Nice to meet you: first conversations
Introduce yourself to a neighbour and a new colleague: your name, where you're from, where you live, your work and your family.
Alex has just moved into an apartment in Malmö and starts a new job the same week. Follow three first meetings and pick up the short, natural lines Swedes use to introduce themselves.
- 1
Är du ny här?
Are you new here?
Tip: lit. 'Are you new here?' — same word order as English.
- 2
Ja, vi har precis flyttat hit.
Yes, we've just moved here.
Tip: Swedish uses a special 'here' after movement verbs.
- 3
Jag heter Alex.
My name's Alex.
Tip: lit. 'I am called…' — the standard way to give your name.
- 4
Jag är Karin.
I'm Karin.
Tip: Works just like English 'I'm…'.
- 5
Trevligt att träffas!
Nice to meet you!
Tip: lit. 'Pleasant to meet (each other)'.
- 6
Detsamma!
Likewise!
Tip: lit. 'the same'. The easy reply to any good wish.
- 7
Var kommer du ifrån?
Where are you from?
Tip: lit. 'Where come you from?' — the 'from' goes at the end.
- 8
Jag kommer från Kanada.
I'm from Canada.
Tip: lit. 'I come from Canada'. Swap in your own country.
- 9
Vad jobbar du med?
What do you do (for work)?
Tip: lit. 'What do you work with?' — the usual way to ask about someone's job.
- 10
Jag jobbar som lärare.
I work as a teacher.
Tip: No article before a profession in Swedish.
- 11
Och du?
And you?
Tip: The easiest way to bounce a question back.
- 12
Jag är pensionär.
I'm retired.
Tip: Again, no article before what you are.
- 13
Välkommen hit!
Welcome!
Tip: lit. 'Welcome hither' — 'hit' because you've come here.
- 14
Vi ses!
See you!
Tip: lit. 'We see each other'. The everyday goodbye between people who'll meet again.
- 15
Är det du som är Alex?
Are you Alex?
Tip: lit. 'Is it you who is…?' — the natural way to check who someone is.
- 16
Ja, det är jag!
Yes, that's me!
Tip: lit. 'Yes, it is I!'
- 17
Jag jobbar också här.
I work here too.
Tip: 'Too' goes right after the verb in Swedish, not at the end.
- 18
Var bor du?
Where do you live?
Tip: 'bo' is to live somewhere; 'var' is where.
- 19
Jag bor nära centrum.
I live near the centre.
Tip: lit. 'live near' + the word for the middle of a town.
- 20
Bor du ensam?
Do you live alone?
Tip: Questions start with the verb: Bor du…?
- 21
Nej, jag bor med min sambo.
No, I live with my partner.
Tip: The word covers any partner you live with, married or not.
- 22
Har du barn?
Do you have kids?
Tip: The same word for one child or several.
- 23
Jag har två barn.
I have two kids.
Tip: No plural ending on this noun.
- 24
Du då?
What about you?
Tip: lit. 'You then?' — very common and casual.
- 25
Nej, inte än.
No, not yet.
Tip: The short word for 'yet' goes last.
- 26
Förlåt, vad heter du nu igen?
Sorry, what was your name again?
Tip: lit. 'what are you called now again?' — perfectly polite to ask.
- 27
Och du heter Karin, va?
And you're Karin, right?
Tip: 'va?' at the end = right?
- 28
Jag heter Wilson i efternamn.
My surname is Wilson.
Tip: lit. 'I am called … in surname' — the natural way to say it.
- 29
Hur stavar man det?
How do you spell that?
Tip: lit. 'How spells one that?' — 'man' = one, people in general.
- 30
Med ett L?
With one L?
Tip: Letters are ett-words: ett L, ett A.
- 31
Vad heter din sambo?
What's your partner's name?
Tip: lit. 'What is your partner called?'
- 32
Hon heter Maria.
Her name's Maria.
Tip: Same verb as for your own name; only the pronoun changes.
- 33
Ha det bra!
Take care!
Tip: lit. 'Have it good!' — a friendly goodbye.