Can you give me a hand? Neighbours helping out
Ask a neighbour to hold the door, borrow a drill, get help when you're locked out and offer a hand back, all in one apartment building.
Rafael is moving into a building in Västerås. Over one busy week he asks for help, borrows, gets locked out and finally returns the favour. Notice how Swedes offer help (Ska jag…?) and how they accept it (Gärna!).
- 1
Ursäkta, kan du hålla upp dörren?
Excuse me, could you hold the door?
Tip: lit. 'hold up the door' — hold it open.
- 2
Den ser tung ut.
That looks heavy.
Tip: lit. 'It sees heavy out' — the verb for 'look' splits around the adjective.
- 3
Ska jag hugga i?
Shall I give you a hand?
Tip: lit. 'Shall I chop in?' — pitch in, help with physical work.
- 4
Gärna, om du har tid!
Yes please, if you have time!
Tip: The one-word way to accept anything: 'gladly'.
- 5
Vart ska den?
Where's it going?
Tip: 'Where to' has its own word, different from 'where'.
- 6
Hissen är trasig.
The lift is broken.
Tip: The adjective is used for anything that doesn't work.
- 7
Du tar den sidan, jag tar den här.
You take that side, I'll take this one.
Tip: Present tense for instructions.
- 8
Tack, vad snällt av dig!
Thanks, that's really kind of you!
Tip: lit. 'what kind of you!'
- 9
Ingen orsak!
Don't mention it!
Tip: lit. 'No cause!' — the standard reply to thanks.
- 10
Förlåt att jag stör.
Sorry to bother you.
Tip: lit. 'Sorry that I disturb.'
- 11
Nej då, det gör inget.
Not at all, it's no problem.
Tip: lit. 'No then, it does nothing.'
- 12
Har du en borrmaskin jag kan låna?
Do you have a drill I could borrow?
Tip: No word for 'that' needed before 'I could borrow'.
- 13
Vänta så hämtar jag den.
Wait and I'll get it.
Tip: The small linking word works like 'and then'.
- 14
Jag lämnar tillbaka den imorgon.
I'll bring it back tomorrow.
Tip: lit. 'leave back' — return something.
- 15
Ingen brådska.
No rush.
Tip: Easy-going and common.
- 16
Jag är skyldig dig en tjänst!
I owe you one!
Tip: lit. 'I am indebted to you a favour.'
- 17
Har du en minut?
Have you got a minute?
Tip: Same as in English.
- 18
Visst, vad har hänt?
Sure, what's happened?
Tip: The first word is a relaxed 'sure'.
- 19
Jag har låst mig ute.
I've locked myself out.
Tip: lit. 'locked me outside'.
- 20
Har du ingen reservnyckel?
Don't you have a spare key?
Tip: 'No' + noun makes a negative question.
- 21
Jo, men den ligger också inne.
Yes, but that's inside too.
Tip: To say yes to a negative question, Swedish uses a special yes.
- 22
Ring fastighetsskötaren.
Call the caretaker.
Tip: Imperative = the bare verb.
- 23
Kan jag låna din telefon?
Could I borrow your phone?
Tip: Present 'can' is polite enough here.
- 24
Vad skönt att du var hemma!
What a relief you were home!
Tip: lit. 'How nice that you were home!' — the adjective also means 'relieving'.
- 25
Behöver du hjälp med kassarna?
Do you need help with the bags?
Tip: Shopping bags have their own word.
- 26
Det behövs inte, jag klarar mig.
No need, I can manage.
Tip: A very Swedish first answer, even when help is welcome.
- 27
Låt mig ta dem.
Let me take them.
Tip: The verb 'let' + me + infinitive, as in English.
- 28
Det var så lite!
It was nothing!
Tip: lit. 'It was so little!' — the classic reply to thanks.
- 29
Säg till om du behöver något mer.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Tip: lit. 'Say to if you need something more.'
- 30
Kom förbi på en kopp kaffe någon dag!
Drop by for a coffee some day!
Tip: lit. 'Come past on a cup of coffee' — a real invitation.