Essential Swedish Verbs
Learning the most essential verbs in Swedish can significantly enhance your fluency, as verbs are the core of everyday communication. Mastering these commonly used verbs will allow you to express actions, feelings, and
thoughts effectively. Whether you’re ordering food, talking about your day, or describing plans, these verbs provide the foundation you need to engage in daily life in Swedish. Here is a list of key verbs with examples in Swedish and English to help you get started.
Essential Swedish Verbs
| Swedish Verb (Svenska) | English Translation | Example in Swedish | Example in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| vara | to be | Jag vill vara lycklig. | I want to be happy. |
| ha | to have | Hon har en katt. | She has a cat. |
| göra | to do | Vad gör du? | What are you doing? |
| säga | to say | Han säger hej. | He says hello. |
| gå | to go | Vi går till parken. | We are going to the park. |
| komma | to come | Kommer du ikväll? | Are you coming tonight? |
| se | to see | Jag ser dig. | I see you. |
| äta | to eat | Vi äter middag klockan sex. | We eat dinner at six o’clock. |
| dricka | to drink | Hon dricker kaffe varje morgon. | She drinks coffee every morning. |
| köpa | to buy | Jag ska köpa en ny bok. | I am going to buy a new book. |
| sova | to sleep | Barnen sover nu. | The children are sleeping now. |
| skriva | to write | Jag skriver ett brev. | I am writing a letter. |
| läsa | to read | Hon läser en tidning. | She is reading a newspaper. |
| tala | to speak | Kan du tala svenska? | Can you speak Swedish? |
| höra | to hear | Hör du fåglarna? | Do you hear the birds? |
| tycka | to think | Jag tycker att filmen är bra. | I think the movie is good. |
| tro | to believe | Jag tror på dig. | I believe in you. |
| känna | to feel | Jag känner mig trött. | I feel tired. |
| veta | to know | Vet du svaret? | Do you know the answer? |
| vilja | to want | Jag vill lära mig svenska. | I want to learn Swedish. |
| behöva | to need | Jag behöver hjälp. | I need help. |
| ringa | to call | Jag ska ringa dig senare. | I will call you later. |
| börja | to start | Kursen börjar nästa vecka. | The course starts next week. |
| sluta | to stop | Vi måste sluta nu. | We need to stop now. |
| jobba | to work | Han jobbar på sjukhuset. | He works at the hospital. |
| hjälpa | to help | Kan du hjälpa mig? | Can you help me? |
| vänta | to wait | Vi väntar på bussen. | We are waiting for the bus. |
| spela | to play | Barnen spelar fotboll. | The children are playing football. |
| titta | to watch | Vi tittar på en film. | We are watching a movie. |
| resa | to travel | Jag reser till Stockholm imorgon. | I am traveling to Stockholm tomorrow. |
| skratta | to laugh | De skrattar åt skämtet. | They are laughing at the joke. |
| gråta | to cry | Hon gråter av glädje. | She is crying with joy. |
| fråga | to ask | Får jag fråga dig en sak? | May I ask you something? |
| svara | to answer | Kan du svara på frågan? | Can you answer the question? |
| lägga | to put | Jag lägger boken på bordet. | I am putting the book on the table. |
| ta | to take | Ta ett glas vatten. | Take a glass of water. |
| bära | to carry | Han bär väskan åt mig. | He carries the bag for me. |
| stänga | to close | Kan du stänga dörren? | Can you close the door? |
| öppna | to open | Jag öppnar fönstret. | I am opening the window. |
| leka | to play (as a child) | Barnen leker i parken. | The children are playing in the park. |
| bo | to live | Vi bor i Göteborg. | We live in Gothenburg. |
| gå upp | to get up | Jag går upp klockan sju. | I get up at seven o’clock. |
| tvätta | to wash | Hon tvättar kläder. | She is washing clothes. |
| skynda | to hurry | Skynda dig! | Hurry up! |
| förlåta | to forgive | Kan du förlåta mig? | Can you forgive me? |
| låna | to borrow | Jag lånar en bok från biblioteket. | I am borrowing a book from the library. |
| bjuda | to invite | Vi bjuder dem på middag. | We are inviting them to dinner. |
| röka | to smoke | Han röker inte längre. | He doesn’t smoke anymore. |
| köra | to drive | Kan du köra bil? | Can you drive a car? |
| byta | to change | Jag byter jobb nästa månad. | I am changing jobs next month. |
| stanna | to stay | Stanna här tills jag kommer tillbaka. | Stay here until I return. |
| minnas | to remember | Jag minns honom från skolan. | I remember him from school. |
| förstå | to understand | Förstår du vad jag menar? | Do you understand what I mean? |
Conclusion
Learning these essential Swedish verbs and practicing their use will open doors to expressing yourself confidently in various everyday situations. As you incorporate these verbs into conversations, your fluency and comfort with Swedish will grow, allowing you to communicate naturally and effectively. Keep practicing and enjoy discovering the richness of Swedish through these fundamental verbs!
