Swedish might be known for its melodic pitch accent and lagom (the “just right” approach to life), but there’s more beneath the surface—especially when it comes to slang. If you really want to blend in with Stockholms befolkning (the people of Stockholm) and sound like a native, learning slang is essential. From casual greetings to comedic insults, slang words and phrases capture the real essence of everyday life.
In this guide, we’ll walk through 100 must-know Swedish slang terms, focusing on words and expressions you’re most likely to encounter in Stockholm. By the end of this article, you’ll be ready to talk like a Stockholmer—or at least give it your best shot!
Why Learn Swedish Slang?
Authentic Communication
Textbook Swedish is great for building grammar basics, but real conversations often include slang. Using slang words (correctly!) shows people you’re engaged, curious about their culture, and ready to talk like a local.
Cultural Insight
Slang can reveal a lot about a place’s history and attitude. From playful jabs to affectionate nicknames, Stockholm slang offers insights into humor, social norms, and day-to-day life.
Confidence Booster
Dropping a well-timed Typ, Shyssta, or Jäklar can make you feel more at ease. Locals often appreciate the effort—and may even respond with more slang to help you learn.
Fun Fact: According to a 2021 survey by language app Babbel, over 70% of Swedes aged 18–30 use slang daily—especially in casual chats and text messages. So, if you skip slang, you skip a massive chunk of everyday speech.
Quick Tips for Using Swedish Slang
- Observe Context: Some words are friendly banter among pals but might be rude in formal settings. Watch how Swedes actually use slang.
- Listen & Learn: Pick up slang from Swedish YouTubers, TikTokers, or Stockholm-based TV shows like Bonusfamiljen or Solsidan.
- Mix it Gently: Don’t cram slang into every sentence. A few well-placed expressions can go a long way.
- Ask for Help: If unsure, ask “Kan jag säga så?” (“Can I say it like that?”). Most Swedes will be happy to guide you.
Category 1 – Greetings & Everyday Expressions
Below are 10 casual expressions you’ll hear on the streets of Södermalm or while chatting with colleagues in a Stockholm fika break.
- Tja
- Meaning: “Hi,” “Hey,” very informal greeting
- Usage: “Tja, hur är läget?” (“Hey, how’s it going?”)
- Tjena / Tjenare
- Meaning: Another casual “Hi,” “Hey”
- Usage: Common among younger Swedes: “Tjenare, läget?”
- Tjo
- Meaning: “Hey,” “Yo!” (playful)
- Usage: Used to grab someone’s attention: “Tjo, ska vi dra nu?” (“Hey, shall we go now?”)
- Läget?
- Meaning: “How’s it going?” (short for “Hur är läget?”)
- Usage: Quick check-in with friends or coworkers.
- Hur står det till?
- Meaning: More like “How are things?” but can be playful in slangy contexts
- Usage: Less formal than a direct “Hur mår du?” but still friendly.
- Gött
- Meaning: “Nice,” “Good,” originally from Gothenburg dialect but widely used
- Usage: “Det är gött väder idag!” (“It’s nice weather today!”)
- Nice
- Meaning: Borrowed from English, “cool,” “great”
- Usage: “Det låter nice!” (“That sounds great!”)
- Fan
- Meaning: “Damn,” “heck,” mild expletive
- Usage: “Fan, jag glömde nycklarna!” (“Damn, I forgot my keys!”)
- För fan
- Meaning: Stronger “For damn’s sake,” very casual or used in frustration
- Usage: “Sluta bråka, för fan!” (“Stop fighting, for god’s sake!”)
- Typ
- Meaning: “Like,” filler word similar to “kind of”
- Usage: “Jag är typ trött idag.” (“I’m like kinda tired today.”)
Category 2 – Describing People & Personality
Stockholmers can be direct yet playful when describing people. Here are 10 expressions to help you chat about friends, colleagues, or that random person on the street.
- Polare
- Meaning: “Pal,” “Buddy,” or “Friend”
- Usage: “Jag ska hänga med mina polare ikväll.” (“I’m hanging out with my buddies tonight.”)
- Grabben / Tjejen
- Meaning: “The guy” / “The girl,” informal references
- Usage: “Grabben där borta är min bror.” (“That guy over there is my brother.”)
- Brorsan
- Meaning: “My brother,” but also “buddy” among close male friends
- Usage: “Tja brorsan, hur är det?” (“Hey bro, how’s it going?”)
- Schysst
- Meaning: “Nice,” “Cool” person
- Usage: “Han är en schysst kille, alltid hjälper till.”
- Skön
- Meaning: “Chill,” “Easygoing,” “Comfortable”
- Usage: “Hon är så skön, ingen stress alls.”
- Kaxig
- Meaning: “Cocky,” “Brash”
- Usage: “Han låter lite kaxig när han pratar om sina pengar.”
