At the Pool: Expressions
Simhall, duscha först, långsam bana — the rules and rhythms of a Swedish pool.
The Swedish simhall, walked in order: changing room and the famous naked-shower rule, lane politics (bandisciplin is real), strokes and the schoolchild's 200 metres, the kids' pool kingdom, the rules signs, the lifeguard — and the sacred finish: bastu, kallbad, warm shower. Swimming here is a civic institution; this is its vocabulary.
- 1
simhallen
the swimming baths
Tip: lit. 'the swimming hall'.
- 2
omklädningsrummet
the changing room
Tip: lit. the same.
- 3
skåpet
the locker
Tip: lit. 'the cupboard'.
- 4
man måste duscha naken först
you must shower naked first
Tip: lit. the same — genuinely enforced in Sweden.
- 5
utan badkläder
without a swimsuit
Tip: lit. the same — the rule that surprises visitors most.
- 6
ingen springer vid bassängen
no running by the pool
Tip: lit. the same.
- 7
hoppförbud här
no jumping here
Tip: lit. 'jumping ban here'.
- 8
badvakten
the lifeguard
Tip: lit. the same.
- 9
blåsa i visselpipan
to blow the whistle
Tip: lit. the same.
- 10
den långsamma banan
the slow lane
Tip: lit. the same.
- 11
snabba banan
the fast lane
Tip: lit. the same.
- 12
bandisciplin
lane discipline
Tip: lit. the same.
- 13
lägga beslag på banan
to hog the lane
Tip: lit. 'lay claim to the lane'.
- 14
köra om i banan
to overtake in the lane
Tip: lit. 'overtake in the lane' — with etiquette.
- 15
släppa förbi en snabbare
to let a faster swimmer past
Tip: lit. the same.
- 16
ta i kanten och vänta
to touch the wall and wait
Tip: lit. the same.
- 17
simma längder
to swim lengths
Tip: lit. the same.
- 18
simma crawl
to do the crawl
Tip: lit. the same.
- 19
bröstsim
breaststroke
Tip: lit. 'breast swim' — the Swedish default.
- 20
ryggsim
backstroke
Tip: lit. 'back swim'.
- 21
hoppa i
to dive in
Tip: lit. 'jump in'.
- 22
trampolinen
the diving board
Tip: lit. the same.
- 23
djupa delen
the deep end
Tip: lit. 'the deep part'.
- 24
grunda delen
the shallow end
Tip: lit. 'the shallow part'.
- 25
vattnet är iskallt
the water is freezing
Tip: lit. the same.
- 26
kloret svider
the chlorine stings
Tip: lit. the same.
- 27
simglasögon
goggles
Tip: lit. 'swim glasses'.
- 28
badmössa
a swimming cap
Tip: lit. 'bath cap'.
- 29
ett simmärke
a swimming badge
Tip: lit. the same — Swedish children collect them.
- 30
simskola
swimming lessons
Tip: lit. 'swim school' — a school subject in Sweden.
- 31
en simlektion
a swimming lesson
Tip: lit. the same.
- 32
skolsimmet
the school swimming class
Tip: lit. the same — part of the curriculum.
- 33
kunna simma i årskurs sex
to be able to swim by year six
Tip: lit. the same — a national requirement.
- 34
kunna simma tvåhundra meter
to be able to swim 200 metres
Tip: lit. the same — the national definition of 'can swim'.
- 35
en flytkudde
a float
Tip: lit. the same.
- 36
armpuffar
armbands
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
en badring
a swimming ring
Tip: lit. the same.
- 38
barnbassängen
the children's pool
Tip: lit. the same — warmer, and louder.
- 39
vattenrutschkanan
the water slide
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
en vågbassäng
a wave pool
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
äventyrsbadet
the adventure baths
Tip: lit. the same — a Swedish institution on rainy days.
- 42
familjebad
a family session
Tip: lit. 'family bathing' — loud, and no lengths.
- 43
ett badschema på väggen
a swimming schedule on the wall
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
tider endast för kvinnor
women-only hours
Tip: lit. the same — offered in some municipalities.
- 45
bastun efteråt
the sauna afterwards
Tip: lit. the same — non-negotiable.
- 46
kallbad efter bastun
an ice bath after the sauna
Tip: lit. 'cold bath after the sauna'.
- 47
en varm dusch till sist
a warm shower at the end
Tip: lit. the same — the best part.