Source: Linnea, OLS Community Manager
Swedish slang is an informal and conversational way of expressing oneself, often used in casual conversations among friends or in more relaxed settings. Here are some examples of Swedish slang:
Tja!
Translation: Hi!
Usage: Informal greeting, similar to "hey" or "hi."
Tackar!
Translation: Thanks!
Usage: Informal way of expressing gratitude, similar to "thanks" or "thanks a lot."
Fett!
Translation: Cool, awesome, a lot of something
Usage: Expressing excitement or approval, like saying "cool" or "awesome." But also, expressing a lot of something, like "fett tråkigt", means "very boring".
Läget?
Translation: How's it going?
Usage: Informal way of asking someone how they're doing.
Svårt att säga...
Translation: Hard to say...
Usage: Indicating uncertainty or that something is difficult to determine.
Tagga ner
Translation: Cool down
Usage: People won't ask you to "Cool down"; instead, they will tell you to "take your spikes down."
Ingen fara på taket
Translation: No worries
Usage: "No danger on the roof!" is the Swedish way of saying "No worries".
Snacka blaj!
Translation: Talk nonsense!
Usage: Encouraging someone to stop talking nonsense or to get to the point.
Pang på rödbetan
Translation: Right to the point
Usage: When someone gets straight to the point, "Boom on the beetroot".
Har inte alla hästar hemma
Translation: When a person isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Usage: When Swedes tell you that someone doesn't have all their horses at home, they say that that person isn't the most clever.
Skit samma
Translation: Doesn't matter
Usage: Expressing indifference or that something is not important.
Smaken är som baken
Translation: When people disagree
Usage: Instead of saying, "It's a matter of taste", Swedes will probably say, "taste is like a butt, divided."
Typ
Translation: Around/About
Usage: To give a sort of amount, like "There were around 30 people at the party."
Värsta
Translation: Someone or something that is "the best."
Usage: When describing someone who is really good at something or describing a significant amount of something.
Bonda
Translation: To connect with somebody
Usage: It comes from the English word "bonding" and explains the feeling when somebody connects with someone.
Remember that slang can vary a lot across regions and age groups, and it's always important to be mindful of the context in which you use informal language. Additionally, slang terms may come and go, so what's popular at one time might change over the years.
Linnea, OLS Community Manager – Swedish