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B1Swedish·32 cards

On the Phone: Answering, Messages and Bad Lines

What Swedes actually say when they answer a work call, take a message, fight a bad line and leave a voicemail.

Sara works at a small building firm and spends her day on the phone. Listen to how Swedes open a call by saying who they are, ask for someone, take a message, cope with a line that keeps breaking up, and call back.

A hand dialing a phone on a wooden desk. Office environment with keyboard and planner.
Photo: RDNE Stock project on Pexels
  1. 1

    Hej, det är Sara på Nordbygg.

    Hi, this is Sara at Nordbygg.

    Tip: Swedes answer by saying who they are — first name plus workplace.

  2. 2

    Karin Ek heter jag.

    My name's Karin Ek.

    Tip: The name goes first and the verb follows: a very Swedish way to introduce yourself.

  3. 3

    Jag söker Mikael Holm.

    I'm looking for Mikael Holm.

    Tip: Literally 'I seek': the standard way to ask for someone on the phone.

  4. 4

    Han sitter tyvärr i ett möte just nu.

    I'm afraid he's in a meeting right now.

    Tip: Literally 'he sits in a meeting': Swedes sit in meetings.

  5. 5

    Vill du att han ringer upp dig?

    Do you want him to call you back?

    Tip: Literally 'want you that he calls up you?'

  6. 6

    Kan du be honom ringa mig efter lunch?

    Could you ask him to call me after lunch?

    Tip: No 'to' between 'ask him' and 'call' in Swedish.

  7. 7

    Vad gäller det?

    What's it regarding?

    Tip: Literally 'what concerns it?' Neutral and polite.

  8. 8

    Kan du stava ditt efternamn?

    Could you spell your surname?

    Tip: Literally 'after-name'. An ett-word, so 'your' takes -tt.

  9. 9

    E som i Erik, K som i Kalle.

    E as in Erik, K as in Kalle.

    Tip: Swedes spell with first names, and these two are classics.

  10. 10

    Och vilket nummer når han dig på?

    And what number can he reach you on?

    Tip: The preposition ends up last, just like in English.

  11. 11

    Jag ser till att han får meddelandet.

    I'll make sure he gets the message.

    Tip: Literally 'I see to that he gets the message'.

  12. 12

    Stör jag?

    Is this a bad time?

    Tip: Literally 'do I disturb?' The polite check at the start of a call.

  13. 13

    Nej då, men jag sitter på tåget.

    Not at all, but I'm on the train.

    Tip: The little word after 'no' makes it warm: 'no, not at all'.

  14. 14

    Han hör av sig i morgon förmiddag.

    He'll get in touch tomorrow morning.

    Tip: Literally 'he hears off himself' — the idiom for getting in touch.

  15. 15

    Du hackar lite.

    You're breaking up a bit.

    Tip: Word for word: 'you chop a bit' — the sound comes in bits.

  16. 16

    Hör du mig nu?

    Can you hear me now?

    Tip: Question by putting the verb first.

  17. 17

    Kan du ta det en gång till?

    Could you say that again?

    Tip: Literally 'can you take it one time more?' Friendlier than 'repeat'.

  18. 18

    Nu försvann du.

    You've gone now.

    Tip: Literally 'now disappeared you'. The time word first, so the verb comes second.

  19. 19

    Jag ringer upp dig när jag har bättre täckning.

    I'll call you back when I've got better reception.

    Tip: Literally 'when I have better coverage'.

  20. 20

    Okej, vi hörs!

    OK, talk soon!

    Tip: Literally 'we are heard' — the standard goodbye on the phone.

  21. 21

    Du har kommit till Mikael Holm.

    You've reached Mikael Holm.

    Tip: Literally 'you have come to'.

  22. 22

    Lämna ett meddelande efter tonen.

    Leave a message after the tone.

    Tip: The voicemail standard. Message is an ett-word.

  23. 23

    Jag ringer angående offerten.

    I'm calling about the quote.

    Tip: A slightly formal 'regarding' that's perfect for work voicemails.

  24. 24

    Ring mig när du har en minut.

    Call me when you have a minute.

    Tip: Imperative: the verb stem without -a ending.

  25. 25

    Annars försöker jag igen senare.

    Otherwise I'll try again later.

    Tip: 'Otherwise' comes first, so the verb jumps ahead of 'I'.

  26. 26

    Hej, du sökte mig?

    Hi, you were trying to reach me?

    Tip: Literally 'you sought me?' What people say when calling back a missed call.

  27. 27

    Jag har försökt nå dig hela förmiddagen.

    I've been trying to reach you all morning.

    Tip: Perfect tense where English uses 'have been trying'. No article before 'whole morning'.

  28. 28

    Förlåt, jag hade telefonen på ljudlöst.

    Sorry, I had my phone on silent.

    Tip: Literally 'on soundless'. Swedish says 'the phone', not 'my phone'.

  29. 29

    Karin vill att du ringer henne i morgon förmiddag.

    Karin wants you to call her tomorrow morning.

    Tip: 'Want that you call': Swedish needs a that-clause here.

  30. 30

    Kan du sms:a mig hennes nummer?

    Can you text me her number?

    Tip: Texting is a verb made from the abbreviation.

  31. 31

    Jag skickar det direkt.

    I'll send it right away.

    Tip: Present tense for something you're about to do.

  32. 32

    Jag har ett samtal på andra linjen.

    I've got a call on the other line.

    Tip: No article before 'other' in this fixed phrase.