Tag Archives: Sweden

Swedish traditions & culture, Tips for learning Swedish

the Swedish Semla

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Today is Fettisdagen. Let me decode that into National Day of the Semla. Now it´s all clear, right?

Semla is a sweet chubby wheat bun, cardamom laden, filled with golden almond paste and whipped cream. Originally semla was only eaten on Shrove Tuesday, as a last blissful treat before Lent. Today we know better and eat semlor (we need to go into plural here) all winter long. Fettisdagen has gone from being the only day to enjoy our precious pastry to the day you must enjoy at least one of them. Because as you all know we have fika (coffee break) at work. That means you are likely to down your first semla already by ten in the morning.

Semlor can be bought in every bakery, grocery store or gas station in Sweden. Sometimes you make your own.

If you make it past the photos below, find out how I make my Swedish fika treats; semlor recipe to follow; in English. If you want to practice your Swedish language I suggest you google “recept semla” and follow the instructions in Swedish.

recept semla
Semlor

There are ready made buns (albeit a bit flat) in the store, made just for semlor. Link if you don´t. 🙂
•Cut off the tops, scoop out the center of 8 buns, and put it in a food processor.
•Add 125g of almonds and 1 dl confectioners’ sugar and GO!
•Pour 1 dl heated milk into the mixture making it that special heavenly paste.
•Fill up the holes abundantly with the almond indulgence and top up with whipped cream.
•Put the lid back on and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Voilà!

If you use Us cups, add some almonds and use half of a cup of confectioners’ sugar and milk.

Happy baking!

Tips for learning Swedish

Swedish Christmas vocabulary

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Christmas time is here. Again! Whether you celebrate the tradition of Christmas or not you might be interested in picking up a word or two in Swedish, related to the season.

I made and shared this poster on Swedish Christmas last year and have been asked to post it again. After all; it’s Christmas every year. 😉
This poster is free to print (you would make me happy though if you shared it or left a comment) – put it up somewhere where you make sure you lay your eyes on the words at least daily. Don’t forget to use the words!

Simply right click on the poster to print it.

 

Swedish christmas words
Svenska julord
Swedish traditions & culture

Lucia

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You have probably heard of Lucia; the Queen of Light who brightens the dark morning of December 13 in Sweden.

In short the tradition consists of a procession ( ett luciatåg) with a Lucia up front, followed by handmaidens (tärnor), star boys (stjärngossar), brownies and elves (pepparkaksgubbar och tomtenissar). All but the brownies and elves wear white gowns. Lucia wears a light crown/wreath whereas the handmaidens each carry a candle. Lights can be battery operated; more likely the younger the children in the procession.

Lucia in Sweden
ett luciatåg

There is beautiful singing. Either it really is, or you are a parent. These Lucia processions can be enjoyed at every preschool and school, and sometimes even at workplaces. Most towns have an official procession visiting hospitals and elderly, malls and libraries. There is also a national broadcast. You can find the Lucia concert broadcast on SVT. Search for Luciamorgon.

Want to know more? Watch Lucia for Dummies.

Swedish Lucia For Dummies from Sweden on Vimeo.

Tips for learning Swedish

Learn Swedish Free Printable Fall

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Learn Swedish free printable fall

Free printable – Learn Swedish Free Printable Fall

I love the fall and the colors of this vibrant season. Last fall it inspired me to make this printable design of Swedish words connected with fall in Sweden. I decided to repost it this year. Print and frame, or pin it somewhere. Pretty to look at and if you are learning Swedish you are killing two birds with one stone (“att slå två flugor i en smäll”)! Just click on the picture above, right click and select print and learn new vocabulary in a different way.

It is free for you to print however it would make me happy if you posted a comment and/or paid a visit to Globatris on facebook and liked it. You can also tweet the link super duper handy here.

 

Wordlist:
höst = fall
löv = leaf or leaves
varma jackor = warm jackets
äpplen = apples
handskar = gloves
höstlov = fall break
blåbär = blueberries
november = December – just kidding; November of course 🙂
familj & vänner = family & friends
skördetider = harvest times
promenader = walks
en god bok = a good book
skogen = the forrest
färger = colors
lingon = lingonberries
Allahelgona = All saints
svamp = mushroom

Trevlig höst!

Tips for learning Swedish

Höstsånger – fall songs in Swedish

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Höstsånger kan vara ett sätt att lära sig svenska. Tänd ett ljus, kryp upp i soffan och lyssna och mys. Försök förstå orden och sjung med i refrängerna! Du hittar en lista med förslag på höstsånger längre ned i inlägget.

