Being New in Sweden: Expressions
Nyinflyttad, personnummer, komma in i samhället — the first year, in phrases.
Being new in Sweden, told as it unfolds: the registration catch-22 (personnummer opens doors that require a personnummer), the unwritten rules (shoes off, empty bus seats), the November darkness and the first spring that redeems it, the integration machinery (samhällsorientering, snabbspår), the long road to a Swedish friend — and the ending every immigrant knows: two homes, missing both.
- 1
nyanländ
newly arrived
Tip: lit. the same — the official term.
- 2
nyinflyttad
newly moved in
Tip: lit. the same — used for a new town too.
- 3
folkbokföra sig
to register with the Tax Agency
Tip: lit. 'people-register oneself' — the door to everything else.
- 4
personnumret
the personal identity number
Tip: lit. the same — without it, very little works.
- 5
samordningsnumret
the coordination number
Tip: lit. the same — the temporary stand-in.
- 6
vara inne i systemet
to be in the system
Tip: lit. the same.
- 7
det ena kräver det andra
one thing requires the other
Tip: lit. the same — the classic catch-22.
- 8
hitta rätt
to find your way around
Tip: lit. 'find right'.
- 9
lära sig hur det funkar
to learn how things work
Tip: lit. the same.
- 10
de oskrivna reglerna
the unwritten rules
Tip: lit. the same — the hardest part.
- 11
skorna av inne
shoes off indoors
Tip: lit. the same — rule number one.
- 12
sätt dig inte bredvid någon på bussen
don't sit next to someone on the bus
Tip: lit. the same — if other seats are free.
- 13
kölappssystemet
the queue ticket system
Tip: lit. the same — take a number everywhere.
- 14
vara i tid, alltid
to be on time, always
Tip: lit. the same.
- 15
boka allt i förväg
to book everything in advance
Tip: lit. the same — including a coffee with a friend.
- 16
svenskar är reserverade, inte ovänliga
Swedes are reserved, not unfriendly
Tip: lit. the same — the essential distinction.
- 17
det tar tid att bli hembjuden
it takes time to be invited home
Tip: lit. the same.
- 18
men sen är man med
but then you're in
Tip: lit. 'but then one is included'.
- 19
gå med i en förening
to join an association
Tip: lit. the same — the actual route to friends.
- 20
via en idrottsförening
through a sports club
Tip: lit. the same — the most reliable route.
- 21
eller barnens aktiviteter
or the children's activities
Tip: lit. the same.
- 22
en föräldragrupp i mobilen
a parents' group chat
Tip: lit. the same.
- 23
bli bjuden på kalas
to be invited to a birthday party
Tip: lit. the same — a genuine milestone.
- 24
ha med present under hundra kronor
to bring a gift under a hundred kronor
Tip: lit. the same — the unspoken norm.
- 25
hämta precis på utsatt tid
to collect at exactly the stated time
Tip: lit. the same.
- 26
mörkret i november
the darkness in November
Tip: lit. the same — nobody warns you enough.
- 27
D-vitamin och en dagsljuslampa
vitamin D and a daylight lamp
Tip: lit. the same — the standard advice.
- 28
ljuset kommer tillbaka
the light comes back
Tip: lit. the same.
- 29
första våren är värd allt
the first spring is worth it
Tip: lit. the same.
- 30
samhällsorientering
an integration course
Tip: lit. 'social orientation' — 100 hours about how Sweden works.
- 31
på ditt eget språk
in your own language
Tip: lit. the same — that's the point of it.
- 32
etableringsprogrammet
an establishment programme
Tip: lit. the same — the two-year introduction.
- 33
en handläggare på Arbetsförmedlingen
a case officer at the job centre
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
få sin utbildning validerad
to have your qualifications recognised
Tip: lit. the same.
- 35
ett snabbspår för ditt yrke
a fast track for your profession
Tip: lit. the same — for doctors, teachers, nurses.
- 36
en mentor inom ditt yrke
a mentor in your field
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
en praktikplats
an internship placement
Tip: lit. the same — often the real door in.
- 38
bygga nätverk från noll
to build a network from zero
Tip: lit. the same — the hardest part.
- 39
en svensk vän, till slut
a Swedish friend, eventually
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
känna sig hemma till slut
to feel at home eventually
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
sakna hemma och trivas här
to miss home and like it here
Tip: lit. the same — both at once.
- 42
bygga ett liv någon annanstans
to build a life somewhere new
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
känna sig främmande i flera år
to feel foreign for years
Tip: lit. the same — and that's normal.
- 44
och sen plötsligt inte
and then suddenly not
Tip: lit. the same.
- 45
ha två hem
to have two homes
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
och sakna båda
and to miss both
Tip: lit. the same.
- 47
varmt välkommen
welcome, genuinely
Tip: lit. 'warmly welcome'.