Driving Licence Expressions
Körkortstillstånd, halkbana, uppkörning — Sweden's long and expensive road to a licence.
The Swedish licence journey, step by step: körkortstillstånd first, the two teachers (trafikskola or privat with a handledare), the mandatory risk courses (halkbanan, riskettan), the two exams — kunskapsprovet's 65 questions, 52 to pass, in several languages or with tolk — and uppkörningen where förrättaren sitter bredvid och säger nästan ingenting. Then besked direkt, kortet med posten, and the green two years: prövotid. Kör försiktigt, särskilt då.
- 1
ett körkort
a driving licence
Tip: lit. 'a driving card'.
- 2
körkortstillstånd
the learner's permit
Tip: lit. 'driving licence permission' — you apply before anything else.
- 3
kunskapsprovet
the theory test
Tip: lit. 'the knowledge test'.
- 4
uppkörningen
the practical test
Tip: lit. 'the driving up'.
- 5
en trafikskola
a driving school
Tip: lit. 'a traffic school'.
- 6
en trafiklärare
a driving instructor
Tip: lit. 'a traffic teacher'.
- 7
privat övningskörning
private practice driving
Tip: lit. the same — with an approved supervisor.
- 8
en handledare
an approved supervisor
Tip: lit. 'a supervisor' — usually a parent, after a course.
- 9
introduktionsutbildningen
the introductory course
Tip: lit. the same — compulsory for supervisor and learner.
- 10
riskutbildningen
the risk training
Tip: lit. the same — two mandatory parts.
- 11
halkbanan
the skid pan
Tip: lit. 'the slippery track' — risk part two, and genuinely fun.
- 12
riskettan
the alcohol and fatigue module
Tip: lit. 'risk one' — the theory half.
- 13
bli underkänd
to fail the test
Tip: lit. 'be disapproved'.
- 14
bli godkänd
to pass
Tip: lit. 'be approved'.
- 15
prövotiden
the probationary period
Tip: lit. 'the trial time' — two years, and one serious offence loses it.
- 16
bli av med körkortet
to lose your licence
Tip: lit. 'be rid of the licence'.
- 17
det kostar en förmögenhet
it costs a fortune
Tip: lit. the same — often 20,000 kronor or more.
- 18
ta ett paketpris
to take a package deal
Tip: lit. the same.
- 19
en intensivkurs
an intensive course
Tip: lit. the same.
- 20
öva fickparkering
to practise parallel parking
Tip: lit. 'practise pocket parking'.
- 21
en vändning i trepunkt
a three-point turn
Tip: lit. the same.
- 22
kolla speglarna
to check the mirrors
Tip: lit. the same — and they watch that you do.
- 23
vara nervös på provdagen
to be nervous on the day
Tip: lit. the same.
- 24
förrättaren säger ingenting
the examiner says nothing
Tip: lit. the same — and that's the worst part.
- 25
kön till provtider
the queue for test slots
Tip: lit. the same — months long in the cities.
- 26
klara det på tredje försöket
to pass on the third attempt
Tip: lit. the same — extremely common.
- 27
grattis, du är godkänd
congratulations, you're through
Tip: lit. the same.
- 28
ett synintyg
an eyesight test
Tip: lit. the same — required with the application.
- 29
en hälsodeklaration
a health declaration
Tip: lit. the same.
- 30
foto på provkontoret
a photo at the test centre
Tip: lit. the same.
- 31
kunskapsprovet har sextiofem frågor
the theory test is sixty-five questions
Tip: lit. the same.
- 32
femtiotvå rätt för godkänt
fifty-two correct to pass
Tip: lit. the same.
- 33
provet finns på flera språk
the test is in several languages
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
eller med tolk
or with an interpreter
Tip: lit. the same.
- 35
boka båda proven samtidigt
to book both tests together
Tip: lit. the same — they must be within two months.
- 36
uppkörning i egen bil
a driving test on your own car
Tip: lit. the same — allowed, with conditions.
- 37
oftast trafikskolans bil
usually the school's car
Tip: lit. the same.
- 38
körkort för automat
an automatic-only licence
Tip: lit. the same — a real restriction on the card.
- 39
uppgradera senare
to upgrade later
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
förrättaren sitter bredvid
the examiner sits beside you
Tip: lit. the same.
- 41
och säger nästan ingenting
and says almost nothing
Tip: lit. the same.
- 42
tjugofem minuters körning
twenty-five minutes of driving
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
inklusive ett moment
including a manoeuvre
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
besked direkt
the result straight away
Tip: lit. the same.
- 45
kortet kommer med posten
a card in the post
Tip: lit. the same.
- 46
prövotid i två år
a green probationary period
Tip: lit. 'trial period for two years'.
- 47
kör försiktigt, särskilt då
drive carefully, especially then
Tip: lit. the same.