Rivstart A1+A2 Swedish Vocabulary and Phrases

Essential vocabulary flashcards covering key Swedish terms, classroom phrases, and cultural concepts from Rivstart A1+A2 with English definitions grounded in the German glossary notes.

Vad betyder det?

A Swedish classroom phrase meaning "What does that mean?" (German: Was bedeutet das?).

Hur säger man … på svenska?

A Swedish classroom phrase meaning "How do you say … in Swedish?" (German: Wie sagt man … auf Schwedisch?).

Kanelbulle (-n, -ar, -arna)

Cinnamon bun (German: Zimtschnecke).

Hur är läget?

An informal Swedish greeting meaning "How's it going?" or "How are things?" (German: Wie geht's so?).

Det är lugnt

An idiom meaning "Everything is fine," "All good," or "No worries" (German: Alles in Butter / ruhig).

Fika (-t)

A coffee break or social pause for coffee and pastries (German: Kaffeepause).

Sambo (-n, -r, -rna)

A cohabiting partner or person living together with someone in a committed relationship (German: Lebensgefährte/Lebensgefährtin).

Bonusbarn (-et, –, -en)

A stepchild (German: Stiefkind).

Öppet köp

A purchase with a money-back return policy or right of refund (German: Kauf mit Umtauschrecht).

Bytesrätt (-en, -er, -erna)

The right to exchange purchased merchandise (German: Umtauschrecht).

Snus (-et)

Moist oral tobacco placed under the upper lip (German: Tabak den man unter die Lippe legt).

Skärgård (-en, -ar, -arna)

An archipelago or cluster of coastal islands and skerries (German: Schären).

Sommarstuga (-n, -or, -orna)

A summer cottage or holiday home (German: Sommerhaus, Datscha).

Nollåtta

A colloquial term for a person from Stockholm, derived from the 08 telephone area code (German: Stockholmer).

Ursprungsbefolkning (-en, -ar, -arna)

Indigenous population or native peoples, such as the Sami (German: Ursprungsbevölkerung).

Surströmming (-en, -ar, -arna)

Fermented Baltic herring (German: fermentierter Hering).

Pytt i panna (-n)

A traditional Swedish dish of fried diced leftover meat, potatoes, and onions (German: gebratene gewürfelte Reste).

Snapsvisa (-n, -or, -orna)

A traditional drinking song sung before taking a shot of spirits or schnapps (German: Schnappslied).

Knytis (knytkalas)

A potluck meal where each participant brings food to share (German: Potluck).

Vett och etikett

Good manners and social etiquette (German: Knigge / Anstand und Etikette).

Medelsvensson

The average or stereotypical Swede (German: Durchschnittsschwede).

Personnummer (personnumret, –, personnumren)

The Swedish national personal identity or social security number used widely in civil and commercial affairs.

Lagom

A Swedish cultural concept meaning "just enough," "in moderation," or "neither too much nor too little" (German: nicht zu viel und nicht zu wenig).

Plugghäst (-en, -ar, -arna)

A grind, swot, or overly studious student (German: Streber).

Skolka (-r, -de, -t)

To skip class or play truant (German: blau machen).

Bostadsrätt (-en, -er, -erna)

A cooperative housing apartment or condominium apartment (German: Eigentumswohnung).

Hyreslägenhet (-en, -er, -erna)

A rental apartment (German: Mietwohnung).

Mambo

Colloquial term for an adult who continues living at home with their mother (German: jemand der noch bei der Mutti wohnt).

Särbo

Partners in a committed relationship who maintain separate residences (German: Partner, die für sich wohnen).

Vabba

A colloquial verb meaning to stay home from work to care for a sick child while receiving parental allowance (from "vård av sjukt barn"; German: frei nehmen um sein Kind zu pflegen).

Vårdcentral (-en, -er, -erna)

A local primary care clinic or community health center (German: Zentrum für ambulante Behandlung).

Krya på dig!

A well-wishing expression meaning "Get well soon!" (German: Gute Besserung!).

Snökaos (-et, –, -en)

Snow chaos or severe disruption caused by heavy snowfall (German: Schneechaos).

Arbetsförmedling (-en, -ar, -arna)

The Swedish public employment service or job agency (German: Arbeitsamt).