- Soft
- Meaning: Borrowed from English, meaning “laid-back,” “easygoing”
- Usage: “Hon är verkligen soft, aldrig stressad.”
- Tönt
- Meaning: “Dork,” “Nerd,” usually mild teasing
- Usage: “Min polare är en riktig tönt när det gäller serietidningar.”
- Dum i huvudet
- Meaning: “Stupid in the head,” harsh but casual insult
- Usage: “Det där är helt dum i huvudet…” (“That’s completely stupid…”)
- Klyftig
- Meaning: “Smart,” “Clever”
- Usage: “Vad klyftig du är, bra lösning där!”
Category 3 – Expressing Emotions & Reactions
Sometimes you need the right slang to show surprise, excitement, or frustration. These 10 expressions will help you color your speech.
- Shit
- Meaning: Borrowed from English, mild expletive or reaction
- Usage: “Shit, vad det regnar!” (“Wow, it’s raining so hard!”)
- Jäklar
- Meaning: “Dang,” “Oh man,” mild expletive
- Usage: “Jäklar, jag missade bussen!” (“Dang, I missed the bus!”)
- Sjukt
- Meaning: “Insanely,” “Crazy” (positive or negative)
- Usage: “Det är sjukt kallt ute!” (“It’s insanely cold outside!”)
- Åh herregud
- Meaning: “Oh my god,” showing shock or surprise
- Usage: “Åh herregud, kolla den kön!” (“Oh my god, look at that line!”)
- Asbra
- Meaning: “Super good,” literally “ace-good,” but “as-” prefix intensifies
- Usage: “Din idé är asbra!” (“Your idea is super good!”)
- Nice
- Meaning: Repeated from above, but also used for emotional reaction: “Nice!”
- Usage: “Fick du jobbet? Nice!”
- Helvete
- Meaning: “Hell,” can be strong or mild depending on tone
- Usage: “Helvete vad dyrt det är här!”
- Fan vad kul
- Meaning: “Damn how fun,” i.e., “That’s awesome!”
- Usage: “Du ska till Japan? Fan vad kul!”
- Gud vad tråkigt
- Meaning: “God, how boring” or “That’s so boring/unfortunate”
- Usage: “Du bröt armen? Gud vad tråkigt.”
- Fy sjutton
- Meaning: Mild exclamation like “Ugh!” or “Yikes!”
- Usage: “Fy sjutton vad det luktar här!”
Category 4 – Food & Fika Slang
Fika culture is big in Stockholm, and so is talking about food in casual ways. Impress your Swedish friends with these 10 terms.
- Fika
- Meaning: Coffee break with pastries, but you already know that!
- Usage: “Ska vi ta en fika?” (“Shall we have a coffee break?”)
- Bulle
- Meaning: “Cinnamon bun” or “Cardamom bun” in casual talk
- Usage: “Jag köpte en bulle till fikat.”
- Latte-pappa
- Meaning: Trendy dad on parental leave, sipping lattes
- Usage: “Han är en riktig latte-pappa på Södermalm.”
- Käk
- Meaning: “Grub,” “Food”
- Usage: “Ska vi dra och käka nu?” (“Shall we go eat now?”)
- Gött
- Meaning: “Tasty,” “Yummy,” repeated from earlier but often used for food
- Usage: “Den här pizzan är gött.”
- Svullna
- Meaning: “Pig out,” “binge eat”
- Usage: “Ikväll ska vi svullna på chips och godis.”
- Snaska
- Meaning: “Snack,” “to munch on sweets”
- Usage: “Vill du snaska lite godis framför filmen?”
- En bira
- Meaning: “A beer,” slang for “öl”
- Usage: “Ska vi ta en bira efter jobbet?”
- Hänga på en uteservering
- Meaning: “Hang out on an outdoor café,” typical Stockholmer summer vibe
- Usage: “Så fort solen skiner vill jag hänga på en uteservering.”
- Bakis
- Meaning: “Hungover,” short for “bakfull”
- Usage: “Jag är så bakis idag, drack för mycket igår.”
Category 5 – Money & Shopping Slang
Need to talk cash or bargains in Stockholm? Here are 10 slang terms to keep you afloat.
- Cash
- Meaning: Borrowed from English, literal “cash money”
- Usage: “Har du cash, eller ska du swisha?”
- Swisha
- Meaning: “To use Swish,” a popular Swedish payment app
- Usage: “Kan du swisha mig 100 spänn?”
- Pengar / Pengar kvar
- Meaning: “Money / money left,” everyday usage
- Usage: “Har du pengar kvar till lunchen?”
- Stålar
- Meaning: Another word for “money”
- Usage: “Jag har inte stålar för den där dyra restaurangen.”
