Learn Swedish with our Swedish iPod language guide

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DATE : Tue, 7 Oct 2008 04:04:00 GMT
Entered in Database : 2008-10-07 04:04:00
length : 35414802
Link to the Show / Show Notes

Our short lesson in Swedish contains enough of the most common travel phrases to help you get by.

Downloads

• Swedish Language Lesson (MP3 | Size: 25.4MB | 14'44)

Swedish Language Guide Script

Scott: Ah, ustak is this the que for the tickets?

Anna: I think you meant to say "ursäkra mig", right?

Scott: Ah, yes – sorry – I'm trying to buy some tickets for the game today

Anna: Yes, this is the right line, it is best to line up now before the line gets too long. The ticket office opens in about 20 minutes.

Scott: Right, thanks for that. This is my first Ice Hockey match and I want a good seat. You are a Jurgardens IF supporter?

Anna: You mean "Djurgårdens" – I've been a fan my whole life, all my family supports them. I never miss a home game!

Scott: Wow! You sound like an AFL fan.

Anna: Ah, AFL - my husband supports the Crows.

Scott: Hey, well done – I've not met many Europeans who even know what AFL is!

Anna: My husband is an Aussie!

Scott: That explains everything. I don't suppose you could help a fellow Aussie with a few Swedish phrases while we wait – I've been struggling with even the basics! I'm Scott by the way...

Anna: Ja, sure – my name is Anna – in Swedish this is "mitt namn är Anna".

Scott: So, "mitt namn är Scott".

Anna: Ja. What else can I help you with?

Scott: Well, I suppose we should start with the basics like Hello, Good Morning and Good bye.

Anna: We say "god dag" for all of these – it's a kind of all purpose greeting

Scott: "God dag"

Anna: Goodbye, farewell is "adjö farväl"

Scott: "adjö farväl". Ok, "ja" is yes, what is Swedish for no?

Anna: "nej"

Scott: "nej"

Scott: How about please and thank you

Anna: Please is "snälla"

Scott: "snälla"

Anna: Thank you is "tack"

Scott: "tack". Wow this line has doubled since we started talking! I didn't realize Ice Hockey was such a big deal in Sweden.

Anna: Ja, we love it and we are very good at it! Our national team, Tre Kroner is one of the most successful Ice Hockey teams in the world. We are currently ranked number 3 and we have been World Champions 8 times!

Scott: I had no idea – the game today is a local game?

Anna: Ja, sort of. It is part of the Eliterien, the Swedish Elite League, there are 12 teams in this league and all the national players come from this league.

Scott: Right, ok – so top level Ice Hockey – fantastic! How long does a game go for?

Anna: There are three 20-minute periods followed by overtime if needed.

Scott: Fantastic – Ok – I'd better learn how to order a beer and a hotdog then! How do I say – how much?

Anna: This is "hur mycket kostar"

Scott: Ok – slow down – how do I say how much AND please speak slowly!

Anna: How much is "hur mycket kostar"

Scott: "hur mycket kostar"

Anna: Please speak slowly is "snälla du tala långsamt"

Scott: "snälla du tala långsamt". What about I don't understand

Anna: this is "jag förstår inte"

Scott: "jag förstår inte". I don't even know who is opposing today - who is the other team?

Anna: Färjestads BK, they are the most successful team in the league, they have been champions 7 times. It will be a very good match and it will definitely sell out so you were right to come early!

Scott: Are they the ones with the crowns on their uniform?

Anna: Nej, this is Tre Kroner – three crowns, it is the national uniform and the crowns are the Swedish lesser national coat of arms. This logo was first used during the 1938 World Championships in Prague and it has been used ever since.

Scott: Wow – you sure know your Ice Hockey!

Anna: Ja, I love it – when I was little I wanted to be a professional Ice hockey player!!! My husband and I play in a mixed league on the weekends.
 
Scott: It feels like Sweden has a seriously long winter, is it a long Ice Hockey season?

Anna: ja, from late September to early March, each team plays 55 games before the play-offs.

