pers

Vi var tjugo pers på festen

Det står några pers där borta


tapas

Vi gick till tapasrestaurangen


shorts

ett par shorts


realia

From Late Latin realia, neuter plural of realis (“real”).

(linguistic pedagogy) facts about conditions in the country where the language is spoken (as opposed to grammar and vocabulary)


Amerikanska Jungfruöarna

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Amerikanska Jungfruöarna c pl (genitive Amerikanska Jungfruöarnas)

United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands


Brittiska Jungfruöarna

Brittiska Jungfruöarna c pl (genitive Brittiska Jungfruöarnas)

British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands#English

British Virgin Islands (an archipelago and overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the Caribbean)


kids

Han försöker vara nere med kidsen.


kläder

From Old Swedish klædhe, from Old Norse klæði. Compare kläde and English cloth.

ytterkläder

clothes for outdoor use (like a jacket), outerwear


kråkfötter

kråk + fötter, literally "crow feet". Compare German Krähenfüße.

chicken scratch (hand-written, badly formed letters, which are difficult to read)


trumpinnefingrar

trumpinne (“drumstick”) + fingrar (“fingers”)


smittkoppor

smittkoppor (indefinite nominative plural)
smittkoppors (genitive indefinite plural)
smittkopporna (definite nominative plural)
smittkoppornas (definite genitive plural)

smitta (“communicable disease”) + koppor (“pocks”)


vattkoppor

vattkoppor (indefinite nominative plural)
vattkoppors (genitive indefinite plural)
vattkopporna (definite nominative plural)
vattkoppornas (definite genitive plural)


snowboots

From English snowboots. First attested in Swedish in 1906, uncommon after 1950.

(dated) pair of shoes, partially or fully made out of rubber, with a wadded inner side that reaches the ankle, and a zipper or buttons, which are worn on an inner shoe to protect against snow and cold weather


Adam och Eva

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Adam och Eva pl (genitive Adams och Evas)


järn

järn (indefinite nominative singular)
järns (genitive indefinite singular)
järnet (definite nominative singular)
järnets (definite genitive singular)
järn (indefinite nominative plural)
järns (genitive indefinite plural)
järnen (definite nominative plural)
järnens (definite genitive plural)

From Old Norse járn, from Proto-Germanic *īsarną, from Proto-Celtic *īsarnom, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésh₂r̥ (“blood”).

Är det Jakob, så är det en ärke kanalje, som vi måst slå i järn.

1906 April 28, “Fångens lilla dotter [The Prisoner's Little Daughter]”, in Öresundsposten, page 15:

If it is Jakob, then he is an arch-rascal whom we must put in irons.


mygg

mosquitoes (collective noun for small flying insects of the family Culicidae, known for biting and sucking blood; an individual mosquito is called a mygga)


kontanter

From the adjective kontant (“in cash”), derived from konto (“account”).


cytostatika

cytostatika (indefinite nominative singular)


gambas

Borrowed from Spanish gambas, plural of gamba (“shrimp”).

Penaeus monodon
Penaeus monodon#Translingual


inlines

Partly a pseudo-anglicism, from English in-line skates.

åka inlines
skate on in-line skates / go inline skating


Socialdemokraterna

Socialdemokraterna c pl (genitive Socialdemokraternas)

(politics) short for Sveriges socialdemokratiska arbetareparti, a major political party in Sweden; the name means "The Social Democratic Workers' Party of Sweden", the short name means "The Social Democrats"


calamares

calamari (squid as food, especially calamari rings)


glasögon

ett par glasögon


påsar under ögonen

Literally "bags under the eyes". Compare Norwegian Bokmål poser under øynene, Danish poser under øjnene, French valises sous les yeux.


krokodiltårar

crocodile tears (display of tears that is forced or false)


anor

Staden har anor från 1300-talet

(Parts/aspects of) the town date(s) back to the 14th century

Släkten har anor från 1500-talet

The family dates back to the 16th century (usually of noble families and the like)

en tradition med gamla anor

a tradition that goes back a long way / a tradition with a long history

historical connections, historical traditions, ancestry


agn

From Old Norse ǫgn, from Proto-Germanic *ahanō.


mången

mången (canonical common-gender)
månget (canonical neuter)
mångt (canonical neuter)
många (canonical plural)

From Old Swedish manger, margher, marghin, from Old Norse mangr, margr, from Proto-Germanic *managaz.

