Translate Swedish to English
Swedish text shows up in IKEA instructions, Spotify interfaces, Volvo documentation, academic papers from Swedish universities, government forms, and personal messages. The Latin alphabet with three extra vowels is straightforward for the translator. Paste your text above.
Common Swedish to English translations
| Swedish | English | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hej | Hello | hay | ||
| God morgon | Good morning | goo MOR-gon | ||
| Tack | Thank you | tahk | ||
| Var snäll | Please | vahr snehl | ||
| Hur mycket kostar det? | How much is this? | hoor MOO-keh KOS-tar deh | ||
| Var är toaletten? | Where is the bathroom? | vahr air too-ah-LET-en | ||
| Jag förstår inte | I do not understand | yahg fur-STOR IN-teh | ||
| Kan du hjälpa mig? | Can you help me? | kan doo YELL-pah may | ||
| Jag skulle vilja ha en kaffe | I would like coffee | yahg SKOO-leh VIL-yah hah en KAH-feh | ||
| Notan, tack | The bill, please | NOH-tan tahk | ||
| Trevligt att träffas | Nice to meet you | TREHV-leet aht TREF-fahs | ||
| Hej då | Goodbye | hay daw | ||
| Jag behöver en läkare | I need a doctor | yahg beh-UH-ver en LEH-kah-reh | ||
| Ursäkta | Excuse me | oor-SEK-tah |
Tips for Swedish to English translation
Swedish compound words can be very long: försäkringskassan (social insurance agency) and barnslägenhetsförmedling (family apartment agency). Breaking these into components reveals the meaning. If a translation seems incomplete, a compound may have been misidentified.
Swedish uses du for everyone in modern usage. The formal Ni has largely disappeared from everyday speech since the “du reform” of the 1960s-70s. This simplifies translation since there is no formal/informal distinction to worry about.
Swedish pitch accent gives words a melodic quality. The same spelling can have two different meanings depending on the pitch pattern: anden can mean “the duck” or “the spirit.” Written Swedish does not mark pitch accent, so translators rely on context.
Swedish passive voice uses the suffix -s: byggas (to be built), säljas (to be sold). This compact form is efficient but can occasionally be confused with other -s endings. Translators generally handle this correctly.
About the Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language closely related to Norwegian and Danish. It is the most widely spoken Scandinavian language by number of native speakers. Swedish has been the dominant language of Sweden since the Middle Ages and was historically also the language of administration in Finland (which was part of Sweden until 1809).
Sweden consistently ranks among the top countries for innovation, quality of life, and English proficiency. Despite widespread English skills among Swedes, Swedish remains the language of government, education, media, and daily life. Swedish culture has had global impact through music (ABBA, Roxette, Avicii), literature (Stieg Larsson, Astrid Lindgren), film (Ingmar Bergman), and design (IKEA, H&M).
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Unlimited.
Yes. All processed correctly.
Yes.
Related but separate. Use the specific translator for each language.
Good for everyday use. Professional review for contracts and official documents.
A tonal feature where the same word can have different meanings depending on melodic pattern. Written Swedish does not mark this.
Visit our English to Swedish page.
No.
Swedish uses pitch accent, giving speech a distinctive melodic quality uncommon in most European languages.
Over 60 pairs including Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, and more.
Looking for the reverse? Try English to Swedish translation.
