Midsummer: what people actually say
Phrases for being invited, helping with the flowers and the pole, dancing, eating and thanking your hosts at a Swedish Midsummer.
Your Swedish friend invites you to Midsummer at her grandmother's in the countryside. Follow the day from the phone call to the light night, and pick up the things people actually say: offering help, joining the dance, choosing herring and saying thank you.
- 1
Vad gör du på midsommar?
What are you doing for Midsummer?
Tip: Holidays take 'on' in Swedish.
- 2
Inget speciellt, faktiskt.
Nothing special, actually.
Tip: The adjective takes -t to agree with 'nothing'.
- 3
Följ med oss!
Come with us!
Tip: lit. 'follow with us'; the usual way to invite someone along.
- 4
Är jag inte i vägen?
Won't I be in the way?
Tip: lit. 'am I not in the way'.
- 5
Ju fler desto roligare!
The more the merrier!
Tip: lit. 'the more, the funnier'.
- 6
Vad ska jag ta med mig?
What should I bring?
Tip: lit. 'take with me'.
- 7
Ta med regnkläder och myggmedel.
Bring rain clothes and mosquito repellent.
Tip: The two essentials of a Swedish summer party.
- 8
Man vet aldrig med vädret.
You never know with the weather.
Tip: The standard Swedish summer warning.
- 9
Systemet är stängt på midsommarafton.
The alcohol shop is closed on Midsummer Eve.
Tip: Plan ahead: the state shop doesn't open on the big day.
- 10
Du kommer precis lagom.
You've come at just the right time.
Tip: The famous Swedish word for 'just right'.
- 11
Kan du hjälpa till att plocka blommor till stången?
Can you help pick flowers for the pole?
Tip: The particle after 'help' makes it 'help out'.
- 12
Vilka blommor ska jag ta?
Which flowers should I take?
Tip: The question word takes its plural form.
- 13
De som är fridlysta får man inte plocka.
You're not allowed to pick the protected ones.
Tip: Some wild flowers are protected by law in Sweden.
- 14
Hur binder man en krans?
How do you make a wreath?
Tip: lit. 'how does one tie a wreath'.
- 15
Det är lättare än det ser ut.
It's easier than it looks.
Tip: lit. 'than it sees out'; 'look' is a particle verb.
- 16
Den sitter lite snett, va?
It's a bit crooked, isn't it?
Tip: lit. 'it sits a bit askew'; the tag at the end asks for agreement.
- 17
Det ska den göra!
It's supposed to!
Tip: lit. 'that shall it do'.
- 18
Nu är det dags att dansa!
Now it's time to dance!
Tip: The word for 'time' here means 'the moment for'.
- 19
Jag kan inte texten.
I don't know the words.
Tip: Knowing something by heart uses the verb for 'can'.
- 20
Det gör inget.
It doesn't matter.
Tip: lit. 'it does nothing'.
- 21
Gör bara som vi.
Just do what we do.
Tip: lit. 'do just as we'.
- 22
Varför hoppar alla som grodor?
Why is everyone hopping like frogs?
Tip: 'Everyone' takes a plural sense but no extra word.
- 23
Det är bara så man gör.
That's just what you do.
Tip: lit. 'it is just so one does'.
- 24
Varsågoda, maten är klar!
Help yourselves, the food is ready!
Tip: Plural form of the word for 'here you go', to a whole group.
- 25
Vilken sill är godast?
Which herring is the tastiest?
Tip: Superlative of the word for tasty.
- 26
Den gör jag själv.
I make it myself.
Tip: lit. 'it make I myself'; the object comes first for emphasis.
- 27
Nu tar vi en visa!
Now let's have a song!
Tip: lit. 'now we take a song'; said before the shot.
- 28
Jag står över.
I'll pass.
Tip: lit. 'I stand over'; a polite way to skip something.
- 29
Jag ska köra i morgon.
I'm driving tomorrow.
Tip: The modal shows a plan.
- 30
Alla in under tältet!
Everyone under the tent!
Tip: No verb needed when you're shouting.
- 31
Tack för maten.
Thanks for the meal.
Tip: Always said when you leave the table; skipping it is rude.
- 32
Det är fortfarande ljust!
It's still light!
Tip: The adjective takes -t after 'it'.
- 33
Tack för att jag fick vara med!
Thanks for having me!
Tip: lit. 'thanks that I got to be with'.
- 34
Trevlig midsommar!
Have a lovely Midsummer!
Tip: The friendly wish you hear all week.