The Basics: Swedish is Easy! Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 3, 2008 in Grammar
I know some foreigners who’ve been living in Sweden for about 10 years, yet they still don’t know any Swedish. They say there’s no need for them to learn, because everyone here speaks English. Some even go as far as to complain that Swedish is difficult to learn.
Yeah? You think so? How much Absolut have you been drinking lately?
Swedish must be one of the easiest European languages out there! Don’t believe me? Check this out:
I am Swedish. – Jag är svensk.
You are Swedish. – Du är svensk.
He/she is Swedish. – Han/hon är svensk.
Instead of the pesky am/are/is, Swedish has just one version – är.
Isn’t that wonderful?
And wait! It gets better. In English we have:
I write. But – He/she writes.
But in Swedish, it’s all the same:
Jag skriver. Han skriver. Hon skriver.
There are no pesky auxiliary verbs such as “do” or “does” or “did”. To form a question, you simply flip the sentence order.
Skriver han? – Does he write?
And get this, it can also mean “Is he writing?” Tada! We just got rid of a whole verb tense!
Just like in English, the verb “to write” (skriva) is irregular in Swedish as well.
Skriva is the basic (infinitive) form, just like “to write” would be in English.
Skriver – write (present tense)
Skrev – wrote (past tense)
Skrivit – written (perfect)
While the verbs are easy, Swedish nouns can get a bit funky. But don’t despair, not as funky as Russian nouns, for example. In fact, when compared to Russian, Swedish nouns are a cakewalk.
But forget about the nouns for a while.
Just revel in the idea of using “är” when talking about yourself! Doesn’t it feel good?
Jag är så duktig!
duktig– smart, clever
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Comments:
Maria Ebbeskog:
Our queen says Swedish is a very difficult language to learn. I think immigrants have difficulties with all these sounds sj-sounds and tj-sounds. They are very difficult to pronunce the right way for a non native Swedish speaker.
/Maria
Anna:
Hi Maria!
Thanks for your comment! I respectfully disagree with Queen Sylvia 😉 She should try learning Finnish, THEN she’ll know what difficult means!
But yes, the -sj, -kj, -tj sounds can be tricky, but even in different parts of Sweden they are pronounced differently. I always cringe when I hear people from the south say those. But then some people from the south cringe when they hear my muminsvenska turned västerbottniska 😉
Sarah:
Hej Anna! I just read your blog for the first time and I really liked it. I spent the last 10 months studying in Stockholm and absolutely loved Stockholm and all of Sweden! I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what’s your story? Are you Swedish or English or…? And what do you do?
Martina:
Your blog is excellent. Thank you.
I have just started learning Swedish and only know a few words and sentences. But I really enjoy all the infos and tips in this blog.
And yes, I think the -sj, -kj, -tj sounds are very hard to say. But the grammar is so easy.
TinaRae McKay:
Dear Anna,
I hope that this reaches you as I have never bloged before. I just set up a blog site today infact. I recieved your information by way of e-mail as I do use the transperent Language to learn Swedish and also with the help of my mother as she is from Stockholm. She would very much like to be intouch with you and I am sending her e-mail address to you and I ask you to please write to her and you can blog me if you would and I will set up a blog website for my mother also her name is Ragna and e-mail is rjmac48@verizon.net, I do hope to hear from you, so that I know that I did this blog thing right and I hope I did as it is good to learn new things on the computer and to have fun with it. Thank you for the information again and I wish you a beautiful day! TinaRae
Christian Halgryn:
Please advise me what the easiest way is to REALLY LEARN SWEDISH as my Grandfather was SWEDISH, I am embarrassed not being able to speak the language I was stubborn and refused to speak SWEDISH just German and english and I was born in Sweden and left when my parents left when I was 11 months old for Austria and England my brother and sister were born in the UK so I want NOW to learn full time how to be proud of my suppose to be SWEDISH Language PLEASE HELP and advise me the easiest way to start.
Thank you in anticipation
Christian
Anna:
Hi Christian and welcome to the blog!
I think that the easiest way to learn Swedish is to actually come to Sweden, surround yourself with Swedish speakers, Swedish radio and TV, Swedish newspapers and force yourself to use the language every day. I have seen new arrivals to Sweden becoming functional in Swedish after about 4 months.
However, if that is not an option, then it’s the same as with learning any other language – you commit to an hour or so every day and just do it. Not the most fun way, I know, but very effective. If you want to give it a shot, we can all cheer you on here, answer your questions, and help you out along the way. What do you say? 🙂
Shrujan:
This is an awesome blog for all the Swedish language learners out there!!!
ceci:
of course! i think swedish it is similar to english! dont you think so? ceci
Leyla:
Its not super difficult to learn swedish but the -sj, -kj, -tj sounds are very difficult and since i live in the south it just makes it that much harder,do you have any tips? But your blog is very helpful so thanks so much
Pawel:
This post shows that grammar is in some cases quite easy. But still I have been in Sweden since 2005 and I do not speak Swedish. I recently started to learn. But I agree with Maria Ebbeskog – Swedish is not en easy language. For me it’s to less phonetic. The good think is that I find similarities in pronounciation -sj, -kj, -tj sounds to some Polish sounds.
Sam:
Such an entertaining blog! Thanks Anna.
Anyway, I have to agree. Swedish is comparatively easy. Curiously, when I lived in Sweden (having learnt to speak Swedish), an alarming number of Swedes proudly proclaimed that learning Swedish was as difficult as learning Chinese. Well, I’ve never studied Chinese, but really, there’s no WAY Swedish could be as difficult. Such a perplexing but amusing myth!
I had no problem pronouncing the sj, kj, tj and found Swedish dependably phonetic. My biggest downfall was however that I couldn’t (and still can’t) ‘roll’ my r’s. I diligently did little speech therapy exercises – never successfully – only to finally have to resign myself to my impediment. Maybe I should have lived down south?
