Self-introduction
Learn the basic sentences to say who you are and where you come from in Swedish.
How It Works
When you introduce yourself in Swedish, you use a few key phrases. They are useful when meeting someone for the first time.
1. Stating Your Name
A standard way to say your name uses heter, the present tense of heta (to be called).
- Jag heter [Namn]. (My name is [Name].)
The word Jag means 'I'. So, 'Jag heter Anna' literally means 'I am called Anna'.
2. Stating Your Origin
To say where you are from, you use the verb kommer (come) with the preposition från (from).
- Jag kommer från [Land/Stad]. (I come from [Country/City].)
3. Asking Questions
To ask someone else their name or origin, you use question words like Vad (What) and Var (Where).
- Vad heter du? (What is your name?)
- Var kommer du ifrån? (Where do you come from?)
4. A Common Politeness Phrase
After introductions, it's polite to say:
- Trevligt att träffas. (Nice to meet you.)
Examples (5)
- Hej, jag heter Lars.
Hello, my name is Lars.
Word by Word: Hello, I am-called Lars.
- Jag kommer från Tyskland.
I come from Germany.
Word by Word: I come from Germany.
- A: Vad heter du?
B: Jag heter Sofia. Och du?
A: What is your name? B: My name is Sofia. And you?
Word by Word: A: What are-you-called? B: I am-called Sofia. And you?
- Jag heter Kenji och jag kommer från Japan.
My name is Kenji and I come from Japan.
Word by Word: I am-called Kenji and I come from Japan.
- Trevligt att träffas!
Nice to meet you!
Word by Word: Pleasant to meet.
Common Mistakes
Missing the difference between naming yourself and identifying yourself.
Jag är David.Jag heter David.Both sentences are grammatical and can be natural introductions. Jag heter David explicitly states your name. Jag är David identifies you, for example as the David someone has been expecting. Heter is a useful pattern for answering Vad heter du?
Using 'i' (in) instead of 'från' (from) for your origin.
Jag kommer i Kanada.Jag kommer från Kanada.For the intended origin meaning in Jag kommer ... Kanada, use från rather than i. Jag bor i Kanada says where you live, which may differ from your origin. This does not mean every use of kommer requires från.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To introduce yourself in Swedish, you need to know the basic subject pronoun for 'I', how to use simple present tense verbs, and the preposition used to indicate where you are from.
- Basic pronouns
To introduce yourself, you need to understand the subject pronoun 'jag' (I).
Foundations - Basic verb conjugation
Self-introduction requires using present tense verbs like 'heter' (am called) and 'kommer' (come).
Foundations - frånFrom
The preposition 'från' (from) is necessary to express your place of origin.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Question word questions
To have a conversation, you'll need to ask questions. This pattern covers question words like 'Vad' (What) and 'Var' (Where).
Level 1 - Greetings and farewells
A greeting such as Hej often accompanies an introduction. The order and wording depend on the situation.
Level 1 - ja/nejYes/no
After introductions, conversations often involve simple yes/no questions and answers, which are fundamental for basic communication.
Level 1
Practice Self-introduction in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Swedish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
