When? Questions about time, dates and plans
Ask about dates, birthdays, plans, opening hours and timetables, and understand when Swedes ask you.
Swedes plan ahead and often talk in week numbers, like 'vecka 32', so it's worth asking. These questions run from today's date to train delays.
- 1
Vilken dag är det idag?
What day is it today?
Tip: Useful after a long weekend.
- 2
Vilken vecka är det?
What week is it?
Tip: Swedes use week numbers at work, at school and in calendars.
- 3
Är det den femte eller den femtonde?
Is it the fifth or the fifteenth?
Tip: Dates use ordinals: fifth, fifteenth.
- 4
När fyller du år?
When's your birthday?
Tip: lit. 'When do you fill years?' — the only natural way to ask.
- 5
Hur många år fyller du?
How old are you turning?
Tip: lit. 'How many years do you fill?'
- 6
Vilket år är du född?
What year were you born?
Tip: Swedish uses 'are you born', not 'were'.
- 7
Vad gjorde du förra helgen?
What did you do last weekend?
Tip: The word for 'last' here is used for the previous week, month, year.
- 8
Jobbar du i helgen?
Are you working this weekend?
Tip: In + the definite form = this coming one.
- 9
Är du ledig på fredag?
Are you free on Friday?
Tip: The adjective means free from work, not free of charge.
- 10
Har du tid imorgon?
Do you have time tomorrow?
Tip: lit. 'Have you time tomorrow?'
- 11
När slutar du jobbet?
What time do you finish work?
Tip: lit. 'When do you end the job?'
- 12
Funkar tisdag förmiddag?
Does Tuesday morning work?
Tip: Casual. The morning before lunch is its own word.
- 13
Ska vi säga sju?
Shall we say seven?
Tip: Same as in English.
- 14
Är det på morgonen eller på kvällen?
Is it in the morning or the evening?
Tip: Parts of the day take 'on' + the definite form.
- 15
Kan vi flytta det till torsdag?
Can we move it to Thursday?
Tip: The verb for moving house also moves meetings.
- 16
Vilken vecka passar dig?
Which week suits you?
Tip: lit. 'Which week fits you?'
- 17
När tar du semester?
When are you taking your holiday?
Tip: Most Swedes take a long holiday in summer.
- 18
Hur dags börjar det?
What time does it start?
Tip: A very common way to ask for a clock time, especially for events.
- 19
När slutar det?
When does it finish?
Tip: Same verb as finishing work.
- 20
Hur lång tid tar det?
How long does it take?
Tip: lit. 'How long time takes it?'
- 21
Hur dags måste vi vara där?
What time do we need to be there?
Tip: The verb means 'must', 'have to'.
- 22
Behöver jag boka tid?
Do I need to book an appointment?
Tip: lit. 'book time' — for doctors, hairdressers, offices.
- 23
Vad har ni för öppettider?
What are your opening hours?
Tip: lit. 'What do you have for opening times?'
- 24
Har ni öppet på söndagar?
Are you open on Sundays?
Tip: Plural day = every Sunday.
- 25
Har ni andra öppettider på sommaren?
Do you have different hours in summer?
Tip: Many places change their hours in summer.
- 26
Hur ofta går bussen?
How often does the bus run?
Tip: Buses and trains 'walk' in Swedish.
- 27
När går sista tåget?
When does the last train leave?
Tip: No 'the' before 'last': the noun takes the ending instead.
- 28
Går tåget i tid?
Is the train on time?
Tip: lit. 'Does the train go in time?'
- 29
Hur mycket är tåget försenat?
How late is the train?
Tip: lit. 'How much is the train delayed?'
- 30
Hur länge är du borta?
How long will you be away?
Tip: Present tense for future plans.
- 31
När kom du?
When did you get here?
Tip: Past tense of 'come'.