Birthday Expressions
Grattis på födelsedagen, tårta, kalas — and the song that isn't Happy Birthday.
The Swedish birthday liturgy in ceremony order: woken with song, the tray with a flag and a candle in the bun, Ja må hon leva with its four cheers, cake and prinsesstårta, present etiquette (det behövde du inte!), the jämn birthday with speeches and slideshows — and the connoisseur's ending: leftover cake for breakfast, det bästa faktiskt.
- 1
bli väckt med sång
to be woken with singing
Tip: lit. the same — at seven, by children.
- 2
frukost på sängen
breakfast in bed
Tip: lit. the same — the traditional Swedish birthday morning.
- 3
födelsedagsbrickan
the birthday tray
Tip: lit. the same — with a candle in the bun.
- 4
en flagga på brickan
a flag on the tray
Tip: lit. the same — a small Swedish flag.
- 5
flaggan i topp
the flag out on the pole
Tip: lit. 'the flag at the top' — for family birthdays.
- 6
ett ljus i bullen
a candle in the bun
Tip: lit. the same.
- 7
Ja, må hon leva
the birthday song
Tip: lit. 'yes, may she live' — the Swedish birthday song, ending with four cheers.
- 8
ett fyrfaldigt leve!
four cheers!
Tip: lit. 'a fourfold cheer' — hurrah four times, then hurrah again.
- 9
grattis på födelsedagen!
happy birthday!
Tip: lit. 'congratulations on the birthday'.
- 10
ha det så fint på dagen
many happy returns
Tip: lit. 'have it so nice on the day'.
- 11
blåsa ut ljusen
to blow out the candles
Tip: lit. the same.
- 12
önska sig något
to make a wish
Tip: lit. 'wish oneself something'.
- 13
tårtan
the birthday cake
Tip: lit. 'the gateau' — Swedish princess cake, usually.
- 14
en prinsesstårta
a cake with a marzipan lid
Tip: lit. 'a princess cake' — green marzipan, non-negotiable.
- 15
skära upp tårtan
to cut the cake
Tip: lit. 'cut up the cake'.
- 16
öppna presenterna
to open the presents
Tip: lit. the same.
- 17
det behövde du inte
you shouldn't have
Tip: lit. 'you didn't need to' — the obligatory response.
- 18
det är bara en liten sak
it's just a small thing
Tip: lit. the same — the giver's obligatory reply.
- 19
slå ihop till en present
to club together for a present
Tip: lit. 'strike together for a present'.
- 20
ett bytkvitto
a gift receipt
Tip: lit. 'an exchange receipt' — always included in Sweden.
- 21
en present från alla tillsammans
a gift from everyone together
Tip: lit. the same.
- 22
en upplevelse istället för en pryl
an experience rather than a thing
Tip: lit. the same — increasingly the norm.
- 23
en gåva till välgörenhet istället
a donation instead of presents
Tip: lit. the same.
- 24
inga presenter, tack
no presents, please
Tip: lit. the same — and everyone brings one anyway.
- 25
ett kort som alla skriver i
a card everyone signs
Tip: lit. the same.
- 26
ett kalas
a children's party
Tip: lit. 'a feast' — specifically a birthday party.
- 27
godispåsar
party bags
Tip: lit. 'sweet bags' — for the children on the way out.
- 28
leka lekar
pin the tail on the donkey
Tip: lit. 'play games' — the general term for kalas activities.
- 29
en jämn födelsedag
a round-number birthday
Tip: lit. 'an even birthday' — thirty, forty, fifty.
- 30
en femtioårsdag
a fiftieth
Tip: lit. the same — the big one.
- 31
ett riktigt firande
a big do
Tip: lit. 'a real celebration'.
- 32
ett överraskningskalas
a surprise party
Tip: lit. the same.
- 33
ett firande med tal
a party with a speech
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
ett bildspel med gamla kort
a slideshow of old photos
Tip: lit. the same — the standard torture.
- 35
en sång skriven till dagen
a song written for the occasion
Tip: lit. the same.
- 36
till en känd melodi
to a familiar tune
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
bli firad ordentligt
to be showered with attention
Tip: lit. 'be celebrated properly'.
- 38
bli generad av uppmärksamheten
to be embarrassed by the attention
Tip: lit. the same — very Swedish.
- 39
hålla ett kort tacktal
to make a short thank-you speech
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
tacka för att alla kom
to thank people for coming
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
tack för att ni kom, allihop
thanks for coming, everyone
Tip: lit. the same.
- 42
känna sig gammal
to feel old
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
ett år äldre
another year older
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
åldern är bara en siffra
age is just a number
Tip: lit. the same.
- 45
dagen efter är lugn
the day after is quiet
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
tårta till frukost
leftover cake for breakfast
Tip: lit. the same.
- 47
det bästa, faktiskt
the best part, honestly
Tip: lit. the same.