Whether you’re moving to Sweden or hoping to impress friends or new in-laws, you’ll need to know how to learn Swedish fast. Learning a new language can be daunting, but it can be done!
In this article, you’ll find tips to learn Swedish for beginners and intermediates. There are so many ways to go about it, so let’s just jump straight in!
1. Set some goals
WARNING! Do not skip this step. It sounds boring and the temptation to give it a miss is all too real, but I cannot emphasize enough just how vital this step is. Not setting goals will mean you have no way of measuring your progress and could lead to you giving up quickly.
And, as you probably already know, setting goals which are too high and ultimately unachievable won’t get you very far either. Start small.
Here are a few ideas:
- Order your coffee in Swedish.
- Write yourself a note in Swedish every week.
- Write your grocery list in Swedish.
2. Download some Swedish learning apps
We’re guessing you considered apps before you even typed “how to learn Swedish fast” into Google. Then I’ll bet you were overwhelmed by options. Luckily, we’ve already got a handy guide to the best apps to learn Swedish, but here’s a brief summary:
- Our tried and tested favorite app to learn Swedish is Babbel. It’s easy to use, covers all aspects of Swedish, and tracks your progress.
- Language learning apps offer many ways to learn. Visual learner? Try Drops.
- The Google Translate app is free to use and can come in handy in a pinch!
3. Get the basics out of the way first
When you think about it, most of the conversations we have with people go a little like this: greeting, question, answer, question, answer, goodbye. If you don’t know where to start learning Swedish, start there.
Psst: We can help you with that: 100+ Swedish words and phrases you need to master
5. Make a note of new words
The notes app on your phone could be your new best friend. Start a new note and add new words with their English equivalents beside them. This way, you have a visual copy of what you have learned with you at all times and you can see the list grow as you progress!
6. Invest in good quality books
Apps are great, but sometimes short, snappy lessons just don’t click. Take grammar, for example, which often needs a more thorough explanation. The benefit of starting with apps is that you won’t buy books you don’t need. Monitor your strengths and weaknesses, and buy books accordingly.
And, don’t worry: we’ve got you covered on the books that actually help: 14 Best Books to Learn Swedish for Beginners & Beyond
7. Don’t try to learn too much at once
Swedes, by and large, are people of few words. Loud conversations rarely take place in public, and don’t be surprised to see people whispering on the metro. It’s just not polite to be noisy in Sweden.
That comes with a bonus for Swedish learners: you can get away with being “fåordig” “a person of few words” (see, there’s even a word for it in Swedish!).
8. Don’t worry about “ett” and “en” too much
Obviously, to achieve fluency you’ll have to get your head around them eventually. But when to use “ett” and when to use “en” is a complicated matter with too many exceptions to the rules. You’ll learn, after some time, to pick out what sounds ‘wrong’.
What’s the worst that could happen? Well, if you say “planet” instead of “planen”, you’ll be talking about a plan instead of a plane. Think of it as a speech typo!
9. Vocabulary building
Figure out what vocabulary is most important to you early on. It’s always good to be able to introduce yourself, but beyond that there are groups of words that can be beneficial specific to you. For instance, if your new job is in a particular industry, it would be wise to figure them out first!
10. Learn a card game
If you’re wondering how to learn Swedish the fun way, this tip is for you. Many Swedish families still play card games on summer vacation, or during a party. Learning a Swedish card game with friends will introduce you to new vocabulary (ask how to play “finns I sjön“).
Added bonus: Depending on how competitive your friends are, you might learn words that shouldn’t be repeated!
11. Get used to being corrected
Swedes, though shy, will never shy away from correcting your Swedish. Most people don’t do this to be rude, but to genuinely help you. Criticism usually comes from a good place, and try not to feel disheartened when this happens!
12. Beware of false friends
A friend of mine was very confused that the Stockholm metro system appeared to be called “tunnel banana” (Tunnelbanan). It isn’t. Banan and banan are two different words depending on where the stress comes: ban-ahn for ‘banana’ and “bah-nan” for ‘tracks’.
Learning false friends will make you appreciate how hard English must be for non-native speakers (imagine getting your head around read and read!).
13. Speak English with a Swedish accent
It sounds weird, but Swedes do this all the time. Swedes are borrowing more and more English words and Swedify-ing them.
Jogging tights? Tajts, previously known as träningsbyxor. The kids? Well, that’s “barnen” in Swedish. Plenty of Swedish parents now refer to them as “kidsen”.
If you’re desperate, this is an easy way out!
14. Learn Swedish sounds
Just like in English, different noises mean different things. Throw them into your everyday routine to boost your language skills. Here are a few to try out:
Instead of “Ouch” or “Ow”, say “Aj!”
Instead of “Yes” or “Ja”, take a deep breath in and say a brief “Aa” on the inhale.
Instead of “Oh, ok” say “Jaha”.
