Holiday Words
Basic words for religious holidays: time off, family visits, festive food and greetings.
People in Sweden celebrate many different religious holidays. These words help you ask for time off, talk about family visits and food, and wish someone a good holiday.
- 1
en högtid
a holiday (festive occasion)
Tip: A special day or season of celebration, often with old traditions.
- 2
en religiös högtid
a religious holiday
Tip: The adjective comes before the noun, as in English.
- 3
en tro
faith
Tip: Also the root of 'believe'.
- 4
att be
to pray
Tip: A short verb; also means 'to ask for'.
- 5
en bön
a prayer
Tip: Plural: böner.
- 6
en sed
a custom
Tip: An old way of doing things; plural: seder.
- 7
en tradition
a tradition
Tip: Stress on the last syllable.
- 8
att fira
to celebrate
Tip: Past tense adds -de.
- 9
en kalender
a calendar
Tip: Some holidays move around in it from year to year.
- 10
ledig
off (work or school)
Tip: Add -a in the plural.
- 11
en ledighet
time off
Tip: The noun form, as in 'your time off'.
- 12
att ta ledigt
to take time off
Tip: Literally 'to take free'.
- 13
en semesterdag
a day of annual leave
Tip: Literally 'a holiday day': one day from your paid leave.
- 14
en chef
a manager
Tip: Not a cook: your boss.
- 15
en familj
a family
Tip: Plural adds -er.
- 16
en släkt
the extended family, relatives
Tip: Your whole family network: cousins, aunts, uncles and more.
- 17
en släkting
a relative
Tip: One single person in your extended family.
- 18
att hälsa på
to visit (someone)
Tip: Literally 'to greet on'. Used for visiting people, not places.
- 19
ett besök
a visit
Tip: An ett-word.
- 20
en värd
a host
Tip: The person who invites you.
- 21
en gäst
a guest
Tip: Plural ends in -er.
- 22
en festmåltid
a festive meal
Tip: Literally 'party meal-time'.
- 23
en efterrätt
a dessert
Tip: Literally 'after-dish'.
- 24
sötsaker
sweets, sweet treats
Tip: Plural: 'sweet things', often shared with neighbours.
- 25
en present
a present
Tip: Stress on the last syllable.
- 26
ett kort
a card (greeting card)
Tip: An ett-word; also used for bank cards and playing cards.
- 27
en hälsning
a greeting
Tip: From the verb 'to greet'.
- 28
att gratulera
to congratulate
Tip: Also used for wishing someone well on a big day.
- 29
nya kläder
new clothes
Tip: Always plural in Swedish.
- 30
ett ljus
a candle
Tip: The same word also means 'light'.
- 31
att pynta
to decorate (for a celebration)
Tip: Casual and common; used for homes and tables.