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.
Flygande Jakob is a terrible and disgusting Swedish dish. It is a very traditional dish that has bacon, bananas, chicken, and peanuts. Potatoes and maybe some other vegetables may be involved. Avoid this food at any cost!
A few common Swedish phrases to know
ursäkta mig excuse me, as in to get someone’s attention, to get past someone
Saying sorry
förlåt sorry
Pratar du engelska? Do you speak English?
Swedish comprehension
Jag pratar inte svenska I do not speak Swedish
Jag pratar lite svenska I speak a little Swedish
Jag pratar väldigt lite svenska I only speak very little Swedish
Var snäll och prata långsammare Please speak more slowly
Kan du säga det igen? Could you repeat that?
Engång till? Say that again
Jag förstår I understand
Jag förstår inte I don’t understand
mjölka- to milk a cow, to milk someone for information
Many Swedes smoke
röker du? do you smoke?
ja, jag röker yes, I smoke
nej, jag röker inte no, I don’t smoke
gör det något om jag röker? do you mind if I smoke?
vill du ha en cigarette? would you like a cigarette?
har du en cigarette över? have you got a spare?
har du eld? Do you have a light?
jag har slutat röka I stopped smoking
jag har gett upp I gave up smoking
jag försöker att sluta I’m trying to quit
iThe Swedish days of the week are similar to Norwegian and Danish but very different from Icelandic, the Norse language.
To say a specific day of the week, e.g. On Monday I should go to the post office, you should use på. The sentence translates to: På måndag ska ja gå till posten.
söndag Sunday
måndag Monday
tisdag Tuesday
onsdag Wednesday
torsdag Thursday
fredag Friday
lördag Saturday
In english: busy
På svenska (in swedish): upptagen
Ex: Är du upptagen för middag? Are you busy for dinner?
Jag är upptagen men jag kommer snart. I’m busy but I will come soon.
In english: you know, ya know
På svenska (in swedish): vetja (shortened from “vet jag”)
Ex: Om du twittrar på svenska kolla in förteckningen på Svenskar Twitters vetja
In english: Valentine’s Day
På svenska (in swedish): Alla hjärtans dag
Swedes don’t care for Valentine’s Day as it is considered a commercial, Hallmark and chocolate candy soul sucking holiday. (okay, mine strong viewpoint at least) You will see a little bit here and there of stores having red hearts and little chocolates. But if you want a gift, roses or gold, the good people of Sweden will not entertain you.
In english: to cancel
På svenska (in swedish): avboka
Example: Du kan avboka bokningen före mandags kväll kl. 20.00. You can cancel the reservation before Monday at 8PM.