“Höst” in Swedish means fall, or autumn. Fall is entering late this year. Some years it is even winter by now also in the southern parts of Sweden. This year however it is still meteorological summer in the south of Sweden.

However November is here, and so is the rain and the dark nights. So let’s light a candle or two, and listen to some music of the season, in Swedish of course. I have compiled a list of fall songs in Swedish. Criteria? They all contain the word “höst” in the title, except for the last ones on the list, and most of them are sung fairly clearly for you to be able to listen to the words. As usual, sing along to practice prosody! Not interested in singing but speaking 😉 ? If you need help to improve your Swedish  conversational skills go here to learn more.

Höst på min planet – Lars Winnerbäck Lars Winnerbäck – Höst på min planet

Höstens färger – Mauro Scocco

Mellan sommar och höst – Marie Fredriksson

Höstvals – Tomas Ledin

Höstlegender – Masse, Petter

Innan höstlöven faller – Thorleifs

Hösten – Lisa Ekdahl

Höstlöven dansar – Nordman

Höst – Cajsa Stina Åkerström

Höstens guld – Sofia Karlsson

Höstkänning – Ola Magnell

Höstvisa – Ainbusk

Höst – Björn Afzelius

Gula höstlöv – Lasse Stefanz

Höst – Niklas Lind

Minns i november – Olle Ljungberg

November – Bo Kaspers orkester

November – Pernilla Andersson

Sjung nu med i dessa höstsånger! Lycka till!

Tips for learning Swedish

Learn a language using both brain halves

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Do you learn a language using both brain halves? Our brains are divided into two halves; hemispheres. They each take care of different activities. The right one is usually referred to as the visual and creative side, while the left stands for logical and analytical functions. It is suggested that a combination of both sides is beneficial when acquiring a language. I have tried this with success when I a few years ago ran language & craft shops combined for kids.

I also encourage you as a language learner to activate both brain halves when learning a new word. For instance – think of slicing a yellow lemon when you learn the word sour in a language; picture the drops of fruit juice on the slicing board. Best of all; taste a slice of lemon. Here is the word in Swedish – “sur”!

bowl of lemons
“Sur som en citron”
en citron = a lemon

Another way for you to activate both brain hemispheres when learning a language  is to follow instructions for something you do with your hands or body – either written or by watching a video – and do it. It could be craft, baking, a sports exercise etc.

Tips for learning Swedish

What do you call a person from ___ (fill in the blank) in Swedish? nationalities

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Nationalities in Swedish

Today I present a link to a list of countries and nationalities in Swedish. It can be found at TT Nyhetsbyrån’s website as a tool for journalists, or anyone who writes. But we do use nationalities when speaking too, don’t we?

Here is the link.

The list is useful not only if you are learning Swedish but also to Swedes. There are quite a few countries around our globe and I am sure even as a Swede you will find a few nationalities on the list that you have never used before!

Swedish traditions & culture

Fredagsmys

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Say the word Fredagsmys and every Swede knows what you are talking about. An easy Friday evening get-together, to mark the end of the work/school week and the beginning of the weekend. Family or friends, easy cooking, snack and a TV-screen are ususally involved.  It could also include a board game. Tacos is a classic, as well as chips/crisps and dip; at least that´s what the commercials want us to believe. Veggies and fruit works too. Fredagsmys is part of our modern culture, probably substituting the Sunday dinner family gathering. The location and activity does not have to follow the description above; the importance of the matter is that it includes “mys”.

Tips for learning Swedish

Teleskopord

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Teleskopord

Ibland bildas ett nytt ord genom att två eller flera ord kombineras till ett.

Det kan vara så att bara början på ett ord och slutet på ett annat finns kvar.

Delar av mitten kan ha försvunnit. Detta kallas ett teleskopord.

Exempel:

flextid = flexibel+arbetstid

friggebod = Friggebo + bod (Birgit Friggebo var bostadsminister 1979 och avskaffade bygglovsplikten för denna typ av byggnad)

hemester = hemma + semester

bankomat = bank + automat

blingon = blåbär + lingon

burkini = burka + bikini

kvirkel = kvadrat + cirkel ( en sorts superellips)

plogga = plocka skräp + jogga

 

Teleskopord kallas ofta för portmanteau words på engelska. Det svenska språket har lånat många sådana från engelskan.

Exempel:

ett motell = eng. motel (motor+hotel)

en brunch = eng. brunch (breakfast+lunch)

Vill du läsa mer om lektioner i svenska med mig? Engelsk text finns här.