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A2Swedish·30 cards

National Day Words

The words you need for Sweden's national day: the flag, the ceremonies, the royal family and new citizens.

Sweden celebrates its national day on 6 June. Flags go up, the royal family appears at Skansen in Stockholm, and many municipalities welcome their new citizens. These words cover all of it.

A vibrant street scene in Stockholm featuring a Swedish flag and festive decorations.
Photo: Tushar Mahajan on Pexels
  1. 1

    en nationaldag

    a national day

    Tip: Sweden's is on 6 June.

  2. 2

    Sverige

    Sweden

    Tip: No article; the country's own name.

  3. 3

    ett land

    a country

    Tip: An ett-word; the plural changes its vowel.

  4. 4

    en flagga

    a flag

    Tip: Ends in -a, like many en-words.

  5. 5

    den svenska flaggan

    the Swedish flag

    Tip: Adjective + noun with the definite article in front and on the noun.

  6. 6

    blågul

    blue and yellow

    Tip: One word in Swedish; the colours of the flag.

  7. 7

    en flaggstång

    a flagpole

    Tip: Many houses and summer cottages have one in the garden.

  8. 8

    att hissa flaggan

    to raise the flag

    Tip: Literally 'to hoist the flag'.

  9. 9

    att flagga

    to fly the flag

    Tip: The noun for the banner, used as a verb: put it up for the day.

  10. 10

    en vimpel

    a pennant

    Tip: The long, thin streamer on the pole on ordinary days.

  11. 11

    en röd dag

    a public holiday

    Tip: Literally 'a red day': red in the calendar.

  12. 12

    en ledig dag

    a day off

    Tip: Free from work or school.

  13. 13

    ett firande

    a celebration

    Tip: Made from the verb 'to celebrate'.

  14. 14

    en ceremoni

    a ceremony

    Tip: Stress on the last syllable.

  15. 15

    ett tal

    a speech

    Tip: The same word also means 'a number'.

  16. 16

    en nationalsång

    a national anthem

    Tip: Literally 'national song'.

  17. 17

    en kung

    a king

    Tip: The definite form is used for Sweden's: the king.

  18. 18

    en drottning

    a queen

    Tip: Not related to the word for king.

  19. 19

    en kungafamilj

    a royal family

    Tip: Literally 'king family'.

  20. 20

    ett friluftsmuseum

    an open-air museum

    Tip: Literally 'free-air museum'. Skansen in Stockholm is the famous one.

  21. 21

    en folkdräkt

    a folk costume

    Tip: Traditional regional clothes, worn on festive days.

  22. 22

    en medborgare

    a citizen

    Tip: Literally 'co-burgher'. Same form in the plural.

  23. 23

    ett medborgarskap

    citizenship

    Tip: The -skap ending makes ett-words, like 'friendship'.

  24. 24

    en medborgarskapsceremoni

    a citizenship ceremony

    Tip: Long compound: citizenship + linking s + ceremony.

  25. 25

    en kommun

    a municipality

    Tip: Local government; it organises the welcome for new citizens.

  26. 26

    att välkomna

    to welcome

    Tip: The verb form of 'welcome'.

  27. 27

    stolt

    proud

    Tip: Same form with ett-words; add -a in the plural.

  28. 28

    en grundlag

    a constitution

    Tip: Literally 'ground law'. One was adopted on 6 June 1809.

  29. 29

    demokrati

    democracy

    Tip: An en-word, usually used without an article.

  30. 30

    historia

    history

    Tip: An en-word; also means 'a story'.