Scott: That is a huge season – an Aussie winter season doesn't have anywhere near that number of games! Hey, I know can you help me with some counting so I can keep score – of the game and my beer consumption! How do I count to ten?

Anna: this is "ett två tre fyra fem sex sju åtta nio tio"

Scott: "ett två tre fyra fem sex sju åtta nio tio"

Scott: And some directions like Where is and Which way to?

Anna: Where is "var ligger"

Scott: "Var ligger"

Anna: Which way to "vilken väg är det till"?

Scott: "Vilken väg är det till"? Are all the players in this league Swedish?

Anna: Nej, not in this league – there will be players from all over the world just like in Football. Usually overseas players are from Norway, Finland, Canada and Czechoslovakia.

Scott: Right – so there must be big money in Ice Hockey!

Anna: Ja, sure, like any elite sport.

Scott: Speaking of money how do I say Too Expensive and The Bill

Anna: You will find yourself saying this a lot in Sweden – things can be very expensive here – particularly beer! Too expensive is "alltför dyrt". To ask for the bill is "får jag be om räkningen.

Scott: "får jag be om räkningen". I've heard that beer is cheaper from an off license though?

Anna: Ja, sure the systembolaget – it is state run so prices are lower than in bars or hotels. Have you tried akvavit – it's our local spirit. Also, we say "skål" for cheers!

Scott: "Skål", right head to the sytembolaget for beer and akvavit. Oh, what about ticket – I'll need that very soon!

Anna: This is "biljett"

Scott: "Biljett". And speaking of ticket – what about bus, train and ferry?

Anna: Bus is "buss"

Scott: "buss"

Anna: Train is "tåg" – but you might also need to know express train, this is "snälltåg"

Scott: "snälltåg"

Anna: Ferry is "färja"

Scott: "färja". Ok, what about if I get into trouble – how do I say police, hospital and doctor?

Anna: Well, lets hope that doesn't happen. If it does the emergency phone number is 112 and if you want to see a doctor you wouldn't go to a doctor surgery like in Australia you go directly to a hospital clinic. Hospital is "sjukhus".

Scott: "Sjukhus"

Anna: Doctor is "läkare"

Scott: "Läkare"

Anna: And police is "polis"

Scott: "polis". Ok, I know it's beer and hotdogs inside but what can a meat-and-three veg Aussie bloke hope for in terms of meat in Sweden?

Anna: Just like my Aussie hubby! Well we eat reindeer – roast reindeer is "renstek", elk which is "älg" and of course lots of fish. Herring is "sill" or you might try something like "ål" which is smoked eel with potatoes. 

Scott: "Renstek sounds pretty good to me! How do I say I like this?

Anna: this is "jag tycker bra om det här"

Scott: "Jag tycker bra om det här". And I don't like this?

Anna: Scott, you will love the meat here – but just in case you say "jag gillar inte det här".

Scott: "jag gillar inte det här". It looks like the ticket office is about to open – I've just got a few more for you if that's ok?

Anna: Ja – go ahead!

Scott: Ok, I'm going to try and check out the Ice Hotel in Lapland next week, so how do I say Have you a room?

Anna: this is "har ni något rum ledigt"?

Scott: "har ni något rum ledigt". And May I see it?

Anna: "Kan jag möjligen ta en titt på det"?

Scott: "Kan jag möjligen ta en titt på det"? What about today, tomorrow, yesterday and now?

Anna: today is "idag"

Scott: "idag"

Anna: tomorrow is "imorgon"

Scott: "Imorgon"

Anna: Yesterday is "igår"

Scott: "igår"

Anna: Now is "nu"

Scott: "nu". Oh, finally – should I tip in Sweden? I wasn't sure whether it's normal to tip here or not.

Anna: Not really, a service charge will be included in the bill so you should just round up to the nearest 10kr. Sometimes you tip in taxi's but this is only for good service – which you won't come across very often!

Scott: Anna, you've been a great help thanks so much! I hope Djurgårdens gets up today! And of course go the mighty Crows!

Anna: It was my pleasure.

Downloads

• Swedish Language Lesson (MP3 | Size: 25.4MB | 14'44)

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