15. Familiarize yourself with the alphabet
There are another three letters in the Swedish alphabet: å, ä and ö. Familiarizing yourself with them will be extremely beneficial. They are, literally, pronunciation markers, and so will help you to improve your speaking skills.
They’re also vital: the difference between sheep “får” and father “far” is that pesky å. Nobody wants to inadvertently refer to their dad as a sheep, after all!
16. Consume Swedish media
One of the best tips to learn Swedish. A close, English friend of mine learned basic Swedish in just a few months of living in Stockholm. I asked her what she found to be beneficial – her reply? Watching the famous Swedish TV show Bonusfamiljen.
Watching Swedish TV is your key to observing how Swedes interact with one another without being creepy. You can pause them, rewind them, and even note down new words you learn. An added extra is that you might find a new favorite show!
Check out SVT Play for Swedish TV shows.
17. Learn some idioms
One of our best tips to learn Swedish. If you’ve got the basics under control and you’re up for a challenge, look no further. To sound more Swedish, you should try to throw in some idioms. This will also stop you from confusion when Swedes around you start talking about cows on ice…
18. Accept super long words as normal
One of the best Swedish learning tips for intermediate learners is to get over your fear of compound nouns. Some Swedish words are terrifyingly long – why not challenge yourself to pronounce some of these and use them in conversation?
19. Get an online tutor
Looking for the best way to learn Swedish quickly? Invest in a tutor. There will come a time when you’ve done as much as you can independently, and other Swedish speakers won’t always have the time to go through things as much as you’d like.
Tutors don’t have to be expensive, either. You can get one for as cheap as 7 USD an hour. We recommend using Italki or Preply.
20. Learn Swedish songs
If you’ve been to Sweden, you might have noticed how much Swedes love a sing-song. Midsummer, Christmas and even graduation have special songs sung as a group to celebrate.
Learning songs such as små grodorna or Studentsången has double benefits: it involves you in Swedish cultural rituals and your memory is more likely to retain what you learn!
Note: This works two ways. I have anecdotal proof that once Swedes have taught you one of theirs, they’ll expect you to teach one back. Any short, folk song will do!
21. Listen to audiobooks
Listen. No one’s going to judge you for listening to Astrid Lindgren’s stories about Pippi Långstrump. In fact, her stories are referenced widely and often in Sweden so familiarizing yourself with them is probably a step in the right direction.
Why do I recommend kids’ stories? Well, parents read these stories to their children to help them learn Swedish, the stories are simple and you’ll pick up loads of new vocabulary as well as pronunciation tips.
Swedish audiobook outlets to look out for: Storytel and BookBeat (you can get a free trial for both!).
22. Add some Swedish songs to your playlist
Did you know ABBA recorded many of their songs in Swedish? The melody will be familiar but the words are a little different. That’s part of the fun of learning a new language: picking out differences and similarities.
If you’re looking for newer artists I can definitely recommend Veronica Maggio, Norlie & KKV, and Hov1.
23. Follow a Swedish recipe
Results will obviously vary depending on your ability level, but this is a fun way to learn Swedish. Following instructions will teach you key verbs and new vocabulary – and you get to enjoy something delicious at the end of the lesson!
Beginners: start with a recipe for cinnamon buns! (Only 12 ingredients and minimal effort)
24. Learn some Swedish jokes
One of the hardest things about learning a new language is learning how to be funny in that language. Admittedly, Germanic languages (aside from English) aren’t renowned for their humor. But learning what makes Swedes laugh will make you feel more comfortable speaking in Swedish for sure.
This is definitely a tip for more advanced learners, but it certainly helps to break the ice for beginners too.
25. Read Swedish news
The more Swedish you surround yourself with, the more forced you will be to learn it. Try to squeeze in reading news headlines in Swedish instead of English. This has two major benefits: you’ll learn new words and you’ll be up to date on topics that are likely to come up in conversation with Swedish speakers!
26. Pay attention to regional differences
When you want to sound like a native, use your ears. You may know the Swedish word for “boy” is “pojke” but Swedes have so many regional equivalents that are location giveaways. For instance, people in Värmland will use the word “pöjk“, Stockholmers “grabb“, and people from Dalarna “mås“.
27. Change your phone settings to Swedish
Next in our list of tips to learn Swedish: navigating your most trusted device in Swedish. Changing your phone language settings to Swedish will encourage you to use Swedish as your “thinking language”.
28. Speak Swedish every day
If you really want to know the easiest and fastest way to learn Swedish, this is it. Include Swedish in your everyday routine, even if it’s just five minutes a day.
As you improve, you’ll be more likely to up your lesson time and challenge yourself to stay interested. This is why the first step (setting goals) is so important.
Stay on track, tick your goals off as you go, and you’ll master Swedish in no time!
So there you have it, 28 tips to learn Swedish for all ability levels. Let us know how you get on in the comments below, and if you have any tips yourself we’d love to hear them! Lycka till!