Tid och datum — Navigate the Swedish calendar
Knowing how to talk about time is crucial for making plans, booking appointments, and understanding schedules. In this lesson you will learn the days of the week, the months, and how to tell the time in Swedish.
Swedish days of the week are not capitalised (unlike English). Many are named after Norse gods — måndag (Moon), tisdag (Tyr), onsdag (Odin/Oden), torsdag (Thor), fredag (Frigg/Freya).
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| måndag | Monday |
| tisdag | Tuesday |
| onsdag | Wednesday |
| torsdag | Thursday |
| fredag | Friday |
| lördag | Saturday |
| söndag | Sunday |
Swedish months are also not capitalised. They are quite similar to English months, making them easier to remember.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| januari | January |
| februari | February |
| mars | March |
| april | April |
| maj | May |
| juni | June |
| juli | July |
| augusti | August |
| september | September |
| oktober | October |
| november | November |
| december | December |
Swedish uses a 24-hour clock in writing, but in speech a 12-hour system is common. The key phrase is 'Vad är klockan?' (What time is it?). The answer begins with 'Klockan är...' (The time is...).
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| Vad är klockan? | What time is it? |
| Klockan är tre. | It is three o'clock. |
| Klockan är halv fyra. | It is half past three. (3:30) |
| Klockan är kvart i fem. | It is quarter to five. (4:45) |
| Klockan är kvart över sex. | It is quarter past six. (6:15) |
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| dag | day |
| vecka | week |
| månad | month |
| år | year |
| klockan | the clock / the time |
| idag | today |
| imorgon | tomorrow |
| igår | yesterday |
How do you say 'Thursday' in Swedish?
💡 Hint: Named after the Norse god Thor.
What does 'halv fyra' mean?
Translate to Swedish: 'Today is Monday.'
Fantastic! You now know the days, months, and how to tell the time in Swedish. These are essential for booking live lessons and making plans. Next up: colours and basic descriptions.
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