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B1Swedish·30 cards

New in the building: talking to the neighbours

Moving into a Swedish apartment building — introducing yourself in the stairwell, learning how the tvättstuga works, borrowing a drill, and handling the note about your housewarming party.

Swedish neighbours are quiet until there is a reason to talk: a new face in the stairwell, the laundry-room rules, or a note about noise. This deck covers one week as the new tenant on the third floor, with the phrases that turn the older neighbour into an ally.

Picturesque street with white houses, black shutters, flowerpots, and traditional lamps.
Photo: Haberdoedas Photography on Pexels
  1. 1

    Hej, jag har precis flyttat in på tredje våningen.

    Hi, I just moved in on the third floor.

    Tip: Moved in = a verb + the particle 'in'; the floor takes an ordinal and the definite form.

  2. 2

    Välkommen till huset!

    Welcome to the building!

    Tip: The everyday word for 'house' also covers an apartment block; definite form.

  3. 3

    Vi bor i lägenheten mittemot.

    We live in the apartment opposite.

    Tip: 'Opposite / across the hall' is one word, placed after the noun.

  4. 4

    Hur länge har du bott här?

    How long have you lived here?

    Tip: 'How long' + the perfect tense for a duration up to now.

  5. 5

    I över tjugo år.

    For over twenty years.

    Tip: 'i' + duration = for (a period).

  6. 6

    Om det är något, är det bara att knacka på.

    If there's anything, just knock.

    Tip: 'It is just to' + infinitive = just (do it); knocking uses a particle verb.

  7. 7

    Hur funkar det med tvättstugan?

    How does the laundry room work?

    Tip: A colloquial verb for 'work, function'; the shared laundry room in the basement is typical of Swedish buildings.

  8. 8

    Man bokar en tid på tavlan i källaren.

    You book a slot on the board in the basement.

    Tip: Impersonal 'one' (≈ you); the booking board; the basement — both nouns definite.

  9. 9

    Glöm inte att städa efter dig.

    Don't forget to clean up after yourself.

    Tip: Clean up after oneself — the reflexive pronoun changes with the person. The rule of rules.

  10. 10

    Annars blir folk sura.

    Otherwise people get grumpy.

    Tip: The adjective for 'sour' also means grumpy; plural form with the word for 'people'.

  11. 11

    Får jag låna en borrmaskin?

    May I borrow a drill?

    Tip: One Swedish verb covers both 'borrow' and 'lend'; the tool is a compound: 'drill' + 'machine'.

  12. 12

    Självklart, jag hämtar den.

    Of course, I'll get it.

    Tip: Go and fetch = one verb, in the present for an immediate action.

  13. 13

    Bara du lämnar tillbaka den.

    As long as you return it.

    Tip: 'Only you' + a clause = as long as you…; return = a verb + the particle 'back'.

  14. 14

    Jag lämnar tillbaka den i morgon.

    I'll return it tomorrow.

    Tip: Present tense for a near-future promise.

  15. 15

    Jag såg att det satt en lapp i trapphuset.

    I saw there was a note in the stairwell.

    Tip: A note 'sits' on a wall — the verb 'sit' in the past; stairwell is a compound: 'stair' + 'house'.

  16. 16

    Någon klagade på ljud i helgen.

    Someone complained about noise at the weekend.

    Tip: Complain + 'on' (not 'about'); 'at the weekend' = 'in' + the definite noun.

  17. 17

    Oj, det var nog min inflyttningsfest.

    Oops, that was probably my housewarming party.

    Tip: Housewarming = one compound ('moving-in party'); a small word for 'probably' softens it.

  18. 18

    Det är lugnt, det händer alla.

    It's fine, it happens to everyone.

    Tip: 'It is calm' = it's fine; 'happen to someone' takes no preposition.

  19. 19

    Men det är tyst efter tio på vardagar.

    But it's quiet after ten on weekdays.

    Tip: Weekdays = 'everyday' days, plural with 'on'; the quiet-hours rule in most buildings.

  20. 20

    Jag ska tänka på det.

    I'll keep that in mind.

    Tip: 'Think on' = keep in mind; 'shall' for a promise.

  21. 21

    Ska jag sätta upp en lapp och be om ursäkt?

    Should I put up a note and apologize?

    Tip: Put up = 'set up'; apologize = 'ask for forgiveness'.

  22. 22

    Det skulle uppskattas.

    That would be appreciated.

    Tip: 'Would' + an s-passive: would be appreciated.

  23. 23

    Förresten, vi har gårdsfest i juni.

    By the way, we have a courtyard party in June.

    Tip: 'By the way' is one word; courtyard party = one compound, no article.

  24. 24

    Alla i huset brukar komma.

    Everyone in the building usually comes.

    Tip: A separate verb for 'usually do' + infinitive (no 'att').

  25. 25

    Jag kommer gärna.

    I'd love to come.

    Tip: One adverb turns 'I come' into 'I'd love to come'.

  26. 26

    Ta med något att grilla.

    Bring something to grill.

    Tip: Bring = 'take with'; 'something to ___' uses 'att' + infinitive.

  27. 27

    Var ställer man återvinningen?

    Where do you put the recycling?

    Tip: A verb for putting things down standing up; impersonal 'one'; recycling is definite.

  28. 28

    I soprummet på gården.

    In the garbage room in the yard.

    Tip: Waste room = one compound ('rubbish' + 'room'); the courtyard takes 'on', not 'in'.

  29. 29

    Tack, nu känner jag mig hemma.

    Thanks, now I feel at home.

    Tip: Feel at home = a reflexive verb + 'at home'; verb second after 'now'.

  30. 30

    Vi ses i trappen!

    See you on the stairs!

    Tip: 'We see each other' = one s-verb; the stairs in the definite form. The neighbour's goodbye.