Mat och dryck — Order at a café or restaurant
Sweden has a rich food culture, from the famous 'fika' (coffee break with pastries) to traditional dishes like meatballs and herring. In this lesson you will learn essential food vocabulary and how to order at a restaurant or café.
Fika is a uniquely Swedish concept — a social coffee break, usually with something sweet. It is a cornerstone of Swedish culture and workplace life. Knowing fika vocabulary will help you connect with Swedes immediately.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| fika | coffee break with pastries (a cultural institution) |
| kaffe | coffee |
| te | tea |
| kanelbulle | cinnamon roll |
| chokladboll | chocolate ball (oat & cocoa treat) |
Here is essential food vocabulary for shopping and dining.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| bröd | bread |
| smör | butter |
| ost | cheese |
| kött | meat |
| fisk | fish |
| kyckling | chicken |
| grönsaker | vegetables |
| frukt | fruit |
| köttbullar | meatballs |
| lax | salmon |
These phrases will help you navigate Swedish restaurants and cafés confidently.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| Kan jag få menyn? | Can I have the menu? |
| Jag skulle vilja ha... | I would like to have... |
| Vad rekommenderar du? | What do you recommend? |
| Notan, tack! | The bill, please! |
| Det var gott! | That was delicious! |
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| mat | food |
| dryck | drink / beverage |
| vatten | water |
| mjölk | milk |
| ägg | egg |
| socker | sugar |
| salt | salt |
| hungrig | hungry |
| törstig | thirsty |
How do you say 'I would like a coffee, please' in Swedish?
What is 'fika'?
Translate: 'köttbullar och potatis'
💡 Hint: 'Potatis' means potatoes.
Wonderful! You are now ready to enjoy Swedish food culture. Remember: always say 'tack' (thank you) and try to have a fika! Next lesson covers getting around — transport and directions.
Book a live one-on-one session and get personalised feedback on this lesson's content.