30 uniquely Swedish words that don’t work in English

Välkommen to the wonderful world of Swedish words! Some are pretty boring, as far as words go, but others are as quirky as an IKEA instruction manual and as delightful as a midsummer dance around the maypole. 

From ‘moon street’ to ‘filth lobster’, these unusual words and phrases are as uniquely Swedish as fika and ABBA. 

So without further ado, here are 30 uniquely Swedish words that simply refuse to be translated into English without losing their charm and cultural essence.

Mångata

Picture this: it’s a clear summer night in Sweden, and you’re standing by a serene lake. The moon’s reflection creates a shimmering line on the water’s surface. That is a mångata, or ‘moon street’. Beautiful eh? And pretty hard to find an English equivalent.

Slutstation

Don’t get overexcited: it’s not what you think! This is the end of the line, the last stop, the terminus – in short, the “final station.” But with a name like slutstation, it sounds a lot stranger than a train stop.

Fartkamera

No, it’s not a camera designed for capturing farts. Swedes use this term to describe a speed camera – the kind that catches you when you’re channelling your inner rally driver on the streets. Slow down, or say cheese and pay the fine!

Vabba

This word is short for vård av barn, which means “caring for children”. In Sweden, when you take day off work to look after the kids, you’re ‘vabbing’ – and more than likely, the Swedish government will pay you for it. It’s all about being there for your little ones, especially when they’re under the weather.

Vaska

Only rich kids vaska. This is the act of ordering two bottles of champagne at a bar, only to pour one down the sink to showcase and flaunt one’s wealth. It’s a real thing, especially during certain weeks of the year on the holiday island of Gotland, when rich Stockholmers want to see and be seen.

Snuskhummer

Ever met someone a bit pervy, who crosses the line and makes people feel uncomfortable with their words or actions? That’s a snuskhummer (literally, a filth lobster). It’s a beautiful phrase for an ugly kind of person.

Festsnusa

You’ve heard of social smokers – those people who only light up or vape on a night out. Well, because snus is so popular in Sweden, the country also has social snus users. To festsnusa (literally, ‘party snus’) is to use snus only occasionally, especially at parties.

Smörgåsbord

While you might have encountered this word in English, a genuine Swedish smörgåsbord is a glorious feast of herring, meatballs, gravlax and other delicious delights. 

It’s a buffet of all things Swedish – a true treat for the taste buds (for more on this tasty Swedish meal, read what is a Smörgåsbord). The word now has been borrowed by English speakers to mean ‘a big selection’ and can be used to describe pretty much any group of things. Now, who’s for a whole smörgåsbord of cocktails?

Panta

Gather round, eco-warriors! Whenever you buy a drink in a can or bottle in Sweden, you’ll pay a pant (or deposit) of 1 or 2 SEK. Panta means returning the bottles and cans for recycling, which is when you get the deposit back. Swedes pant their bottles and cans like champions, helping to ensure recycling levels are consistently high across the country..

Mysa

Cuddling up with a blanket and a good book, sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace, or just enjoying a cosy moment with loved ones – that’s true mys. It roughly translates as ‘to get cosy’ but it so much more too. Even something run-of-the-mill like a shopping trip can be mysig, if everyone is having fun.

Påskmust

At Easter in Sweden, it’s all about påskmust, a unique, non-alcoholic soda that’s an absolute must during the holiday. It’s a bit like cola. And yes, it’s exactly the same product as julmust (a Christmas drink), but it has a different label.

Orka

When you can’t even be bothered with life, you simply orka inte. It literally means to “have the energy” to do something, but the word also encompasses the feeling of being too tired, too lazy or too disinterested to do something. Maybe the best English translation is ‘Can’t be assed’. Orka du? Nah, let’s nap instead.

Bakfull

Ah, the dreaded aftermath of a wild night out – a hangover! Swedes have a word for it: bakfull (literally, ‘back drunk’). If it’s a particularly nasty one, they might even say they are wearing a betongkeps (literally, a concrete cap).

