A weekly shop at ICA
Finding things, asking staff, weighing veg, the deli counter, the till — the sentences you actually say in a Swedish supermarket, including the ones about the deposit and the bag.
A Swedish supermarket is mostly silent — self-scanning, self-checkout, nobody helps you pack. The moments you do need to speak are predictable: finding an item, the deli counter, the till, and the pant machine that ate your voucher. This deck walks one Saturday shop from trolley to receipt.
- 1
Har du en tia till vagnen?
Do you have a 10-krona coin for the trolley?
Tip: 'en tia' = a ten-kronor coin.
- 2
Ursäkta, var hittar jag havregrynen?
Excuse me, where can I find the oats?
Tip: 'hitta' = find; the question to any staff.
- 3
Gång fem, bredvid flingorna.
Aisle five, next to the cereals.
Tip: 'bredvid' = next to; 'flingor' = cereal.
- 4
Är det här den sista?
Is this the last one?
Tip: Of a product on offer.
- 5
Har ni fler på lagret?
Do you have any more in the back?
Tip: 'på lagret' = in the stockroom.
- 6
Jag kollar åt dig.
I'll check for you.
Tip: 'kolla' = check; 'åt dig' = for you.
- 7
Väger man grönsakerna själv?
Do I weigh the vegetables myself?
Tip: At most stores: yes, press the picture, print the label.
- 8
Man trycker på numret på skylten.
You press the number on the sign.
Tip: 'trycka på' = press.
- 9
Är den här på extrapris?
Is this on offer?
Tip: 'den här' = this one (en-word).
- 10
Bara med medlemskortet.
Only with the member card.
Tip: The standard catch.
- 11
Ta en nummerlapp, tack.
Take a number, please.
Tip: 'nummerlapp' = queue ticket; at the deli counter.
- 12
Nummer fyrtiosju?
Number 47?
Tip: They call it out.
- 13
Jag skulle vilja ha 300 gram av den rökta skinkan.
I'd like 300 grams of the smoked ham.
Tip: 'rökt' = smoked; 'skinka' = ham.
- 14
Tunt skivat, tack.
Sliced thin, please.
Tip: 'skivad' = sliced.
- 15
Något mer?
Anything else?
Tip: Always.
- 16
En bit av den där osten — ungefär ett halvt kilo.
A piece of that cheese — about half a kilo.
Tip: 'en bit' = a piece; 'ett halvt kilo'.
- 17
Det blev lite över — går det bra?
It's a bit over — is that okay?
Tip: 'det blev' = it came to; 'går det bra' = is that okay.
- 18
Det är lugnt.
That's fine.
Tip: Casual 'no problem'.
- 19
Var pantar man?
Where do I return the cans?
Tip: 'panta' = return for deposit — a verb!
- 20
Vid entrén, till vänster.
By the entrance, to the left.
Tip: Where the machine always is.
- 21
Maskinen tar inte den här flaskan.
The machine won't take this bottle.
Tip: 'ta' = accept (of machines).
- 22
Den har nog ingen pant — utländska flaskor har inte det.
It probably has no deposit — foreign bottles don't.
Tip: 'nog' = probably.
- 23
Vill du ha påse?
Do you want a bag?
Tip: No article: 'ha påse'.
- 24
Nej tack, jag har egen.
No thanks, I have my own.
Tip: 'egen' = my own (no noun needed).
- 25
Har du medlemskort?
Do you have a member card?
Tip: Asked every time.
- 26
Det är i appen.
It's in the app.
Tip: Scan the QR code.
- 27
Jag har en pantlapp också.
I have a deposit voucher too.
Tip: 'pantlapp' = the voucher from the machine.
- 28
Kort eller kontant?
Card or cash?
Tip: Many stores are card-only now.
- 29
Vill du ha kvittot?
Would you like the receipt?
Tip: Or 'på mejlen' — by email.
- 30
Nej tack. Trevlig helg!
No thanks. Have a nice weekend!
Tip: 'trevlig helg' = the Friday/Saturday goodbye.