- Hunka / Hunkor
- Meaning: “100 SEK,” or “hundreds of kronor”
- Usage: “Det kostar tre hunkor.” (“That costs 300 SEK.”)
- Spänn
- Meaning: Slang for “SEK,” can refer to any amount
- Usage: “Jag lånade 50 spänn av dig, minns du?”
- Dyrt som fan
- Meaning: “Expensive as hell”
- Usage: “Den lägenheten är dyrt som fan.”
- Fynda
- Meaning: “Find a bargain,” “score a deal”
- Usage: “Jag fyndade en tröja på rean.”
- Snåla
- Meaning: “Be stingy,” “saving money excessively”
- Usage: “Jag försöker snåla lite innan lön.”
- Kolla runt
- Meaning: “Browse around,” typical for shopping sprees
- Usage: “Låt oss kolla runt på Drottninggatan.”
Category 6 – Work & School Slang
Whether you’re studying at Stockholm University or hustling for your startup, these terms are handy.
- Plugga
- Meaning: “To study,” used by students all the time
- Usage: “Måste plugga inför tentan.”
- Tenta
- Meaning: “Exam,” short for “tentamen”
- Usage: “Har en tenta nästa vecka, är stressad.”
- Skolka
- Meaning: “Skip class,” “play hooky”
- Usage: “Vi skolkade och gick på café istället.”
- Chefen
- Meaning: “The boss,” can be used ironically for someone in charge
- Usage: “Chefen vill att vi jobbar övertid.”
- Frilansa
- Meaning: “Freelance”
- Usage: “Jag frilansar som fotograf på helgerna.”
- Jobba på distans
- Meaning: “Work remotely,” common post-pandemic term
- Usage: “Många i Stockholm jobbar på distans numera.”
- Kickoff
- Meaning: “Team-building event,” borrowed from English
- Usage: “Vi har kickoff med jobbet nästa vecka.”
- Slita
- Meaning: “To grind,” “work hard,” literally “to wear down”
- Usage: “Jag har slitit hela dagen med den här rapporten.”
- Knega
- Meaning: “To do menial work,” “to slog away at a job”
- Usage: “Jag knegade i kassan på ICA när jag var yngre.”
- Gymnasiet
- Meaning: High school, but used slangily among teens
- Usage: “Jag minns när jag gick i gymnasiet, vilka tider!”
Category 7 – Tech & Internet Slang
Talking about Netflix or gaming? Here are 10 expressions to level up your Swedish geek-speak.
- Data
- Meaning: “Computer,” old-school slang
- Usage: “Sitter vid datan och kollar film.”
- Nätet
- Meaning: “The internet,” short for “internet”
- Usage: “Jag hittade det på nätet.”
- Messa
- Meaning: “To text,” from “SMS”
- Usage: “Kan du messa mig sen?”
- Lajka
- Meaning: “To like” a post on social media, from English “like”
- Usage: “Folk lajkar min bild på Instagram.”
- Tagga
- Meaning: “To tag” someone on social media, or “to get pumped”
- Usage: “Tagga mig i den bilden!” / “Nu taggar vi inför festen!”
- Softa
- Meaning: “To chill,” “take it easy”
- Usage: “Ska du softa hemma ikväll?”
- Surfa
- Meaning: “To surf the web”
- Usage: “Jag surfar efter bra erbjudanden på nätet.”
- Streama
- Meaning: “To stream” (music, movies, etc.)
- Usage: “Jag ska streama en ny serie på Netflix.”
- Dissa
- Meaning: “To diss,” “to disrespect,” borrowed from English
- Usage: “Varför dissar du mig i chatten?”
- Cringe
- Meaning: Same as English, describing something embarrassing
- Usage: “Den videon var så cringe.”
Category 8 – Traveling & Commuting in Stockholm
Stockholm’s public transport is legendary. These 10 expressions will help you navigate.
- T-bana
- Meaning: Stockholm’s “Tunnelbana,” the metro
- Usage: “Jag tar T-banan till jobbet varje dag.”
- Pendeln
- Meaning: The commuter train, short for “pendeltåg”
- Usage: “Jag åker pendeln till Sollentuna.”
- SL-kort
- Meaning: Stockholm’s public transport card
- Usage: “Har du laddat ditt SL-kort?”
- Grön linje / Röd linje
- Meaning: “Green line / Red line,” main T-bana routes
- Usage: “Jag bor längs gröna linjen.”
- Kollektivtrafik
- Meaning: “Public transport,” used often in everyday talk
- Usage: “Älskar kollektivtrafiken i Stockholm, trots förseningar ibland.”
- Sena tåg
- Meaning: “Late trains,” a common complaint
- Usage: “Alltid sena tåg på vintern, fan också.”
