Starting a convo/basic survival (Stockholm)

Q Tja! — Hi!Stockholm

• A Tja! — Hi!
• A Hej! — Hello!

They'll say Läget? — How's it going?

"Tja" is the casual Stockholm hello.

Q Läget? — How's it going?

• A Bra, själv? — Good, you?

They'll say Nice. / Soft. — Nice. / Chill.

Q Pratar du engelska? — Do you speak English?

• A Ja, absolut. — Yes, absolutely.
• A Lite grann. — A little bit.

They'll say Vad behöver du? — What do you need?

Q Förlåt, jag fattar inte. — Sorry, I don't get it.

• A Ingen fara. — No worries.

They'll say Jag kan säga det på engelska. — I can say it in English.

Q Hur säger man [ORD] på svenska? — How do you say [WORD] in Swedish?

• A Man säger [ORD]. — You say [WORD].

They'll say Typ så. / Ungefär. — More or less.

Q Var ligger [PLATS]? — Where is [PLACE]?

• A Där borta. / Rakt fram. / Till vänster/höger. — Over there. / Straight ahead. / To the left/right.

They'll say Det är nära. / Det tar typ [ANTAL] minuter. — It's close. / It takes about [NUMBER] minutes.

Q Vi hörs! — We'll be in touch!

• A Ja, vi hörs! — Yes, talk soon!

They'll say Ha det bra! — Take care!

Usually means nothing will happen. Say it back, mean it as much as they did, and take no offence.

Q Vad heter du? — What's your name?

• A [NAMN]. Och du? — [NAME]. And you?

They'll say Trevligt att träffas. — Nice to meet you.

Q Tack för senast! — Thanks for last time!

• A Tack själv, det var kul! — Thank you too — it was fun!

They'll say Vi måste ses igen snart. — We should do it again soon.

Said the next time you meet anyone who hosted you, however long ago. There is no English for it, and not saying it is noticed.

Q Du kan ta av dig skorna där. — You can leave your shoes there.

• A Såklart. — Of course.

They'll say Häng jackan där. — Hang your coat there.

Shoes off indoors, all year, no exceptions and no discussion. Take them off before you're asked.

Q Ska jag ta med något? — Should I bring anything?

• A Bara dig själv. — Just yourself.
• A Ta med nåt att dricka. — Bring something to drink.

Q Har du tagit en nummerlapp? — Have you taken a queue ticket?

• A Nej, var finns de? — No — where are they?

They'll say Vid dörren. — By the door.

Ticket queues run everything from the pharmacy to the deli counter. Standing in line without one gets you nowhere at all.

Q Är det ledigt här? — Is this seat free?

• A Ja, varsågod. — Yes, go ahead.

On a half-empty bus Swedes spread out. Sitting beside a stranger while seats are free is the odd move, not the polite one.

Q Ska du med på fredagsmys? — Coming to fredagsmys?

• A Gärna, vad tar jag med? — I'd love to — what shall I bring?

They'll say Bara chips, vi fixar resten. — Just crisps — we'll do the rest.

Friday cosiness: sofa, tacos, television. A real national institution, with its own name and its own crisps.

Q Vi får se. — We'll see.

• A Okej, hör av dig. — Okay — let me know.

They'll say Jag återkommer. — I'll get back to you.

Swedish for no, most of the time. Ask once more and you'll get a straight answer; ask twice and you won't.

Q Är det lagom? — Is that about right?

• A Perfekt, lagom. — Perfect — just right.

Lagom is the national value: not too much, not too little. Used about a measure, it is a compliment.