The 100 most frequent words in written Swedish, in order, from a research frequency list based on web text — each with a translation and an example sentence. Spoken words like hej, ja and tack come a little further down.
100 words
#
Swedish
English
Type
Example
1
och
and
conjunction
Kaffe och kanelbulle, tack.
Coffee and a cinnamon bun, please.
2
vara
to be
verb
Hon är lärare i Lund.
She's a teacher in Lund.
3
i
in
preposition
Mina föräldrar bor i Malmö.
My parents live in Malmö.
4
ha
to have
verb
Vi har två katter hemma.
We have two cats at home.
5
det
it, that, there
pronoun
Det regnar igen.
It's raining again.
6
en
a, an; one (ett with ett-words)
article
Hon köpte en bok och ett äpple.
She bought a book and an apple.
7
som
who, which, that; as
pronoun
Mannen som bor bredvid heter Erik.
The man who lives next door is called Erik.
8
på
on, at
preposition
Nycklarna ligger på bordet.
The keys are on the table.
9
av
of, by, off
preposition
Boken är skriven av en svensk författare.
The book was written by a Swedish author.
10
för
for; too
preposition
Tack för hjälpen!
Thanks for the help!
11
att
to (before verbs); that
conjunction
Kul att ses igen!
Nice to see you again!
12
kunna
can, to be able to
verb
Kan du hjälpa mig?
Can you help me?
13
ska
will, shall, to be going to
verb
Vi ska åka till Göteborg i helgen.
We're going to Gothenburg this weekend.
14
jag
I (object form: mig)
pronoun
Jag heter Sara.
My name is Sara.
15
inte
not
adverb
Han dricker inte kaffe.
He doesn't drink coffee.
16
med
with
preposition
Hon pratar med sin mamma varje dag.
She talks with her mum every day.
17
till
to
preposition
Vi går till affären nu.
We're going to the shop now.
18
liten
small, little
adjective
Vi har en liten trädgård.
We have a small garden.
19
den
the (before an adjective + noun: den nya bilen); it, that (en-words)
pronoun
Var är min jacka? Den hänger i hallen.
Where's my jacket? It's hanging in the hall.
20
om
about; if
preposition
Vad handlar filmen om?
What is the film about?
21
vi
we (object form: oss)
pronoun
Vi äter middag klockan sex.
We eat dinner at six.
22
men
but
conjunction
Lägenheten är liten men mysig.
The flat is small but cosy.
23
man
one, you, people (in general)
pronoun
Här får man inte röka.
You're not allowed to smoke here.
24
de
they (object form: dem)
pronoun
De kommer hem på fredag.
They're coming home on Friday.
25
få
to get, to be allowed to
verb
Får jag betala med kort?
Can I pay by card?
26
så
so, that way, then
adverb
Maten var så god!
The food was so good!
27
sig
himself, herself, itself, themselves
pronoun
Han satte sig i soffan.
He sat down on the sofa.
28
han
he (object form: honom)
pronoun
Han jobbar på ett sjukhus.
He works at a hospital.
29
bli
to become, to get
verb
Det blir kallt i kväll.
It's going to get cold tonight.
30
komma
to come
verb
När kommer bussen?
When is the bus coming?
31
sin
his, her, its, their (own)
pronoun
Lisa ringer sin pappa varje söndag.
Lisa calls her dad every Sunday.
32
eller
or
conjunction
Vill du ha te eller kaffe?
Would you like tea or coffee?
33
från
from
preposition
Tåget från Malmö är sent.
The train from Malmö is late.
34
mycket
much, a lot, very
adverb
Tack så mycket!
Thank you very much!
35
vilja
to want
verb
Barnen vill leka ute.
The kids want to play outside.
36
all
all; everyone (alla), everything (allt)
pronoun
Alla var glada på festen.
Everyone was happy at the party.
37
göra
to do, to make
verb
Vad gör du i helgen?
What are you doing this weekend?
38
annan
other, another
pronoun
Kan vi ses en annan dag?
Can we meet another day?
39
du
you (object form: dig)
pronoun
Du har rätt.
You're right.
40
någon
someone, anyone, some
pronoun
Är det någon hemma?
Is anyone home?
41
finnas
to exist, there is, there are
verb
Finns det mjölk i kylen?
Is there any milk in the fridge?
42
ta
to take
verb
Vi tar tåget till jobbet.
We take the train to work.
43
när
when
adverb
När börjar filmen?
When does the film start?
44
se
to see
verb
Såg du matchen i går?
Did you see the match yesterday?
45
måste
must, to have to
verb
Nu måste jag gå.
I have to go now.
46
denna
this, these (detta, dessa) (formal; in speech: den här / det här)
pronoun
Detta är min favoritbok.
This is my favourite book.
47
stor
big, large
adjective
De har ett stort hus.
They have a big house.
48
nu
now
adverb
Bussen kommer nu.
The bus is coming now.
49
gå
to go, to walk
verb
Ska vi gå en promenad?
Shall we go for a walk?
50
säga
to say
verb
Vad sa du?
What did you say?
51
vad
what
pronoun
Vad heter du?