Många vill ha senap på korven.


stycken

Hon köpte fem (stycken) päron

Det kom bara fem (stycken) på mötet

Only five (instances, of humans, i.e. people) came to the meeting

(plural only) instances, instances of (anything)


joner

joner (indefinite nominative plural)
joners (genitive indefinite plural)
jonerna (definite nominative plural)
jonernas (definite genitive plural)


solglasögon

From sol (“sun”) + glasögon (“(lit., glass eyes:) eyeglasses, glasses, spectacles”).

com

Bakom mina solglasögon kan jag va' [vara] mig själv. Allting blir så vackert genom ... Genom mina solglasögon är ljuset alltid gult. Allting känns så riktigt bakom ...

1980, Docent Död (lyrics and music), “Solglasögon [Sunglasses]”, in Docent [Docent [associate professor, roughly]]:

Behind my sunglasses, I can be myself. Everything is [becomes] so beautiful through ... Through my sunglasses, the light is always yellow. Everything feels so right behind ...


ränker

Borrowed from German Ränke. Attested since 1593.

smida ränker mot någon

schemes, machinations (secret, ill-intentioned plans)


vägnar

Jag är här på ämbetets vägnar

(in "å/på ämbetets vägnar") by virtue of one's office, on business, in the line of duty


vinterspel

vinterspel (indefinite nominative singular)
vinterspels (genitive indefinite singular)
vinterspelet (definite nominative singular)
vinterspelets (definite genitive singular)
vinterspel (indefinite nominative plural)
vinterspels (genitive indefinite plural)
vinterspelen (definite nominative plural)
vinterspelens (definite genitive plural)


sommarspel

sommarspel (indefinite nominative singular)
sommarspels (genitive indefinite singular)
sommarspelet (definite nominative singular)
sommarspelets (definite genitive singular)
sommarspel (indefinite nominative plural)
sommarspels (genitive indefinite plural)
sommarspelen (definite nominative plural)
sommarspelens (definite genitive plural)


lovor

From Tavringer Romani lover, loviar (“money”), from Romani lowo (“coin”). Related to Sanskrit लोहवर (lohavara, “gold”).

bor

Hon lånar ut lovor men hon har inget bankkontor.

1978, Kal P. Dal (lyrics and music), “Houndans kvinna”, in Gräd Ente Fassan!:

”Det är väl fantastiskt. Det hade jag också gjort om jag haft hans lovor”, sa Markus Rosenberg.

2015 October 20, Max Wiman, “En välkammad presskonferens [A well-groomed press conference]”, in Sydsvenskan, Malmö, Sweden:

”It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I would have done the same if I had his money”, Markus Rosenberg said.


regalier

regalia (symbols of a monarch: crown, sceptre, orb)


underkläder

underpants (boxers, briefs, panties, etc.) and bras: (in common informal usage) underwear


subsidier

subsidier (indefinite nominative plural)
subsidiers (genitive indefinite plural)
subsidierna (definite nominative plural)
subsidiernas (definite genitive plural)


solbrillor

solbrillor (indefinite nominative plural)
solbrillors (genitive indefinite plural)
solbrillorna (definite nominative plural)
solbrillornas (definite genitive plural)


inga problem

no problem, no biggie, no big deal, not a problem


sötebrödsdagar

Compound of sötebröd (“sweet bread”) + dagar (“days”), originally referring to Passover, when the Jewish people according to the Bible were to eat unleavened bread.

compound

Nu är sötebrödsdagarna över.

