Having Guests Over: Expressions
Swedish hosting in phrases — ta av skorna, ta för er, värdinnegåva and kvällen är slut vid elva.
The Swedish dinner party decoded, rule by rule: the threshold customs (ta av skorna — bli erbjuden tofflor), the gift protocol (en flaska till värden, blommor med papperet nedåt), the punctuality culture (komma precis i tid — vänta i bilen till sju), the table rites (ögonkontakt när man skålar, berömma maten ordentligt — receptet, tack), the two thank-yous (tack för ikväll tonight, tack för senast next time), the ten-o'clock goodbye that ends at eleven in the hall — and the last duty: skriva att man kommit hem.
- 1
ha folk hemma
to have people over
Tip: lit. 'have people at home'.
- 2
välkommen in!
welcome in!
Tip: lit. the same — said at the door, every time.
- 3
ta av skorna
shoes off, please
Tip: lit. 'take off the shoes' — non-negotiable in Swedish homes.
- 4
bli erbjuden tofflor
to be offered slippers
Tip: lit. the same — after the shoes come off.
- 5
får jag ta din jacka?
can I take your coat?
Tip: lit. the same.
- 6
ta för er
help yourselves
Tip: lit. 'take for yourselves' — said before every meal.
- 7
en värdinnegåva
a host gift
Tip: lit. 'a hostess gift' — flowers, wine or chocolate.
- 8
du skulle inte ha
you shouldn't have
Tip: lit. the same — said while accepting it happily.
- 9
en flaska till värden
a bottle for the host
Tip: lit. the same.
- 10
blommor med papperet nedåt
flowers wrapped facing down
Tip: lit. the same — carry them stems up.
- 11
duka
to lay the table
Tip: lit. 'to set' — a verb of its own.
- 12
duka av
to clear the table
Tip: lit. 'set off'.
- 13
diska tillsammans
to do the washing-up together
Tip: lit. the same — guests always offer.
- 14
nej, sitt kvar, jag fixar det
no, sit down, I'll do it
Tip: lit. the same — the required host response.
- 15
knytkalas
a bring-your-own arrangement
Tip: lit. 'tie party' — everyone brings a dish.
- 16
är det något du inte äter?
is there anything you don't eat?
Tip: lit. the same — asked in advance.
- 17
småprata
to make small talk
Tip: lit. 'small-talk' — one word in Swedish.
- 18
en pinsam tystnad
an awkward silence
Tip: lit. the same — less awkward here than elsewhere.
- 19
höja glaset
to raise a glass
Tip: lit. the same.
- 20
ögonkontakt när man skålar
eye contact when you toast
Tip: lit. the same — genuinely expected.
- 21
en påtår
a second helping
Tip: lit. 'a re-pour' — for coffee specifically.
- 22
en tretår
a third cup of coffee
Tip: lit. 'a third pour' — the word exists, and it's used.
- 23
stanna för länge
to overstay your welcome
Tip: lit. 'stay too long'.
- 24
kvällen är slut vid elva
the evening winds down by eleven
Tip: lit. the same — Swedish parties end early.
- 25
tack för ikväll
thanks for having us
Tip: lit. 'thanks for tonight' — said at the door.
- 26
tack för senast
thanks for last time
Tip: lit. the same — said the next time you meet, always.
- 27
följa någon till dörren
to see someone out
Tip: lit. 'follow someone to the door'.
- 28
kom hem välbehållna
get home safely
Tip: lit. 'come home well-preserved'.
- 29
vi måste göra om det här
we must do this again
Tip: lit. the same.
- 30
disken får vänta till imorgon
the dishes can wait until morning
Tip: lit. the same — the host's small rebellion.
- 31
bjuda in i god tid
to invite well in advance
Tip: lit. the same — Swedes book weeks ahead.
- 32
en kalenderinbjudan till middag
a calendar invite for dinner
Tip: lit. the same — only half a joke.
- 33
stämma av dagen innan
to confirm the day before
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
komma precis i tid
to arrive exactly on time
Tip: lit. the same — not early, not late.
- 35
vänta i bilen till sju
to wait in the car until seven
Tip: lit. the same — genuinely done.
- 36
förrätt, varmrätt och efterrätt
a starter, main and pudding
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
äta det som bjuds
to eat what's put in front of you
Tip: lit. the same.
- 38
berömma maten ordentligt
to praise the food properly
Tip: lit. the same.
- 39
vem har lagat det här?
who cooked this?
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
receptet, tack
the recipe, please
Tip: lit. the same — the highest compliment.
- 41
erbjuda sig att duka av
to offer to help clear
Tip: lit. the same.
- 42
kaffe och något sött
coffee and something sweet
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
kolla sista bussen
to check the last bus
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
börja säga hej då vid tio
to start saying goodbye at ten
Tip: lit. the same — and leave at eleven.
- 45
det långa avskedet i hallen
the long goodbye in the hall
Tip: lit. the same — twenty minutes, coats on.
- 46
skriva att man kommit hem
to text that you got home
Tip: lit. the same.
- 47
och tacka igen imorgon
and thank them again tomorrow
Tip: lit. the same.