Mastering Swedish Slang: From Textbook to Street

Swedish 365
Jul 9
3 min read

To truly master Swedish, you need to step beyond formal grammar and learn how people actually speak in the cafes of Stockholm or the streets of Malmö. Here are many essential slang terms divided into different key categories.

Topic 1: Money & Finances (Pengar)

No	Formellt	Slang	Meaning
1	Pengar	Stålars / Deg	Money / Dough
2	Tusen kronor	En lax	A thousand SEK (A "Salmon")
3	Hundra kronor	En hunka	A hundred SEK
4	Kostar mycket	Svindyrt	Very expensive
5	Billigt	Rena rånet	Very cheap (A "steal")
6	Fattig	Pank	Broke / Out of money
7	Betala	Pröjsa	To pay / Shell out
8	Tjäna pengar	Håva in	To earn/rake in money
9	Slösa pengar	Bränna pengar	To burn money
10	Spara	Lägga på hög	To save / Hoard

Examples:

"Jag har inga stålars kvar efter resan." (I have no cash left after the trip.)
"Den där klockan var svindyr!" (That watch was crazy expensive!)

Topic 2: People & Relationships (Människor)

No	Formellt	Slang	Meaning
1	Vän / Kompis	Polare	Friend / Buddy
2	Kille	Grabb / Brush	Guy / Bro
3	Tjej	Guss / Gäri	Girl / Hot girl
4	Föräldrar	Päron	Parents (literally "Pears")
5	Barn	Ungar / Kids	Children / Kids
6	Polisen	Snuten	The Police (The Cops)
7	Ansikte	Plyte	Face / Mug
8	Galen person	Tokstolle	Crazy person / Nutcase
9	Snygg person	Snygging	A good-looking person
10	Konstig person	Kuf	A weird/strange person

Examples:

"Jag ska hänga med mina polare ikväll." (I'm going to hang out with my buddies tonight.)
"Mina päron kommer på besök i helgen." (My parents are visiting this weekend.)

Topic 3: Eating & Partying (Mat & Fest)

No	Formellt	Slang	Meaning
1	Mat	Käk	Food / Grub
2	Äta	Käka	To eat
3	Öl	Bärs	Beer
4	Fest	Krök / Galej	Party / Drinking session
5	Berusad	Packad / Dragen	Drunk / Wasted
6	Bakfull	Bakis	Hungover
7	Godis	Gotta / Gottis	Sweets / Candy
8	Kaffe	Java / Sump	Coffee
9	Vin	Rödtjut	Red wine
10	Snus	Prilla / Luring	A portion of snus

Examples:

"Är du hungrig? Ska vi gå och käka?" (Are you hungry? Shall we go eat?)
"Jag drack för mycket bärs igår, så jag är helt bakis nu." (I drank too much beer yesterday, so I'm totally hungover now.)

Topic 4: Daily Actions (Aktiviteter)

No	Formellt	Slang	Meaning
1	Titta	Kolla	To look / Check out
2	Förstå	Haja	To understand / Get it
3	Gå / Åka	Dra / Tagga	To go / Leave / Head off
4	Sova	Knoppa	To sleep / Hit the hay
5	Skynda dig	Kuta	To run / Hurry up
6	Prata	Snacka	To talk / Chat
7	Lura	Blåsa	To trick / Rip someone off
8	Sluta	Lägga ner	To stop / Quit it
9	Jobba	Knega	To work / Toil
10	Skratta	Garva	To laugh out loud

Examples:

"Nu måste vi dra om vi ska hinna med tåget." (We have to head off now if we're going to catch the train.)
"Jag hajar inte vad han menar." (I don't get what he means.)

Topic 5: Vibes & Attitude (Attityd)

No	Formellt	Slang	Meaning
1	Jättebra	Fett / Grymt	Great / Awesome / Cool
2	Dåligt	Kass / Suger	Bad / Sucks
3	Konstigt	Skumt	Weird / Sketchy
4	Tråkigt	Segt	Boring / Dull / Slow
5	Snygg	Het / Fräsch	Hot / Good-looking
6	Arg	Sne / Lack	Angry / Pissed off
7	Rädd	Schiss / Harig	Scared / Chicken
8	Mycket	As- (prefix)	Very / Extremely (e.g., Asbra)
9	Trött	Slut / Paj	Exhausted / Broken
10	Nervös	Stirrigt	Nervous / Jittery

Examples:

"Den där konserten var helt grym!" (That concert was totally awesome!)
"Det känns lite skumt att han inte ringde." (It feels a bit weird that he didn't call.)