(idiomatic) period of happiness and prosperity; halcyon days


fårakläder

From får (“sheep”) + -a- + kläder (“clothes”).


nysrötter

(plural only) false hellebore, any plant of the genus Veratrum


saturnalier

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saturnalier c pl (definite plural saturnalierna)

Learned borrowing from Latin Sāturnālia, a festival of the winter solstice.


drickspengar

From Old Swedish drykkiapæningar (“money used for beverages”). Compare German Trinkgeld, French pourboire, Danish drikkepenge, Dutch drinkgeld, Finnish juomaraha.


heavy metal-prickar

Literally "heavy metal dots". Most Swedish laypeople do not know the technical term for the diacritic ¨ (trema), so they simply call it a pair of dots instead.


From early finance sheets where the colon (:) came pre-printed. A dash (–) was added to the right side of the colon as shorthand for 00 öre.

[…] bestående af en stuga, kök och en liten källare under köket samt vind, inköpt 26/7 1729 for 130 daler men derefter reparerad och värd for 180:-.

1938–1939, Wilhelm Berg, Göteborgs-släkter 2 P–S, page 341:

[…] consisting of a cabin, kitchen and a small cellar under the kitchen plus attic, purchased 26/7 1729 for 130 dalers but then repaired and worth 180 daler.


From early finance sheets where the colon (:) came pre-printed. A dash (–) was added to the left side of the colon as shorthand for 00 kronor.

Medvurst 0,3 kg -:90
Sill 1 kg -:38
Torsk 1 kg -:35
Vetemjöl 3 kg -:99

1978, Sven Lindqvist, Gräv där du står, page 217:

Mettwurst 0.3 kg 90 öre
Herring 1 kg 38 öre
Cod 1 kg 35 öre
Wheat flour 3 kg 99 öre


Pelle fick -:2 från höskrindan som grindslant.
Pelle received 2 öre from the hay cart as gate coin.


åratal

i åratal


småtimmarna

de satt uppe fram till småtimmarna

(literally, “they sat up until the small hours”)


svear

From Old Swedish svear, Old Swedish sviar, from Old Norse svíar, from Proto-Germanic *swihaniz, plural of *swihô (“Swede”), of disputed etymology, but perhaps from *swe- (“one's own, self”).

(historical, plural only) Swedes (members of a North Germanic tribe)


jonier

jonier (indefinite nominative plural)
joniers (genitive indefinite plural)
jonierna (definite nominative plural)
joniernas (definite genitive plural)


akajer

akajer (indefinite nominative plural)
akajers (genitive indefinite plural)
akajerna (definite nominative plural)
akajernas (definite genitive plural)


apkoppor

apkoppor (indefinite nominative plural)
apkoppors (genitive indefinite plural)
apkopporna (definite nominative plural)
apkoppornas (definite genitive plural)


markstridskrafter

markstridskrafter (indefinite nominative plural)
markstridskrafters (genitive indefinite plural)
markstridskrafterna (definite nominative plural)
markstridskrafternas (definite genitive plural)


glajor

glajor (indefinite nominative plural)
glajors (genitive indefinite plural)
glajorna (definite nominative plural)
glajornas (definite genitive plural)


frittar

Vill du ha frittar?

(colloquial) Short for pommes frites (“chips; french fries”).


divalater

divalater (indefinite nominative plural)
divalaters (genitive indefinite plural)
divalaterna (definite nominative plural)
divalaternas (definite genitive plural)


stålar

Compound of stål (“steel”) + -ar (“plural suffix”), via the cant Older Månsing, possibly as peddlers from Västergötland is said to have used steel objects as means of payment. First attested in 1893.


kortbyxor

kortbyxor (indefinite nominative plural)
kortbyxors (genitive indefinite plural)
kortbyxorna (definite nominative plural)
kortbyxornas (definite genitive plural)

Compound of kort (“short”) + byxor (“trousers”). According to SO attested since 1814.

short pants, short trousers (pants or trousers that do not go lower than the knees)


brillor

brillor (indefinite nominative plural)
brillors (genitive indefinite plural)
brillorna (definite nominative plural)
brillornas (definite genitive plural)