- Båtarna
- Meaning: The boats or ferries around Stockholm’s archipelago
- Usage: “Ska vi ta båtarna ut till skärgården i helgen?”
- Cyklisterna
- Meaning: “The cyclists,” sometimes referencing intense bike traffic
- Usage: “Akta cyklisterna på gatan!”
- Jag drar
- Meaning: “I’m leaving / I’m off”
- Usage: “Jag drar nu, annars missar jag tåget.”
- Packat som sillar
- Meaning: “Packed like herring,” i.e., “crowded”
- Usage: “T-banan är packat som sillar under rusningstid.”
Category 9 – Fun & Party Slang
Swedes know how to party quietly—or not! Here are 10 slang terms for nightlife and celebration.
- Festa
- Meaning: “To party,” used frequently
- Usage: “Vi ska festa hela natten!”
- Krök
- Meaning: “Booze session,” “pre-party drinking”
- Usage: “Kröka lite innan klubben?” (“Have some drinks before the club?”)
- Taggad
- Meaning: “Excited,” “pumped”
- Usage: “Jag är taggad för ikväll!”
- Käka bakismat
- Meaning: “Eat hangover food,” referencing greasy or comforting meals
- Usage: “Imorgon käkar vi bakismat, garanterat.”
- Dra ut
- Meaning: “Go out (to party)”
- Usage: “Ska ni dra ut ikväll?”
- Klubben
- Meaning: “The club,” short for nightclubs
- Usage: “Möt mig vid klubben klockan tolv.”
- Ragga
- Meaning: “To flirt,” “to pick someone up”
- Usage: “Han försökte ragga upp henne på festen.”
- Bärs
- Meaning: Slang for “beer”
- Usage: “Kan du köpa med en back bärs?”
- Hänga på krogen
- Meaning: “Hang at the pub/bar”
- Usage: “Vi hänger på krogen efter jobbet.”
- Slutkörd
- Meaning: “Exhausted,” often after a night out
- Usage: “Jag är helt slutkörd efter igår.”
Category 10 – Random But Essential Phrases
Finally, here are 10 more random slang expressions Stockholmer’s love to drop.
- Löka
- Meaning: “To sweat,” slang for “being sweaty” or “overheated”
- Usage: “Det är så varmt att jag lökar hela tiden.”
- Skit- (prefix)
- Meaning: “Crap-,” intensifier for negative or positive
- Usage: “Skitbra!” (“Really great!”) or “Skitdåligt!” (“Really bad!”)
- Ball
- Meaning: “Cool,” “awesome”
- Usage: “Vilken ball jacka du har!”
- Skit samma
- Meaning: “Doesn’t matter,” “Whatever,” literally “crap the same”
- Usage: “Skit samma, vi löser det imorgon.”
- Irr
- Meaning: “Annoyed,” short for “irriterad”
- Usage: “Jag blir irr när folk avbryter mig.”
- Chilla
- Meaning: “To chill,” “relax,” from English
- Usage: “Vi kan bara chilla hemma ikväll.”
- Orka
- Meaning: “Have the energy,” “can be bothered to”
- Usage: “Jag orkar inte gå ut, är för trött.”
- Pepp
- Meaning: “Enthusiasm,” “energy,” from “pep”
- Usage: “Jag är så pepp inför konserten!”
- Grattis
- Meaning: “Congrats,” short for “gratulerar”
- Usage: “Grattis på födelsedagen!”
- Gött mos
- Meaning: “Great mashed potatoes,” ironically used to say “awesome!”
- Usage: “Du klarade tentan? Gött mos!”
Conclusion – Level Up Your Swedish Slang Skills
Congratulations! You’ve made it through 100 essential Swedish slang terms that will help you sound more like a genuine Stockholmer. Remember, it’s all about context and tone. Don’t worry if you can’t memorize them all at once—pick a few favorites and experiment in day-to-day conversations.
Pro Tips
- Practice In Real Situations: Next time you chat with Swedish friends or colleagues, slip in a fan vad kul! or kolla runt at the right moment.
- Watch Swedish Content: Check out Netflix shows like Bonusfamiljen or comedic YouTube channels for a deeper sense of how slang is used.
- Stay Curious: Language evolves. Keep an ear out for emerging slang—especially among younger Swedes.
Your Turn – Call to Action
Which slang term was your favorite? Or did we miss a Stockholm gem that you love? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts and experiences. And if you found this guide helpful, share it with your fellow Swedish learners! Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more language tips, cultural insights, and fun tidbits from around the world.
Lycka till (good luck) with your Swedish slang journey. Before you know it, you’ll be breezing through conversations like a true Stockholmer—gött mos!
See Also: Portuguese Slang Guide: 100 Essential Terms to Blend in with the Locals
