Tjugondag Jul

Twenty days after Christmas (jul) in Sweden, the tree is taken down and the remaining candies are eaten.  Songs are sung as well to mark the end of the Christmas season.  It is sometimes called Knutsdagen.

13 januari har det gått 20 dagar efter julafton. Dagen firas som julhelgens sista dag. Att man säger ”tjugondag Knut dansas julen ut” beror förstås på att denna dags namn i almanackan är just Knut.

Trettondagen

The twelfth day after Christmas marking when the three wise men visited Christ bearing gifts.

It is a red day (holiday) in Sweden.

Denna dag, den 6 januari, har det gått 13 dagar efter julafton. (På engelska räknar man på ett annat sätt och kallar den Twelfth Day, alltså tolftedagen.) Dagen firas till minnet av de tre vise männens besök hos Jesusbarnet. Därför finns i den nya namnlängden i almanackan de namn som man förknippar med dessa vise män, i modern form Kasper, Melker och Baltasar. Det är den enda dagen i almanackan som bär tre namn.

Nickname – Smeknamn

smeknamn – noun [ smeknamnet, smeknamn, smeknamnen ]

A smeknamn (swedish) is a pet name, nickname or an endearment. The word literally means “caress name.”

Plus do you have a secret admirer? Maybe they will become your sweetie or enemy.
hemlig beundrare – adjective + noun [ den hemlige beundraren, hemliga beundrare, de hemliga beundrarna ]
hemlig beundrare (svenska) – a secret admirer (english)

Ordering Food – Beställa Mat

How to order food is pretty easy online or in person.

beställa – to order
få – to get
ta – to take

ta med – to go, takeaway
sitta här – to sit here

Jag vill beställa en kafe och en byte blåbärspaj – I would like to order a coffee and a piece of blueberry pie?
Kan du beställa mat online? – Can you order food online?
Jag tar en varm choklad – I will take a hot chocolate.
Kan jag få en salad utan avokado? – Can I get a salad without avocado?

However if you want to tell someone that you’re going shopping for food, you would use handla mat.
Jag ska handla mat efter jobbet. – I should go grocery shopping after work.

Spices and Herbs in Swedish

Looking around the grocery store and trying to figure out what all those spices are herbs in swedish?
Here’s a quick list to spice up your dishes. Source.

Allspice – Kryddpepper
Angelica – Kvanne
Anis – Star Anis – Anis & Stjärnanis

Basil (Sweet Basil) – Basilika
Bay Leaves – Lagerbald
Bergamot – Bergamott
Borage – Gurkört

Capers – Kaper
Caraway Seeds – Cummin frö
Cardamon – Kardemumma
Cayenne – Cayenne
Celery Seed – Sellri frö
Chamomile – Kamomill
Chervil-Trädgåds Körvel
Chives – Gräslök
Cinnamon – Kanel
Cipolini Onions – See Pearl Onions
Cloves – Kryddnejlika
Comfrey – Vällort
Coriander – Koriander
Coriander Seeds – Koriander frö
Costmary – Renfana
Cumin – Spiscummin (kumin)

Dill – Dill
Dill Seed – Dill Frö

Egyptian Onions – Egyptisk luftlök

Elder – Fläder

Fennel – Fänkål
Fennel Seeds- Fänkål frö
Fenugreek – Bockhornsklöver

Garlic – Vitlök
Garlic Chives – Kinesisk Gräslök
Geraniums -Pelargonia
Ginger – Ingefära

Hops – Hummelplanta
Horehound – Kransborre
Horseradish – Perrarrot
Hyssops – Isops

Juniper – Enbär

Lavender – Lavendel
Leeks – Purjolök
Lemon Balm – Citronmeliss eller Hjärtnsfröjd
Lemon Verbena – Citron verbena
Lovage – Libbsticka

Mace – muskotblomma
Majoram – Mejram
Maragold – Ring blomma
Melissa – Citronmeliss eller Hjärtansfröjd
Mint – Mynta
Mint Applemint – Åkermynta
Mint Spearmint – Rundmynta
Mint Peppermint – Pepparmynta
Mustard Seed – Senaps frö

Nasturtium – Indiansk Krasse
Nutmeg – Musknot

Onion – Gul lök
Oregano – Oregano, Vild mejran, Kungs mynta

Paprika – Paprika
Paprika Smoked -Rökt Paprika
Parsley – Persilja
Pearl Onions – Pärllök
Pennyroyal – Polejmynta
Pepper Black – Svart peppar
Pepper White – Vit peppar
Pepper Green – Grön peppar
Pepper Pink – Rosa peppar
Purslane – Portlak, Portulak

Red Onion – Röd lök
Rosemary – Rosmarin
Rue – Vinruta

Saffron – Saffran
Sage – Salvia
Salad Burnett – Pimpinell
Savory – Kyndel
Savory – Kyndel
Scallions – Salladslök, Knipplök eller Vårlök
Shallots – Schalottenlök
Sorrell – Foxrött
Southernwood – Åbrodd
Sweet Cicely – Spansk körvel
Sweet Woodruff – Myskmadra

Tarragon- Dragon
Thyme – Timjan, Kryddtimjan
Thyme – Lemon Thyme / Citron timjan
Turmeric – Gurkmeja

Verbena – Verbena
Violets – Viol blomma

Watercress – Wattenkrasse

Fish in Swedish

It’s the return of swedish fish! Okay not those cute red gummy candies but tasty fish from the sea.