Borrowed from Middle Low German brill, brille (cognate of German Brille), from Latin bēryllus, from Ancient Greek βήρυλλος (bḗrullos). Doublet of beryll and briljant.


läsårstider

From läsår (“school year”) + -s- + tider (“times”).

af

school term dates; term dates; school terms


urminnes tider

urminnes (“immemorial”) + tider (“times”)

De har bott här sedan urminnes tider

They have lived here since time immemorial


ytterkläder

clothes for outdoor use (like a jacket); outerwear


sängkläder

textiles for making a bed (especially sheets and pillowcases); bedding, bed clothes, bed linen


ordalag

i allmänna ordalag

De kritiserades i hårda ordalag

i inga oklara ordalag

terms, language, words (way of expressing oneself with words)


legymer

Borrowed from French légumes. Attested since 1725.


glajjor

glajjor (indefinite nominative plural)
glajjors (genitive indefinite plural)
glajjorna (definite nominative plural)
glajjornas (definite genitive plural)

(slang) Alternative form of glajor (“spectacles, glasses”)


skyddspengar

skydd (“protection”) + -s- + pengar (“money”)


gröna fingrar

att ha gröna fingrar

(idiomatic) green fingers, a green thumb (a seemingly natural gardening ability)


kringelkrokar

(colloquial) twists and turns (indirect, digressive speech or the like)


mänsklig rättighet

mänskliga rättighet (indefinite nominative singular)

mänsklig (“human”) + rättighet (“right”)


kuksugarläppar

kuksugare (“cocksucker”) + läppar (“lips”)

(slang, vulgar) dick sucking lips, DSLs (plump, pouty lips)


expenser

expenser (indefinite nominative plural)
expensers (genitive indefinite plural)
expenserna (definite nominative plural)
expensernas (definite genitive plural)


tjänster och gentjänster

tjänster (“favors”) + och (“and”) + gentjänster (“return favors”)

Jag hjälper dig att bli befordrad, och du lägger ner utredningen mot mig. Tjänster och gentjänster, så att säga.

I'll help you get promoted, and you close the investigation against me. A quid pro quo, so to speak.

favors and return favors, quid pro quo, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours


vattenkoppor

vattenkoppor (indefinite nominative plural)
vattenkoppors (genitive indefinite plural)
vattenkopporna (definite nominative plural)
vattenkoppornas (definite genitive plural)

Alternative form of vattkoppor (“chickenpox”)


blommor och bin

blommor (“flowers”) + och (“and”) + bin (“bees”)


översittarfasoner

översittarfasoner (indefinite nominative plural)
översittarfasoners (genitive indefinite plural)
översittarfasonerna (definite nominative plural)
översittarfasonernas (definite genitive plural)

översittare (“bully”) + fasoner (“(bad) behavior, (bad) ways”)

Jag är less på hennes översittarfasoner

bullying behavior, bullying ways (usually outside of a school context, and more psychological than physical)


vegetabilier

Borrowed from German Vegetabilien, from Latin vegetabilis.


mamelucker

mormors mamelucker

bloomers (usually loose-fitting, mid-thigh length women's undergarment, often with a ruffle at the bottom)


druser

druser (indefinite nominative plural)
drusers (genitive indefinite plural)
druserna (definite nominative plural)
drusernas (definite genitive plural)


vänstersympatier

vänstersympatier (indefinite nominative plural)
vänstersympatiers (genitive indefinite plural)
vänstersympatierna (definite nominative plural)
vänstersympatiernas (definite genitive plural)

Coordinate term: högersympatier


högersympatier

högersympatier (indefinite nominative plural)
högersympatiers (genitive indefinite plural)
högersympatierna (definite nominative plural)
högersympatiernas (definite genitive plural)

Coordinate term: vänstersympatier


tusen nålar

tusen (“thousand”) + nålar (“needles”). Compare German Tausend Nadeln.

göra tusen nålar på någon

give someone an Indian burn [do thousand needles on someone]


håvor

håvor (indefinite nominative plural)
håvors (genitive indefinite plural)
håvorna (definite nominative plural)
håvornas (definite genitive plural)

Inherited from Old Swedish hāva, from Old Norse hafa. Cognate of German Habe. Doublet of hava.

