Swedish shares roots with English and German
Swedish belongs to the North Germanic language family, alongside Norwegian and Danish, which is why its grammar and vocabulary often feel familiar if you know English or German. Many everyday phrases, like Hej (hello) and Tack (thanks), are short and easy to pronounce, so learning just the basics is enough to start a comfortable conversation.
Watch out for the extra vowels å, ä, and ö
The Swedish alphabet has three extra vowels beyond the ones used in English -- å, ä, and ö -- and words containing them are pronounced quite differently from what you might expect. The phonetic guides here are approximate; pairing them with native audio will help you pick up the correct sound and intonation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Hej or God dag?
Hej works comfortably in almost any situation, while God dag is a bit more formal. In everyday conversation, Hej alone is usually all you need.
Is Hej då the only way to say goodbye?
It is the most common casual farewell, but you will also hear Vi ses ("see you") among friends, or Ha det bra ("take care") as a warmer send-off.