First date at a bar
Meeting a dating-app match at a bar in Södermalm — the greeting, ordering, getting-to-know-you questions, splitting the bill with Swish and asking for a second date.
Swedish first dates are low-key: a bar or a fika, a lot of questions, and a bill split with Swish. This deck is one evening, from 'are you Elin?' to 'talk soon', so the small talk comes out naturally instead of translated.
- 1
Hej! Är det du som är Elin?
Hi! Are you Elin?
Tip: lit. 'is it you who is Elin' — the natural way to check a name.
- 2
Kul att äntligen träffas.
Nice to finally meet.
Tip: 'träffas' reciprocal: meet each other. 'Kul att' = nice to.
- 3
Ska vi sätta oss vid fönstret?
Shall we sit by the window?
Tip: 'sätta sig' = sit down (reflexive, 'oss' for we).
- 4
Vad vill du ha att dricka?
What would you like to drink?
Tip: 'vilja ha' = want; 'att dricka' = to drink.
- 5
Jag tar en öl, tack.
I'll have a beer, thanks.
Tip: 'ta' is the verb for ordering: jag tar...
- 6
Hittade du hit utan problem?
Did you find your way here alright?
Tip: 'hitta hit' = find one's way here (hit = to here).
- 7
Ja, jag bor bara några kvarter bort.
Yes, I live just a few blocks away.
Tip: kvarter = block; 'bort' = away.
- 8
Vad jobbar du med?
What do you do for work?
Tip: lit. 'what do you work with' — the only way Swedes ask this.
- 9
Jag jobbar som sjuksköterska.
I work as a nurse.
Tip: 'jobba som' + profession, no article.
- 10
Vad fick dig att flytta till Sverige?
What made you move to Sweden?
Tip: 'få någon att' + infinitive = make someone do.
- 11
Jobbet, och så ville jag prova något nytt.
The job, and I wanted to try something new.
Tip: 'och så' = and also; 'något nytt' = something new (ett-form).
- 12
Hur trivs du här?
How do you like it here?
Tip: 'trivas' = to thrive/feel at home; the go-to question for newcomers.
- 13
Jag trivs bra, men vintern är lång.
I like it, but the winter is long.
Tip: 'trivs bra' = am happy here; 'vintern' definite.
- 14
Berätta mer om det.
Tell me more about that.
Tip: 'berätta om' = tell about.
- 15
Vad gör du på fritiden?
What do you do in your free time?
Tip: 'på fritiden' = in (your) free time, definite form.
- 16
Jag gillar att vandra och att laga mat.
I like hiking and cooking.
Tip: 'laga mat' = cook (lit. fix food).
- 17
Det låter mysigt.
That sounds cozy.
Tip: mysigt: the Swedish 'cozy', usable for almost anything nice.
- 18
Har du syskon?
Do you have siblings?
Tip: syskon = siblings (same in singular and plural).
- 19
Jag har en lillasyster i Göteborg.
I have a little sister in Gothenburg.
Tip: lillasyster / storasyster, lillebror / storebror.
- 20
Vill du ha en till?
Do you want another one?
Tip: 'en till' = one more (of an en-word: öl).
- 21
Jag tar gärna en till.
I'd gladly have another.
Tip: 'gärna' = gladly; softens a yes.
- 22
Ska vi dela på notan?
Shall we split the bill?
Tip: 'dela på' = split; notan = the bill. Splitting is the default.
- 23
Vi kan swisha varandra.
We can Swish each other.
Tip: swisha = pay via Swish; 'varandra' = each other.
- 24
Jag hade jättetrevligt i kväll.
I had a really nice time tonight.
Tip: 'ha trevligt' = have a nice time; jätte- intensifier.
- 25
Det hade jag också.
So did I.
Tip: Echo the verb: 'det hade jag också' = I had that too.
- 26
Ska vi ses igen?
Shall we see each other again?
Tip: 'ses' = see each other (reciprocal s-form).
- 27
Gärna, jag är ledig på lördag.
Gladly, I'm free on Saturday.
Tip: 'ledig' = free/off; 'på lördag' = this Saturday.
- 28
Jag hör av mig i morgon.
I'll be in touch tomorrow.
Tip: 'höra av sig' = get in touch; 'i morgon' = tomorrow.
- 29
Kom hem säkert.
Get home safe.
Tip: Set phrase at goodbyes.
- 30
Hej då, och tack för i kväll.
Bye, and thanks for tonight.
Tip: 'tack för i kväll' — thank for the occasion, very Swedish.
- 31
Vi hörs!
Talk soon!
Tip: 'höras' = hear from each other; the standard sign-off.