary school

gård – yard, farm, estate

gästgiveri – guesthouse

gästhamn – ‘guest harbour’, where visiting yachts can berth

gästhem, gästhus – guesthouse

hamn – harbour

hav – sea

hembygdsgård – open-air museum, usually old farmhouse buildings

hemslöjd – handicraft

hiss – lift, elevator

hittegods – lost property

hotell – hotel

hund – dog

hus – house

husmanskost – homely Swedish fare; what you would expect cooked at home when you were a (Swedish) child

hytt – cabin (especially on a boat)

hällristningar – rock carvings

hälsocentral – health clinic

höst – autumn

i – in

i morgon – tomorrow

idrottsplats – sports venue, stadium

inkl – included (abbreviation of inklusive)

inte – not

is – ice

ishall – ice hockey stadium

joik – see yoik

jul – Christmas

järnvägsstation – train station

kaj – quay

kanot – canoe

kanotuthyrning – canoe hire

karta – map

Kartförlaget – State Mapping Agency (sales division)

klockan – o’clock, the time

klocktorn – bell tower

kloster – monastery

kommun – municipality

konditori – baker and confectioner (often with an attached cafe)

konst – art

kontor – office

kort – card

kreditkort – credit card

krog – pub, restaurant (or both)

krona (kronor) – the Swedish currency unit

kulle (kullar) – hill (hills)

kung – king

kust – coast

kväll – evening

kyrka – church

kyrkogård – graveyard

kåta – tepee-shaped Sami hut

källare – cellar, vault

kök