What's your name?
52
årett
year
noun
Jag har bott här i tre år.
I've lived here for three years.
53
under
under, during
preposition
Katten sover under sängen.
The cat is sleeping under the bed.
54
också
also, too
adverb
Jag vill också ha glass!
I want ice cream too!
55
där
there
adverb
Ställ väskan där borta.
Put the bag over there.
56
då
then, at that time
adverb
Ring mig i morgon, då har jag tid.
Call me tomorrow, I'll have time then.
57
min
my, mine (mitt, mina)
pronoun
Min syster bor i Stockholm.
My sister lives in Stockholm.
58
bör
should, ought to (past: borde)
verb
Du borde vila lite.
You should rest a bit.
59
hur
how
adverb
Hur mår du?
How are you?
60
mot
towards, against
preposition
Sverige spelar mot Norge i kväll.
Sweden plays against Norway tonight.
61
bara
only, just
adverb
Jag tar bara en kopp kaffe.
I'll just have a cup of coffee.
62
vilken
which, what (vilket, vilka)
pronoun
Vilken buss går till centrum?
Which bus goes to the city centre?
63
ut
out
adverb
Ska vi gå ut och äta?
Shall we go out to eat?
64
ny
new
adjective
Har du en ny telefon?
Do you have a new phone?
65
vid
by, at, next to
preposition
Vi möts vid stationen.
We'll meet at the station.
66
än
than
conjunction
Han är äldre än jag.
He's older than me.
67
bra
good, well
adjective
Filmen var riktigt bra.
The film was really good.
68
ingen
no, nobody (inget, inga)
pronoun
Det finns ingen mjölk kvar.
There's no milk left.
69
efter
after
preposition
Vi tar en fika efter jobbet.
We'll have a fika after work.
70
upp
up
adverb
Hon går upp tidigt varje morgon.
She gets up early every morning.
71
hon
she (object form: henne)
pronoun
Hon pluggar till läkare.
She's studying to be a doctor.
72
lite
a little, a bit
adverb
Kan du prata lite långsammare?
Can you speak a bit more slowly?
73
in
in, into
adverb
Kom in, det är öppet!
Come in, it's open!
74
över
over, above, across
preposition
Lampan hänger över bordet.
The lamp hangs over the table.
75
ge
to give
verb
Kan du ge mig saltet?
Can you pass me the salt?
76
vår
our, ours (vårt, våra)
pronoun
Vår lägenhet ligger nära centrum.
Our flat is close to the centre.
77
delen
part, share
noun
En del av klassen var sjuk.
Part of the class was ill.
78
här
here
adverb
Här är din biljett.
Here's your ticket.
79
även
also, even
adverb
Butiken är öppen även på söndagar.
The shop is open on Sundays too.
80
skriva
to write
verb
Skriv ditt namn här.
Write your name here.
81
tiden
time
noun
Har du tid att prata?
Do you have time to talk?
82
ju
after all, you know, of course
adverb
Det vet du ju!
You know that!
83
sedan
then, afterwards; since
adverb
Först äter vi, sedan går vi på bio.
First we eat, then we go to the cinema.
84
börja
to begin, to start
verb
Skolan börjar i augusti.
School starts in August.
85
hel
whole, entire
adjective
Hon sov hela dagen.
She slept all day.
86
dagen
day
noun
Ha en bra dag!
Have a nice day!
87
själv
-self, on your own
pronoun
Har du lagat maten själv?
Did you cook the food yourself?
88
människaen
person, human being
noun
Hon är en väldigt snäll människa.
She's a very kind person.
89
landett
country, land
noun
Norge är ett vackert land.
Norway is a beautiful country.
90
svensk
Swedish
adjective
Hon gillar svensk mat.
She likes Swedish food.
91
frågaen
question
noun
Får jag ställa en fråga?
May I ask a question?
92
tro
to believe, to think
verb
Jag tror att det blir regn.
I think it's going to rain.
93
tycka
to think (have an opinion)
verb
Vad tycker du om filmen?
What do you think of the film?
94
veta
to know (a fact)
verb
Vet du var stationen ligger?
Do you know where the station is?
95
i dag
today
adverb
Vad ska vi äta i dag?
What shall we eat today?
96
försöka
to try
verb
Försök igen!
Try again!
97
behöva
to need
verb
Behöver du hjälp?
Do you need help?
98
samma
same
pronoun
Vi går i samma klass.
We're in the same class.
99
mellan
between
preposition
Affären är öppen mellan nio och sex.
The shop is open between nine and six.
100
känna
to know (a person), to feel
verb
Känner du Anna?
Do you know Anna?
Source: the Swedish Kelly list by Elena Volodina and Sofie Johansson Kokkinakis (Språkbanken Text, University of Gothenburg), licensed CC BY 4.0; adapted: inflected forms and part-of-speech variants merged into one headword, object pronouns folded into subject pronouns, Kelly's finna listed as finnas and skola as ska, and rows left out whose frequency doesn't hold up in Språkbanken's Flex counts (dess, å, unna, äga, betyda, te sig, riva, el, kommentar) or that come from outside the web corpus (analog).
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