Moving House Expressions
Flyttstädning, nyckelöverlämning and hjälp med flytten — the Swedish move from box to housewarming.
The move, end to end: the packing epic (drunkna i kartonger, bubbelplast, märka varje kartong — ömtåligt, denna sida upp), the purge (rensa ut, Blocket, återvinningen), the machinery (flyttfirma med rutavdrag — or kompisarna, mutade med pizza; boka hissen, möbelhissen, parking for the van), the admin checklist (flyttanmälan, eftersända posten, fota mätarställningarna), the first night (madrassen, leta upp vattenkokaren först) — ending with the eternal truths: aldrig mer, packa upp i månader, det står fortfarande en låda i hallen.
- 1
flyttdagen
moving day
Tip: lit. the same — traditionally the last weekend of the month.
- 2
flyttstädningen
the end-of-tenancy clean
Tip: lit. 'the moving clean' — legally expected, and inspected.
- 3
lämna över nycklarna
to hand over the keys
Tip: lit. the same.
- 4
tillträdesdagen
the day of access
Tip: lit. 'the access day' — when the new place becomes yours.
- 5
packa ner hela lägenheten
to pack up the whole flat
Tip: lit. 'pack down the whole flat'.
- 6
drunkna i kartonger
to be up to your ears in boxes
Tip: lit. 'drown in cardboard boxes'.
- 7
hyra en skåpbil
to hire a van
Tip: lit. 'rent a cupboard car'.
- 8
en flyttfirma
a removal firm
Tip: lit. the same.
- 9
rutavdrag
tax deduction for household services
Tip: lit. 'RUT deduction' — 50 percent off the labour cost of a move.
- 10
muta kompisarna med pizza
to bribe your friends with pizza
Tip: lit. the same — the traditional Swedish payment.
- 11
rensa ut
to have a clear-out
Tip: lit. 'clean out' — a move's one real benefit.
- 12
göra sig av med grejer
to get rid of things
Tip: lit. 'make oneself rid of things'.
- 13
köra till återvinningen
to take it to the tip
Tip: lit. 'drive to the recycling'.
- 14
sälja det på Blocket
to sell it on Blocket
Tip: lit. the same — Sweden's classifieds site, a verb in all but name.
- 15
göra en flyttanmälan
to change your registered address
Tip: lit. 'make a moving report' — to Skatteverket, or nothing works.
- 16
eftersända posten
to forward the post
Tip: lit. 'after-send the post'.
- 17
flytta elavtalet
to transfer the electricity contract
Tip: lit. 'move the electricity agreement'.
- 18
en besiktning
an inspection of the flat
Tip: lit. the same — before you get the deposit back.
- 19
normalt slitage
wear and tear
Tip: lit. 'normal wear'.
- 20
lämna tomt efter sig
to be left with nothing but dust
Tip: lit. 'leave empty behind oneself'.
- 21
sista lasset
the last load
Tip: lit. the same — always heavier than expected.
- 22
vara helt slut men klar
to be shattered but done
Tip: lit. 'be completely finished but done'.
- 23
en inflyttningsfest
a housewarming party
Tip: lit. 'a moving-in party'.
- 24
landa i det nya
to settle in
Tip: lit. 'land in the new'.
- 25
hitta hem
to find your place
Tip: lit. 'find home' — the feeling, not the address.
- 26
äntligen hemma
home sweet home
Tip: lit. 'finally home'.
- 27
aldrig mer
never again
Tip: lit. the same — said on every moving day.
- 28
en flyttkartong
a removal box
Tip: lit. the same — buy more than you think.
- 29
bubbelplast
bubble wrap
Tip: lit. the same.
- 30
märka varje kartong
to label every box
Tip: lit. the same — with the room, not the contents.
- 31
ömtåligt
fragile
Tip: lit. the same — written on the side.
- 32
denna sida upp
this way up
Tip: lit. the same.
- 33
hyra en säckkärra
to hire a trolley
Tip: lit. the same.
- 34
en möbelhiss
a furniture lift
Tip: lit. the same — through the window, for old buildings.
- 35
boka hissen i förväg
to book the lift in advance
Tip: lit. the same — in a block of flats.
- 36
boka parkeringsplats för flyttbilen
to reserve a parking space
Tip: lit. the same.
- 37
månadens sista helg
the last weekend of the month
Tip: lit. the same — when everyone in Sweden moves.
- 38
boka flyttfirman i god tid
to book the removal firm months ahead
Tip: lit. the same.
- 39
en flyttlista
an inventory list
Tip: lit. the same.
- 40
fota mätarställningarna
to photograph the meter readings
Tip: lit. the same — both places, both days.
- 41
eftersända posten i ett år
to redirect the post for a year
Tip: lit. the same.
- 42
meddela banken och försäkringsbolaget
to tell the bank and the insurer
Tip: lit. the same.
- 43
en adressändringslista
a change of address checklist
Tip: lit. the same.
- 44
sova på madrass första natten
to sleep on a mattress the first night
Tip: lit. the same.
- 45
leta upp vattenkokaren först
to find the kettle first
Tip: lit. the same — priorities.
- 46
packa upp i månader
to unpack over months
Tip: lit. the same.
- 47
det står fortfarande en låda i hallen
there's still a box in the hall
Tip: lit. the same — two years later.