Var kommer du ifrån? Posted by Marcus Cederström on Sep 4, 2012 in Vocabulary
When learning a new language, like Swedish, you often find yourself speaking with a lot of other beginners from all kinds of different places. Sometimes, if you’re in a university class, those people might just be from all kinds of different areas in your home state or country. Sometimes though, if you’re studying abroad, those people will be from all kinds of different countries. One of the most common questions then is the obvious, where are you from – var kommer du ifrån?
Of course, as you find yourself asking that question, and speaking Swedish of course, it can also be interesting to find out what languages your new friend speaks. There are plenty of ways to ask this question, but one of the most common ways is vad talar du för språk?
They are pretty basic questions, but questions that can really come in handy when trying to make small talk in a language class or when studying abroad. We’ve covered useful Swedish phrases before, so this post will be more of a vocabulary post. Once we ask those questions, how do we answer? Below you will find several country names and languages spoken there. In Swedish of course. You’ll notice that some are the same in Swedish as they are in English.
I’ve tried to include some of the different languages spoken in each of the countries listed, but feel free to add your home country or language in the comments below if you don’t see them on the list!
| Svenska | Engelska | Svenska | Engelska | |
| Land | Country | Språk | Language | |
| Afghanistan | Afghanistan | Arabiska | Arabic | |
| Argentina | Argentina | Danska | Danish | |
| Australien | Australia | Engelska | English | |
| Brasilien | Brazil | Finska | Finnish | |
| Kanada | Canada | Franska | French | |
| Chile | Chile | Grekiska | Greek | |
| Kina | China | Hebreiska | Hebrew | |
| Danmark | Denmark | Hindi | Hindi | |
| England | England | Holländska | Dutch | |
| Finland | Finland | Isländska | Icelandic | |
| Frankrike | France | Italienska | Italien | |
| Tyskland | Germany | Kinesiska | Chinese | |
| Grekland | Greece | Kurdiska | Kurdish | |
| Holland | Holland | Norska | Norwegian | |
| Island | Iceland | Pashto | Pashto | |
| Indien | India | Persiska | Persian | |
| Iran | Iran | Portugisiska | Portuguese | |
| Irak | Iraq | Ryska | Russian | |
| Israel | Israel | Samiska | Sami | |
| Italien | Italy | Somaliska | Somalian | |
| Mexiko | Mexico | Spanska | Spanish | |
| Norge | Norway | Svenska | Swedish | |
| Ryssland | Russia | Tamil | Tamil | |
| Somalia | Somalia | Tyska | German | |
| Spanien | Spain | |||
| Sverige | Sweden | |||
| USA | USA |
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About the Author: Marcus Cederström
Marcus Cederström has been writing for the Transparent Swedish Blog since 2009. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Oregon, a Master's Degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and a PhD in Scandinavian Studies and Folklore from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has taught Swedish for several years and still spells things wrong. So, if you see something, say something.
Comments:
Isabelle:
Land: Belgien
Country: Belgium
Språken: franska, nederländska och tyska
Languages: French, Dutch and German
Tack/Thanks!
Shah faisal:
Country: Pakistan
Marcela:
Jag kommer från Colombia! Vi talar spanska 😉
Mor:
Jag kommer från Tjeckien och talar tjeckiska 🙂
barvos:
Hej . Jag heter Barmak. Jag kommer från Iran. vi talar persiska. 😉
Marcus Cederström:
Bra!
David:
VARIFRÅN kommer du?
Marcus Cederström:
@David Good addition. “Varifrån kommer du” is another way of asking the same question.
roman:
Var bor du? Var talar du för språk?
Marcus Cederström:
@roman Jag bor i Madison och talar svenska och engelska.
kidal:
jag kommer från rumänien. jag talar engelska, franska, spanska, rumänska, och lite svenska.
Marcus Cederström:
@kidal bra!