What English takes a sentence to say, other languages can manage in a word. Recently, I’ve seen several blog posts pointing out these gaps in the English lexicon. Famous examples include bokusetto, a Japanese term for the act of gazing vacantly into the distance, and backpfeifengesicht, a German word describing a face in need of a punch. Sadly, many these lists seem to be sleeping on the richness and diversity of the Swedish language. As someone who prides themselves on their English-to-Swedish translation skills, I’d be remiss if I didn’t stand up for my mother tongue and show off some of its more unique phrases.
17 Swedish Terms with No English Equivalent
| Word | Definition | Example Uses in English |
| Fika | Near and dear to Swedes everywhere, this word is used to describe the action of “going for coffee.” Though people might think it’s easier to use the word coffee break, this phrase is a lot more culturally loaded than that—something those trying to translate from English to Swedish must be aware of. And, don’t try to tell Swedish people to use the term “elevenses” or “coffee” instead; they might throw their kanelbulle at you. | “It’s been ages since we talked! Let’s meet up Saturday for a fika.” |
| Hinna | This common Swedish word can be interpreted as “having the time to do something” or “being on time.” It’s sometimes used as a helping verb or a quick hand way to express doubt of on-time arrival. Like many Swedish words, this one hails from Old Norse. | “I can’t go to the moves tomorrow. I don’t hinna.” |
| Fulparkerare | Best translated as “ugly parker,” this phrase denotes someone who parks his or her car sloppily or selfishly. Many people use it for those who take up handicap spots or stray outside the lines. | “That is not a parking spot! What a “fulparkerare” he is. |
| Mysa | One of my favorite Swedish words, this verb embodies the act of relaxing and having a good time. Many Swedish families, looking to recharge after a long work week, schedule mys every Friday. This is so common that a separate term was created to describe it: “fredagsmys.” | “I am finally done with this Swedish translation, just in time for the weekend. Now I am just going to “mysa” in front of the fire, while it is snowing outside. |
| Farfar/Farmor/Morfar/Mormor | In Swedish, there are specific words for each of your grandparents. Note that “mor” means mother and “far” means father. So, a morfar is your mother’s dad, while a farfar is your father’s dad. | “My farfar was amazing! He fought in World War II. I’ve never met my morfar, though.” |
| Kilkompis/Tjejkompis | In America, you always have to clarify whether someone is a boyfriend or your friend that’s a boy. In Swedish, the latter is called a Kilkompis or Tjejkompis . Your paramour, meanwhile, is referred to as a “pojkvän” or “flickvän”. | “I went to the movies with Billy yesterday! And, no, it wasn’t a date. He’s just a killkompis.” |
| Sambo | If you live with your significant other but haven’t tied the knot, you can use the word “sambo” to describe them. In a country where this arrangement is common, this word was a lexiconic necessity. | “We’re moving in together tomorrow! It’ll be nice to go from girlfriend to sambo.” |
| Lagom | Remember Goldilocks and the Three Bears? This word is the equivalent of that story’s “just right.” As Swedes tend to live in a state of moderation, this phrase is often seen as the country’s unofficial motto. | “This apartment is just “lagom” for a student. Or, “Lagom” is best.” |
| Nomofob | Adapted from the much clunkier English phrase (“no mobile phone phobia), this is how Swedes describe a person who is hopelessly addicted to their cell phone. | “I can never let my phone sit and charge! I’m a total nomofob.” |
| Ogooglebar | A more recent addition to the Swedish language, this adjective is best translated as “ungoogleable.” It’s often used to refer to someone with little to no online history. | I met this cute guy at the store, but I’m scared to meet him. He’s totally ogooglebar! |
| Orka | Similar in use to hinna, this verb is best understood as “having the energy to do something.” Though it may sound like it, it has nothing to do with The Lord of the Rings. Some people (like moody teenagers) use the term in a sarcastic sense. | “Do you orka to pick up the dry cleaning after work?” |
| Duktig | Anyone trying to learn Swedish will probably have this word thrown at them. Though hard to describe succinctly in English, it’s a term that combines working well with working hard. It’s often used condescendingly. | “The speed of your Swedish translation services astounds me. You must be very duktig!” |
| Solkatt | An amalgamation of the Swedish word for “cat” and “sun,” this term is used to describe the blinding light that glints off small pieces of glass. | “That’s where that reflection was coming from! It was just a “solkatt” from your watch.” |
| Mångata | These is is one of my favorite words. It refers to the road-like reflection of the moon in the water, literally “a moon street”. | “Look at that beautiful “mångata” across the lake tonight.” |
*For a full list of Swedish words with no English counterpart, check out this thread from Eunoia.
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As our mini vocab lesson shows, English and Swedish are distinct languages shaped by culture and history. This can make it hard for US-based businesses to hit it big in the Nordic markets without the use of a English-to-Swedish specialist translator and transcreator. Transcreation can be the difference between a text that misses its mark and one that makes customers act.. Because, while 90% of Swedes speak fluent English, most of them prefer content to be delivered in their mother tongue. While the languages are closely related, it takes a true maestro to bridge the differences between them.
If you need a marketing expert to help you find the right words for your online content or ad, contact me to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
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