(archaic) riches, treasures, bounty (especially bestowed upon someone by God, fate, fortune, or the like, sometimes abstract)


äpplen och päron

äpplen (“apples”) + och (“and”) + päron (“pears”)

jämföra äpplen och päron


auspicier

auspicier (indefinite nominative plural)
auspiciers (genitive indefinite plural)
auspicierna (definite nominative plural)
auspiciernas (definite genitive plural)


härskarlater

härskarlater (indefinite nominative plural)
härskarlaters (genitive indefinite plural)
härskarlaterna (definite nominative plural)
härskarlaternas (definite genitive plural)

Compound of härskare + lat (“mannerism”).


flygstridskrafter

flygstridskrafter (indefinite nominative plural)
flygstridskrafters (genitive indefinite plural)
flygstridskrafterna (definite nominative plural)
flygstridskrafternas (definite genitive plural)


luftstridskrafter

luftstridskrafter (indefinite nominative plural)
luftstridskrafters (genitive indefinite plural)
luftstridskrafterna (definite nominative plural)
luftstridskrafternas (definite genitive plural)


landstridskrafter

landstridskrafter (indefinite nominative plural)
landstridskrafters (genitive indefinite plural)
landstridskrafterna (definite nominative plural)
landstridskrafternas (definite genitive plural)


sjöstridskrafter

sjöstridskrafter (indefinite nominative plural)
sjöstridskrafters (genitive indefinite plural)
sjöstridskrafterna (definite nominative plural)
sjöstridskrafternas (definite genitive plural)


marinstridskrafter

marinstridskrafter (indefinite nominative plural)
marinstridskrafters (genitive indefinite plural)
marinstridskrafterna (definite nominative plural)
marinstridskrafternas (definite genitive plural)


Golanhöjderna

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Golanhöjderna c pl (genitive Golanhöjdernas)


choser

Borrowed from French chose (“thing”), with the plural suffix -r. First attested in 1691.


sjåser

From French chose (“thing”), adapted to Swedish spelling conventions, with the addition of the plural suffix -er.

(plural only) Alternative spelling of choser (“affectations, pretensions”).

Jag får tala om att jag ämnar taga denna tös till äkta, hvarför det förargade mig att hon stänkte mig i syna med bränvin, så att jag deraf blef liksom förblindad; jag gaf henne derför ett litet lätt rapp på armen, men bara på sjåser.

1854 April 11, “Rättegångs- och Polissaker [Court and Police Matters]”, in Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning, number 84, page 3:

I must inform you that I am minded to take this lass to wife, which is why it vexed me when she splashed spirits in my face, leaving me as if blinded thereby; thus, I gave her a slight tap on the arm, but only as a jest.

Smålänningen mjuk och smidig, går med vävskedar, skyttiar, spännare, träekrokar, kardor och bleckkärl samt på köpet ett outtömligt förråd utav sjåser och glada historier.

1931, Klas Olofsson, Folkliv och Folkminne i Ås, volume II, page 198:

The Smålander, supple and spry, goes about with weaving reeds, shuttles, stretchers, wooden hooks, carders, and tinware, and into the bargain, an inexhaustible store of dodges and jolly tales.

(plural only) Alternative spelling of choser (“jests, antics, amusements”).


bijouterier

bijouterier (indefinite nominative plural)
bijouteriers (genitive indefinite plural)
bijouterierna (definite nominative plural)
bijouteriernas (definite genitive plural)


kokoppor

kokoppor (indefinite nominative plural)
kokoppors (genitive indefinite plural)
kokopporna (definite nominative plural)
kokoppornas (definite genitive plural)