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A2Swedish·34 cards

Booking, Moving and Cancelling: What You Say

Short phrases for booking a haircut and a car service by phone, moving the time, and turning up late.

Follow Daniel as he books a haircut, gets his car in for a service, moves an appointment and runs late. Every line is something people really say on the phone to a salon or a garage in Sweden.

A man consults a receptionist in a modern clinic setting with contemporary design.
Photo: Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
  1. 1

    Jag skulle vilja boka en tid.

    I'd like to book an appointment.

    Tip: Literally 'I would want to book a time'. The polite way to start.

  2. 2

    Vad ska du göra?

    What are you having done?

    Tip: At a salon this means 'what treatment do you want?'

  3. 3

    Bara klippning, tack.

    Just a haircut, please.

    Tip: No article: you're naming the service.

  4. 4

    När passar det?

    When suits you?

    Tip: Literally 'when fits it?' A very common question.

  5. 5

    Har du någon tid på torsdag?

    Do you have anything on Thursday?

    Tip: Literally 'any time on Thursday'. A weekday with this preposition means the coming one.

  6. 6

    På torsdag har jag inget, tyvärr.

    I've got nothing on Thursday, sorry.

    Tip: The time phrase comes first, so the verb comes before 'jag' (V2).

  7. 7

    Har du något senare på dagen?

    Do you have anything later in the day?

    Tip: Literally 'something later on the day'.

  8. 8

    Halv tre går bra.

    Half past two works.

    Tip: Swedes count towards the next hour: 'half three' means 2:30.

  9. 9

    Då tar jag den.

    I'll take that one, then.

    Tip: 'då' = then; puts the verb before 'jag'.

  10. 10

    Kan jag få ditt namn och nummer?

    Can I have your name and number?

    Tip: 'Kan jag få...?' = can I have...? — used for everything.

  11. 11

    Då ses vi på fredag halv tre.

    See you on Friday at half past two then.

    Tip: 'ses' = see each other; a verb in the -s form.

  12. 12

    Jag behöver lämna in bilen på service.

    I need to bring the car in for a service.

    Tip: The particle verb 'leave in' means drop off, hand in.

  13. 13

    Vilket registreringsnummer?

    What's the registration number?

    Tip: Swedes say 'regnummer' for short.

  14. 14

    Vi har tyvärr fullt den här veckan.

    We're fully booked this week, unfortunately.

    Tip: Literally 'we have it packed': the everyday way to say there are no times.

  15. 15

    Går det bra på måndag nästa vecka?

    Is Monday next week OK?

    Tip: 'Går det bra?' = is that OK? / does that work?

  16. 16

    Hur lång tid tar det?

    How long does it take?

    Tip: Literally 'how long time takes it?'

  17. 17

    Kan jag lämna bilen på morgonen?

    Can I drop the car off in the morning?

    Tip: Swedish uses the definite form here: 'on the morning'.

  18. 18

    Får jag en bekräftelse på sms?

    Will I get a confirmation by text?

    Tip: 'på sms' = by text.

  19. 19

    Jag har en tid på fredag halv tre.

    I have an appointment on Friday at half past two.

    Tip: 'ha en tid' = have an appointment.

  20. 20

    Kan jag flytta den?

    Can I move it?

    Tip: 'den' refers back to 'tiden' (en-word).

  21. 21

    Javisst. Till när?

    Of course. To when?

    Tip: A yes + sure in one word: the warm way to agree.

  22. 22

    Går det på tisdag i stället?

    Is Tuesday possible instead?

    Tip: Literally 'goes it on Tuesday in the place?'

  23. 23

    Jag har elva eller kvart över fyra.

    I have eleven or quarter past four.

    Tip: Literally 'quarter over four'.

  24. 24

    Då har jag flyttat din tid.

    Then I've moved your appointment.

    Tip: Same verb as moving house. Perfect tense, like English.

  25. 25

    Förlåt för strulet.

    Sorry for the hassle.

    Tip: The noun for hassle or mess, in the definite form. Very everyday.

  26. 26

    Jag är lite sen.

    I'm running a bit late.

    Tip: The small softener in the middle makes it sound casual.

  27. 27

    Jag är där om tio minuter.

    I'll be there in ten minutes.

    Tip: 'om' + time = in (from now). Present tense for the future.

  28. 28

    Inga problem, vi väntar.

    No problem, we'll wait.

    Tip: Literally 'no worries, we wait'. Present tense for the near future.

  29. 29

    Jag har en tid hos Linnea.

    I have an appointment with Linnea.

    Tip: 'hos' = at someone's / with someone.

  30. 30

    Sätt dig, jag kommer strax.

    Have a seat, I'll be right with you.

    Tip: Literally 'sit yourself, I come shortly'.

  31. 31

    Vill du boka nästa gång direkt?

    Do you want to book next time right away?

    Tip: Literally 'want you book next time at once?'

  32. 32

    Om sex veckor ungefär.

    In about six weeks.

    Tip: The word for 'about' often comes last in speech.

  33. 33

    Kan jag avboka på nätet om något kommer emellan?

    Can I cancel online if something comes up?

    Tip: Literally 'if something comes in between' — the idiom for something coming up.

  34. 34

    Senast ett dygn innan.

    At least 24 hours before.

    Tip: Swedish has its own word for a 24-hour period.