If you are at fish market here is a list of the common fishes you find at the food store in Sweden.

Albacore tuna Tonfisk långfenad
Anchovy Ansjovis
Arctic Char Röding fjäll
Barracuda Barakuda
Bass Havsabborre
Brill Slätvar
Capelin Lodda
Atlantic cod Torsk
Pacific cod Torsk stillahavs
Conger Havsål
Croaker Havsgös
Dab Flounder Lerskädda
Dogfish Pigghaj
Eel Ål
Haddock Kolja
Hake Kummel
Pacific Halibut Hälleflundra stillahavs
Herring Sill
Hoki Hoki
Horse Mackeral Taggmakrill
Lemon Sole Bergskädda
Ling Långa
Mackeral Makrill
Mahi Mahi Guldmakrill
Monkfish Marulk
Ocean Perch Kungsfisk större
Nile Perch Nilabborre
Coalfish/Pollack Sej
Salmon Lax
Sardines Siklöja
Skate Roka slät
Red Snapper Snapper röd
Sprat Skarpsill
Common Sole Tunga
Swordfish Svärdfisk
Trout öring
Bigeye Tuna Tonfisk storögd
Bluefin Tuna Tonfisk
Yellowfin Tuna Tonfisk gulfenad
Turbot Piggvar
Whitefish Sik
Whiting Vitling

The Grocery Store: Fruits and Vegetables

Need to get around the grocery store? Here’s a quick english to swedish list of fruits and vegetables.
almond mandel
strawberry jordgubbar
apple äpple (n)
apricot aprikos
walnut valnöt
artichoke kronärtskocka
berry bär (n)
asparagus sparris
banana banan
barley korn (n)
blackberry björnbär (n)
blueberry blåbär
bean (broad) bön
bean (kidney) kidneybönar
cherry körsbär (n)
brussel sprouts brysselkål
cherry tree körsbärsträd (n)
cabbage kål
chestnut kastanj
carrot morot
chestnut kastanje
cauliflower blomkål
currant vinbär (n)
celery selleri
cypress cypress
corn majs
cranberry tranbär
date dadel
cucumber gurka
eggplant aubergine
fig fikon (n)
garlic vitlök
fir gran
herb ört
fruit frukt
horse-radish pepparrot
grapes vindruvor
lentil lins
leek purjolök
hazelnut hasselnöt
lettuce sallad
kernel kärna
maize majs
mint mynta
mushroom champignon
lemon citron
oats havre
lime tree lind
onion lök
melon melon
bell pepper paprika
parsley persilja
pea ärta
olive oliv
potato potatis
pumpkin pumpa
orange apelsin
radish rädisa
rice ris (n)
peach persika
rye råg
pear päron (pl)
sage salvia
seed frö (n)
spinach spenat
pineapple ananas
plum plommon (n)
tomato tomat
turnip rova
raspberry hallon (n)
wheat vete (n)
wholegrain fullkorn
watermelon vattenmelon

In the Swedish Forest: Trees & Skogen

The forest in Sweden is full of trees, trees and more trees. The forest in Swedish is called skog and is an -en word.

Here are more trees found in Sweden. Get to know them!

tree träd (n)
apple tree äppelträd (n)
tree trunk stam
vine vinstock
ash ask
walnut valnöt
bark bark
willow pil
beech bok
birch björk
branch gren
chestnut tree kastanjeträd (n)
cypress cypress
elm alm
fir gran
herb ört
hazelnut hasselnöt
aurel lagerträd (n)
leaf blad (n)
oats havre
lime tree lind
oak ek
rye råg
seed frö (n)
pine tall
stalk stjälk
poplar poppel
wheat vete (n)
root rot

A silly bean – Knäppgök

A cute affectionate word to call your sweetie when they are a bit silly.

In swedish: Knäppgök, plural Knäppgökarna

In english: silly, funny, kookie

Studentflak Drunk Students in Sweden

Studentflak is the word to use for graduating high school seniors. They wear those funny sailor hats, drive around in those big trucks around the city, especially in Stockholm, and drink a lot.

They are obnoxious and can be found in the open topped trucks in late May, early June during graduation season in Sweden.