Sluts, sex and farts - welcome to Swedish
Published: 20 Apr 12 14:24 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40386/20120420/
Words in the Swedish language can sure look funny, especially to the untrained eye. Here's a list of Swedish words where a straight translation might leave you scratching your head. And whatever happens, DO NOT eat the mother cake…
- Ten Swedish words you won't find in English (20 Mar 12)
- 'Swedish is the world’s richest language': Swede (9 Mar 12)
Yes, here in Sweden, most people don’t even raise an eyebrow when a train pulls into a “slut station” (final station). Nor when a magazine might offer “sex tips” for a better office environment (that is, six tips).
And when a road sign points out there is a “fart hinder” ahead, it just means speed bump (however the image above can always bring a smile).
Click here for The Local's list
Anyhow, these fresh eyes got us thinking. Sure, the Swedish language has some strange words from the perspective of an English speaker.
But even stranger, perhaps, are those Swedish words that amuse even the most determined language learner.
For example, the word "vegetables" in Swedish is “grönsaker” which literally translates to "green things" - and that's just the beginning.
With this in mind, we gathered our nine favourite Swedish words (with the help of our Twitter followers) where a literal translation could send you on a wild goose chase.
Call them weird translations, call them compounding madness, you can call them what you like: just don't eat the "mother cake".
Click here for the gallery of our top nine weird Swedish words
Oliver Gee
Follow Oliver on Twitter here
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Stockholm riots: causes and consequences
After five nights of rioting throughout the outskirts of Stockholm, many in Sweden and elsewhere are trying to make sense of it all. The Local spoke to a mix of commentators and local politicians to get their views. READ () »
Swedish firms 'clueless' about foreign graduates
As white-collar union Saco slammed Sweden for not helping well-educated foreigners into the labour market, The Local spoke to researcher Josefin Edström about the disconnect between foreign professionals and Swedish employers. READ () »
US and UK issue travel warnings for Sweden
The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for Sweden after arsonists tore through several Stockholm suburbs, while Americans have been warned to stay out of the affected areas by their embassy. READ () »
Swedish riot police to call in reinforcements
With Swedish police set to call in reinforcements in an attempt to get the now five-day-old wave of arson and vandalism under control, Sweden's image abroad may have been tarnished. READ () »
Quiz: 'A Swedish city with a pulse'
For this week's secret location picture gallery quiz, we head to a city that's among the top 20 in terms of population size. Can you guess which one it is in nine clues? READ () »
Princess Madeleine 'not nervous' about wedding
Sweden's Princess Madeleine is "less nervous than she thought" about her impending walk down the aisle at Stockholm's Storkyrkan church to wed US financier Chris O'Neill. READ () »
'Tired' Swedes have less sex than ever: study
Swedes are having less sex than ever before, a new survey has revealed, and their libidos appear to have waned too, prompting researchers to warn that "desire disorders" may be keeping Swedes from getting intimate. READ () »
Man held for murder after new body parts find
A man has been arrested on the suspicion of murdering a 20-year-old woman who vanished three weeks ago in northern Sweden, and whose body parts were uncovered on Monday. READ () »
- 23/05 Driving in Sweden: Elk, reindeer, and road rage »
- 22/05 Fashion prize turns Rookies into players »
- 22/05 Stockholm's ten best-kept secrets - revealed »
- 21/05 The 'absolute truth' about tacos in Stockholm »
- 20/05 Eurovision: The final word from Malmö »
- 19/05 Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö »
- 18/05 Live Blog: Eurovision Song Contest final »
- 17/05 Get set... get ready.... get betting: Five Eurovision songs to watch »
- 16/05 Eurovision host: 'Not everyone has to like me' »
- 16/05 Malmö Eurovision hype from Abba to Zlatan »
- 24/05 Fan wants Bayern ticket-Oktoberfest beer swap »
- 24/05 Nationwide cannabis limit rolls nearer »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
- 24/05 Top Ten: English terms the French want barred »
- 24/05 Street crime hurts Paris tourism: fashion brands »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 24/05 China moves toward trade deal with Swiss »
- 24/05 Appenzell Innerhoden enjoys 'pure democracy' »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
In cooperation with DoToday
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Corporate Sports Sales Executives
- INTERNATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVE
- Online Functional Designer
- Regional Sales Manager - Nordic EMEA (Mobility)
- Accounts Payable to Bosch Rexroth
- Interim Business Controller
- Senior IT Project Manager, Husqvarna
- Technical Expert - Antenna and
- Test Coordinator
- Analog Field Application Engineer
“Örngott”, “luttanpluttan” and “chokladglass” »
"Hej! How is your Swedish coming along? I have received many questions on the Facebook page and in my email lately and it seems like a good idea to post the answers here. Enjoy! Question 1 – “får inte” or “måste inte” Could you please clarify for me which is the most commonly used phrase in Swedish for..." READ »
- 23/5 09:23 REFLECTIONS OF A TWITTER VIRGIN…. (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
- 21/5 21:34 WEEK 21 (Stripes News)
- 20/5 15:25 Hockey. Hockey. Hockey. (Boston Blatte)
- Corporate Sports Sales Executives
- INTERNATIONAL SALES EXECUTIVE
- Online Functional Designer
- Regional Sales Manager - Nordic EMEA (Mobility)
- Accounts Payable to Bosch Rexroth
- Interim Business Controller
- Senior IT Project Manager, Husqvarna
- Technical Expert - Antenna and
- Test Coordinator
- Analog Field Application Engineer
- 18:06 Husby Riots and violence against the police...
- 17:59 Cleaning business in Sweden
- 16:37 Moving to Sweden (Questions) HELP
- 16:29 Adobo- Filipino Recipe
- 15:33 Questions regarding partner visa
- 12:33 Is it save to keep money at forexbank?
- 04:24 Gym memberships without a personnummer?
- 00:35 Restaurant Inspection Scores
- 00:13 Moving to Sweden from England
- 23:58 Living costs in London
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
F*** the coffee?
"Pratshow", - Talk Show - particularly as most of the people who go on them are in fact prats!!!!
"Slag" - Punch - which is what will happen if you call someone a slag!!
"Fuktteknik" - Damp Technology - That one kinda speaks for itself and makes me giggle like crazy every time I see the van go past me
Hilarious!!!
There are some Swedish words that sound funny in Hungarian as well:
"fika" = snut
"kaka"= sh*t
"kula" = sh*t
"kurva" = whore
So if you go to Kungens kurva and get a nice kaka for fika, topped with a kula of soft ice...
Only if you don't know how to spell it.
Fartmonster
Sale (Rea) sign seen at Ikea:
Fåreskin
which, when the å is properly pronounced, sounds like :-)
Some Swedish words are difficult to say when with Germans, and will raise some eyebrows:
the verb in "Jag Fick", sounds and is spelled exactly like the German verb in I f..k while Fika is close ... and Fickan sounds exactly like the infinitive of the german verb to f..k