Greetings and farewells
Hej means hello or hi. Hejdå, also written hej då, means goodbye.
How It Works
Swedish greetings are generally simple and informal. The single most important word to know is Hej. It means hello or hi and is widely used in everyday conversation. Formal ceremonies or particular communities can have their own conventions. It's used when you arrive and sometimes even when you leave (though Hejdå is more common for leaving).
Common Greetings:
- Hej - Hello/Hi (not tied to a time of day)
- Hejsan - A slightly more cheerful or informal 'Hi!'
- Tjena / Tja - Very informal 'Hi' or 'Hey', common among friends.
- God morgon - Good morning
- God eftermiddag - Good afternoon
- God kväll - Good evening
Common Farewells:
- Hejdå - Goodbye
- Vi ses! - See you!
- Vi hörs! - Talk to you later! (Literally: We'll hear from each other)
- Ha det bra! - Take care! (Literally: Have it good)
- God natt - Good night (used when going to bed)
After greeting someone, it's common to ask how they are: Hur mår du? (How are you?). A typical response is Bra, tack! (Good, thanks!).
Examples (6)
- Hej!
Hello!
Word by Word: Hello!
A versatile everyday greeting, not restricted to morning or evening.
- God morgon, Kalle!
Good morning, Kalle!
Word by Word: Good morning, Kalle!
- Hejdå!
Goodbye!
Word by Word: Goodbye!
The standard way to say goodbye.
- Vi ses imorgon!
See you tomorrow!
Word by Word: We see-each-other tomorrow!
- Ha det bra!
Take care!
Word by Word: Have it good!
A friendly and common way to say goodbye.
- Tack för idag, hejdå!
Thanks for today, goodbye!
Word by Word: Thanks for today, goodbye!
Common Mistakes
Choosing a more formal greeting than the setting calls for.
God dag!Hej!Both God dag and Hej are correct greetings. God dag can sound more formal or traditional; Hej is a useful everyday choice. This is a difference in tone, not a grammatical error.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- tackThanks
Greetings are often paired with polite words like 'tack' (thanks). For example, when responding to 'How are you?', you might say 'Bra, tack!' (Good, thanks!).
Level 1 - Question word questions
After a greeting, it's very common to ask a question like 'Hur mår du?' (How are you?), which follows the basic structure for question-word questions.
Level 1 - Polite expressions
Greetings and farewells are a fundamental part of being polite in any language. This pattern is the first step in learning Swedish politeness.
Level 1 - Self-introduction
After greeting someone for the first time, the next logical step is often to introduce yourself, using phrases like 'Jag heter...'
Level 1
Practice Greetings and farewells in Bubblegum
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