Swedish Phrases That Help on Arrival

• Hej — hello (also used informally for goodbye)
• Tack — thank you, used constantly and in many combinations
• Ja / Nej — yes / no
• Ursäkta — excuse me, useful for getting attention or apologising for a bump in a crowd
• Var är...? — where is...?
• Pratar du engelska? — do you speak English? (the honest answer is almost always yes)

• Flygplatsen — the airport
• Tåget / bussen — the train / the bus
• Hotellet — the hotel
• Kan du hjälpa mig? — can you help me?
• Var snäll och... — please... (used before a request)

Given how widely English is spoken, these phrases won't be the difference between managing your trip and not — but opening an interaction with "hej" rather than launching straight into English is a small, genuinely appreciated gesture, and it costs nothing to learn a handful of words before you fly.

Beyond the pleasantries, it's also just useful to recognise a few words on signs — flygplatsen on a transport sign, or utgång (exit) at the airport — even if you'd default to English for an actual conversation.

English works fine with the great majority of drivers, and it's not something you need to plan around specially — a simple "hej" as you get in and "tack" as you get out covers the social side nicely, with everything practical handled in English from there. If English fluency specifically matters for your trip, it's worth reading our guide on what to expect from Swedish driver etiquette more broadly.

• Förlåt — sorry, distinct from ursäkta, which is closer to "excuse me"
• Snälla — please, used more directly than "var snäll och"
• Toaletten — the toilet, worth knowing at a café or restaurant
• Hur mycket kostar det? — how much does it cost? (useful for anything not already priced clearly)
• God morgon / God kväll — good morning / good evening, a slightly more formal greeting than hej