Luke:
Tjena, this is really interesting to read. My girlfrend is Swedish so this was my first reason to learn. I lived in Stockholm for 7 months and didn’t speak much. I was too happy with people wanting to be polite and speaking english for me. In the last 3 weeks I lived there before coming back to the Uk I learnt for free at swedish for immagrants. Many people were quick to put this down but was very helpful! I’ve been back here for 1 1/2 yrs. For the last 10 weeks I have spent one evening a week on a course, has been tough. For me it’s all about learning with others, working towards goals and commitments together. Would be happy to recieve emails from people to hear thoughts/ advice. Tack, Luke
Florence Sperandeo:
I have been receiving Ann’s blog for quite a awhile now and find it quite informative. I am interested in writing via e-mail someone who speaks the Swedish language so, I can learn it faster.
I live in the mountains of Montana, USA, and have no one here to speak or write to.
Have a super great Christmas
Thank you.
Florence
Anna:
Florence,
if you are interested in penpals for language practice, I can recommend this site:
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com
I’ve used them before and made some really great new friends through that site.
Alexis:
Hi I am going to sweden for the summer and i wanted to know what a cheap and easy way to learn swedish either online or a cd type! thank you so much this will help me so much in learning the language!
Thank you so much!
Alexis
Maria Ebbeskog:
You can learn Swedish for free if you go to a library and borrow some books, tapes or cd’s with easy Swedish. Swedish for beginners, or something like that just ask an librarian.
It is very difficult to learn the right endings on Swedish nouns I think if you havn’t learnt Swedish from childhood…
Skor-Shoes
Stövlar-Boots
Strumpor-Socks
Katter-Cats
I just wounder how a non Swedish speaker learns the rules for comparing nouns…
/Maria
Ali Shukri:
Thanks for the good work. Really I appreciate learning Swedish as my second language.
All the best,
Ali Shukri
ms girl:
i am planning on going to visit stockholm in 4 or 5 months and am trying to learn useful phrases and words if anyone has any tips for me that would be great!!also i am from u.s and southern to add so the accent is kind of hard to break while trying to learn and pronounce but i am really interested in learning swedish so any and all tips are welcome!also what can i expect when visiting as far as meeting new people there????i have never been out of the states so sort of nervous!
Katerina:
I love your way of teaching…….
Arkady Karlqvist:
Det är rätt! jag studerar svenska tre eller fyra månader och vet mycket bra, och kan att tala svenska mycket enkel! tack. 🙂
Linda:
Hej! Jag laser svenska. http://www.loecsen.com/travel/discover.php?lang=en&to_lang=23
Nahames Nakanamoko:
Hej från Grekland!
Well, I have started learning Swedish about a week ago and what I think is exactly what you have mentioned at this post. I think that it is very easy and interesting, plus I love that strange northen accent. Your blog looks so very helpful to us begginers,I will be for sure an often visitor around here! Thanks so much for the help and please keep it up!
🙂
Summer:
Hej där!! that was a very good and easy explanation of basic present tense and personal pronouns! Thanks a lot! If you want to find out some more funny and interesting tips about swedish language, you are very welcome to visit this guy’s youtube channel + SpeakSwedishStupid. Or if you are really interested in learning Swedish go to speakswedishstupid.com and sign up for free ebook and a swedish word of a day, or even better – for a 24 weeks course “Find your Flow in Swedish”! I signed up and am very satisfied with the course so far. his way of teaching is very creative and he keeps you motivated throughout the entire program 🙂 Have fun learning and be inspired!!
Scott:
I think most people need to remember that learning Swedish or any other language takes one step at a time – I know I do. The amount of times I’ve tried to learn Swedish and given up because of impatience and feeling overwhelmed are too many to count.
I’ve decided to change my attitude though and do what I said first, take one step at a time, set goals with the language, achieve them and then move on to the next.
Most of all, I plan to use what I learn. That’s why I set up my blog so I could use it as a diary and just write about my learning experiences.
chris gallagher:
hi i am trying to learn swedish,can you tell me when you should use vid instead of pa thanks
Pedram:
I just came across this fantastic blog. I started learning Swedish a while ago. Now I can understand normal conversations but still do not dare to answer. I will start reading this blog from the beginning of its archive.
I’m an Iranian student here. Sweden is the most peaceful country on the plant and all the Swedes I have met so far are nice and polite. So far I have almost a dozen of Swedish friends that I feel closer to than my own Iranian friends. I enjoy spending time with them. But at some point, there comes a time that I have to switch my language with them even though they never told me to. I think I can get closer to them that way. I study IT here and hope to find a job soon here and settle down. The only way I can compensate to this marvelous country is to contribute in its growth in any way I can. This is the only way I can return the favor.
Even though I come from a country that’s currently seen with negative eyes throughout the world, I have never seen a single frown or a bad vibration from any Swedish person here. I’d just like to say I’m grateful and it will be an honor to be a part of your society.
Tessa Elise:
I love love LOVE this!
I’m getting ready to embark on the journey of learning this beautiful language and your blog REALLY helped me grasp the beginning concepts.
I’ll be visiting here often, thank you for writing this!
Frances Fitzpatrick:
Great posting. Cheers for writing.
Stewart L McKinnon:
So why dont we leave comments in Swedish – jättekonstigt
Zoe:
Thanks, I’m Irish and I’m learning Swedish.
This is very helpful!
Aklilu:
Thank you. I find this blog helpful. I am à begginer
Eanot:
I think swedish is on of the more difficult languages. The grammar is maybe easier than the finnish and hungarian grammarr Swedish is absolutely harder than english, german and french. The only easy thing is the verbs.