Word USED On Occasion BY Some People
(n.) • (yellow bend) • A 'joke-Norwegian' (skämtnorska) word mimicking Norwegian language sounds that sounds silly or weird to Swedes.
“Men vad tusan, jag var säker på att banan faktiskt hette guleböj på norska.”
“My goodness, I was certain bananas were actually called yellow bends in Norwegian.“
Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Everyone
(v.) • (crop raining) • When it is raining very hard or heavily.
"Det spöregnar just nu så vi borde nog stanna hemma."
"It’s crop raining outside right now so we should probably stay at home."
Slang USED Very frequently BY Adults, Young People
(interj.) • Comes from the old expression “Jag är eder ödmjuke tjänare” (“I am your humble servant”).
"Tjenare! Hur är läget?"
"Hi! What’s up?"
Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(adj.) • Not too little, not too much, but just the right amount.
"När är det lagom att ta någon på en dejt?"
"When is it the right time to ask someone out on a date?"
Word USED On Occasion BY Some People
(wild strawberry place) • A place (or time period) especially associated with comfort, joy, peace, or nostalgia.
"Jag ser så framemot att åka ut till stugan, den är verkligen mitt smultronställe."
"I so look forward to going to the cottage, it really is my wild strawberry place."
Submitted April 2023 by li
Word USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(the between-days) • The days between Boxing day and New Year's Eve.
"Hinner vi ses någon gång i Mellandagarna?"
"We will have time to see each other sometime in the between-days?"
Submitted December 2022 by li
Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone
(speaking of trolls) • When someone who has just been mentioned enters a room.
"Jag hörde att Liam skaffat en hund." *Liam kommer in i rummet* "När man talar om trollen!"
"I heard Liam has got himself a dog." *Liam walks into the room* "When you're talking about the trolls!"
Expression USED Frequently BY Some People
(to throw in the towel) • An expression for dying or giving up.
Anna hade levt ett långt och händelserikt liv när hon till slut kastade in handduken.
Anna had lived a long and eventful life when she finally threw in the towel.
Slang USED Frequently BY Some people
To have the energy to do something or to want to do something. Often used by teenagers with negation as a way to tell someone that you don't feel like doing something.
"Jag pallar inte gå till skolan."
"I dont want to go to school"/"I dont have the energy to go to school."
Submitted December 2020 by anonymous
Hjulet snurrar men hamstern är död
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(The wheel is spinning but the hamster is dead) • An expression used to describe someone who isn’t very clever
"Hörde du att han fick underkänt?" "Ja, hjulet snurrar men hamstern är död där."
"Did you hear that he failed (the test)?" "Yes, the wheel is spinning, but the hamster is dead on that one. "
Submitted November 2020 by gusfogensa
dra någonting gammalt över dig
Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People
Why tell someone to simply go away when you can make them look stupid at the same time? "Drag something old over yourself" you can yell at someone, and rejoice in the thought of how utterly embarrassed they'll feel with an old blanket on their head.
"Gå bort! Dra någonting gamalt över dig!"
"Go away! Drag something old over yourself!"
när man talar om trollen så står de i farstun
Expression USED In the past BY Some People
(when one speaks about the trolls they’re standing in the hallway) • Used when someone that you’ve recently talked about appears or something that you’ve talked about happens. The Swedish version of “speak of the devil and he shall appear”.
“Chefen och jag bråkade igår. Jag vill verkligen inte träffa henne idag.” *chefen kommer* ”När man talar om trollen...”
”The boss and I had a fight yesterday. I really don’t want to meet her today” *the boss arrives* “When one speaks about the trolls...”
Expression USED On Occasion BY Young People
(thanks and bye, liver paste) • Used as a fun way of saying “goodbye”. The Swedish version of “see you later, alligator”. Liver paste can be used as a spread on the traditional Swedish crispy bread. It was used in a famous Swedish children’s book.
"Det var allt för idag. Tack och hej, leverpastej!"
"That was all for today. Thanks and bye, liver paste!"
Word USED Frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • (non-friend) • Used for someone you do not like, someone who you are in conflict with.
"Påminn mig om att inte bli ovän med dig."
"Remind me not to become your enemy."
Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(adj.) • (in need to pee) • Used to say that you need to pee.
"Jag måste skynda mig till toaletten, jag är kissnödig."
"I have to rush to the toilet, I need to pee."
alt
Slang USED On Occasion BY Some People
(n.) • (a zero-eight) • A sometimes derogatory term for a person from Stockholm, derived from Stockholm's area code, 08.
"Den där nollåttan kan inte köra!"
"That Stockholmer can't drive!"
Word USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(v.) • (having energy) • Having energy, mustering strength. It is most commonly used as a verb, but often it is simply the word "Orka!" on its own, meaning "I can't believe you're willing to spend your energy on that" as well as "I don't have the energy for that" simultaneously.
"Jag orkar inte."
"I don't have the energy."
Expression USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
(but the devil!) • Used to express annoyance or anger.
"Jag råkade repa bildörren." "Men va fan!"
"I scratched the car door." "But the devil!"
Expression USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
(oh, the devil!) • Used to express disbelief, surprise, shock etc
"Jag halkade i trappan imorse." "Åh fan! Hur gick det?"
"This morning I slipped on the stairs." "Oh, the devil! How did it happen?"
