At the café — order like a local
One café visit in order: the counter, the order, paying by card (always), and the very Swedish question about refills.
One trip to a Swedish café, in the order it happens at the counter. You'll order with jag tar (not 'can I have'), meet the macka/smörgås register split, pay by card because nobody takes cash, and learn the most Swedish question of all: whether påtår — the refill — is free.
- 1
Hej! Vad får det vara?
Hi! What can I get you?
Tip: the standard counter greeting — literally 'what may it be?'
- 2
Jag tar en kaffe och en kanelbulle, tack.
I'll have a coffee and a cinnamon bun, please.
Tip: jag tar = the normal way to order; no 'can I have' needed
- 3
Vill du ha det här eller ta med?
For here or to go?
Tip: ta med = takeaway; answer 'här, tack' or 'ta med, tack'
- 4
Kan jag få en macka också?
Could I have a sandwich too?
Tip: macka — the everyday word for a sandwich
- 5
En smörgås med ost och skinka, tack.
A cheese and ham sandwich, please.
Tip: smörgås — the neutral/menu word; same thing as macka
- 6
Vill du ha något att dricka till?
Would you like something to drink with that?
Tip: till at the end = 'with it/to go with that'
- 7
En stor latte med havremjölk, tack.
A large latte with oat milk, please.
Tip: havremjölk = oat milk — the default in many Swedish cafés
- 8
Det blir 95 kronor.
That comes to 95 kronor.
Tip: det blir = 'that comes to' — how every total is announced
- 9
Kan jag betala med kort?
Can I pay by card?
Tip: betala med kort/Swish — the two ways that always work
- 10
Vi tar tyvärr inte kontanter.
I'm afraid we don't take cash.
Tip: kontanter = cash, nearly extinct in Swedish cafés
- 11
Ingår påtår?
Is a refill included?
Tip: påtår = coffee refill; ingår = is included — two words, pure Sweden
- 12
Vi sitter borta vid fönstret.
We're sitting over by the window.
Tip: borta vid = over by; sitter — position verb, not 'är'
- 13
Tack, det var jättegott!
Thanks, that was delicious!
Tip: gott for food/drink (not bra); jätte- makes it 'really'