Asking for help: useful words
Words for asking, offering and accepting help, from favours and neighbours to ladders, prams and jump leads.
Swedes can seem reserved, but most will gladly help if you ask. These words cover the everyday situations: a heavy box, a borrowed tool, a neighbour in need, and how to say yes or no thanks.
- 1
hjälp
help (also the shout)
Tip: Works as a noun and as the cry for help.
- 2
ursäkta
excuse me (to get attention)
Tip: Say it before any question to a stranger.
- 3
att be om hjälp
to ask for help
Tip: The verb for asking for something. Past tense: bad.
- 4
att hjälpa till
to help out, pitch in
Tip: With the little word at the end it means joining in, not helping one person.
- 5
en tjänst
a favour
Tip: Also 'a service' or 'a job position'.
- 6
ett handtag
a hand (help)
Tip: lit. 'a handle'. You 'give someone' one when you help.
- 7
att erbjuda sig
to offer (to do something)
Tip: Reflexive when you offer to do something yourself.
- 8
att tacka ja
to accept (an offer)
Tip: lit. 'to thank yes'.
- 9
att tacka nej
to decline politely
Tip: lit. 'to thank no'.
- 10
tacksam
grateful
Tip: From the word for thanks + -sam.
- 11
snäll
kind
Tip: Used constantly. Add -t for 'how kind!'.
- 12
omtänksam
considerate
Tip: lit. 'around-thinking'.
- 13
i gengäld
in return
Tip: For returning a favour.
- 14
en granne
a neighbour
Tip: Plural ends in -ar.
- 15
en främling
a stranger
Tip: Someone you've never met.
- 16
en fastighetsskötare
a caretaker (of a building)
Tip: lit. 'property-looker-after'. Fixes things in rental buildings.
- 17
en hyresvärd
a landlord
Tip: rent + host.
- 18
en anslagstavla
a notice board
Tip: In the entrance of most buildings, with important numbers.
- 19
en lapp
a note (left for neighbours)
Tip: Swedish stairwells are famous for them.
- 20
en tvättstuga
a shared laundry room
Tip: Booked by time slot in many buildings.
- 21
en trappa
stairs, a staircase
Tip: Also one flight of stairs.
- 22
en hiss
a lift
Tip: Short and easy.
- 23
en flyttkartong
a moving box
Tip: move + box.
- 24
att bära
to carry
Tip: Past tense: bar.
- 25
att lyfta
to lift
Tip: Related to English 'lift'.
- 26
tung
heavy
Tip: Add -t with ett-words.
- 27
en barnvagn
a pram
Tip: child + cart. You'll often be asked to help lift one up stairs or onto a bus.
- 28
att låna
to borrow
Tip: In casual speech it is also used for 'lend'.
- 29
att låna ut
to lend
Tip: Add the word for 'out' to make it 'lend'.
- 30
en stege
a ladder
Tip: For the lamp you can't reach.
- 31
en skruvdragare
a cordless drill
Tip: lit. 'screw-puller'. Drives screws and drills holes.
- 32
ett verktyg
a tool
Tip: Same form in the plural.
- 33
startkablar
jump leads
Tip: Always plural. Essential on cold winter mornings.
- 34
en punktering
a flat tyre
Tip: lit. 'a puncture'. Casually also 'punka'.