Dygn

Dygn means a 24-hour period, emphasizing the cycle of day and night. So, next time you pull an all-nighter, you can proudly say you’ve been awake for an entire dygn. In English, the nearest equivalent is a lot more wordy!

Kålsupare

Literally, a cabbage soup slurper. Yes, you read that right. You will most likely hear this word in the expression lika god kålsupare (just as good a cabbage soup slurper), which means the subject is equally bad as someone or something. 

Fika

Fika is the cornerstone of modern Swedish culture – a coffee break mixed with quality time, a cinnamon bun or two, and a whole lot of chatting. It’s not just a coffee break, it’s a social institution. 

For more on this Swedish tradition, read our Beginner’s guide to fika. 

Surströmmingspremiär

It’s the most polarising event in Sweden: the annual opening of the surströmming, fermented Baltic herring. 

For some, it’s a delicacy; for others, it’s a stinky nightmare. Either way, it’s an experience like no other. For more on this Swedish speciality, read our guide to Surströmming: Swedens’s stinkiest food. 

Tjolahopp

A whimsical exclamation of joy and excitement, inspired by the lively lyrics of Pippi Longstocking’s famous song. 

Just like Pippi, let your spirits soar and sing “Tjolahopp, tjolahej, tjolahoppsan-sa!” as you embrace life’s many adventures with laughter and good humour.

Lagom

Goldilocks would approve of this Swedish concept. Lagom means “just right” – not too much, not too little, but perfectly balanced. It’s the Swedish way of finding contentment in moderation, and it covers everything from how often you exercise to how many coffees you drink each day.

Busvissla

The art of summoning attention like a mischievous maestro, producing a loud, ear-piercing whistle by placing one’s fingers in one’s mouth. It’s a cheeky way to make your presence known!

Gottegris

Gottegris is a sweet-toothed individual. Translate it into English and you’re essentially calling someone a candy pig! If you’re a fan of Swedish sweets (godis), you might just be a proud gottegris.

For more on Swedish sweets, read An Introduction to Swedish candy.

Snorunge

A not-so-endearing term for a snotty-nosed brat, usually a mischievous and unruly child. But hey, every family has a snorunge or two!

Solkatt

Solkatt is the term for the shimmering reflection of sunlight off a surface, such as a watch face, like a playful dance of light.

Olla

The word Olla may be the most… interesting word on this list? It’s a verb that means to “touch something with the end of one’s penis”. Seriously Swedes, who needs a specific word for that?

On an episode of Sweden’s Got Talent, a plumber made the audience laugh as he sang about the word. If you know the English term for this, please tell us in the comments. Actually, just no.

Påtår

When you finish your first cup of coffee and go for a refill, you’re having a påtår. In Sweden, fika is incomplete without multiple påtår. Keep in mind, this word is exclusively used in reference to coffee. One cannot have en påtår of tea. 

Donken

A beloved nickname for McDonald’s in Sweden. When hunger strikes and you’re craving some fast food, you head to Donken. Swedish meatballs are great, but there are times when only a Big Mac will do.

Raggabil

In the world of classic cars, a raggabil is a hot rod or a cool vintage car that’s driven by raggare, turning heads and stealing the show at Sweden’s many US-inspired car meets.

Skitroligt

This one’s easy. Skitroligt is a way of saying something is seriously funny – it literally means “shit funny”. Swedes have a charming way of adding skit (shit) to intensify feelings. In Swedish, things can be shit bad (skitdåligt), shit good (skitbra), or even shit good-looking (skitsnygg).

Sambo

Sambo is short for sammanboende, which translates as “cohabitation”. It embodies a committed, live-in partnership, without the formalities of marriage, and can celebrate modern love or togetherness.

08 (Stockholmers)

In Sweden, Stockholmers are sometimes called “08,” (nollåtta) based on the area code of their city. It’s a lighthearted way of referring to those city slickers from the capital.

See also:
The most popular Swedish names
Sauna etiquette in Sweden
Tipping Sweden: when should you tip?