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B1Swedish·32 cards

Celebrating 6 June

What people say on the national day, from the citizenship ceremony to coffee and flags at home.

Many municipalities welcome their new citizens on the national day. Follow Sara and her neighbour Lena from the news over the fence to the ceremony, coffee afterwards and the celebrations on TV.

A veteran leads a patriotic parade outdoors, surrounded by American flags in a summer setting.
Photo: Chris F on Pexels
  1. 1

    Jag hörde att du har blivit svensk medborgare!

    I heard you've become a Swedish citizen!

    Tip: No article before the noun when saying what someone is.

  2. 2

    Kommunen har bjudit in mig till en ceremoni.

    The municipality has invited me to a ceremony.

    Tip: Literally 'has invited in me to'.

  3. 3

    Var hålls den?

    Where is it held?

    Tip: The -s ending makes the verb passive: is held.

  4. 4

    Får man ta med sig någon?

    Can you bring someone along?

    Tip: Literally 'may one take with oneself someone?'

  5. 5

    Då följer jag med!

    Then I'll come along!

    Tip: Literally 'then follow I with': verb second after 'then'.

  6. 6

    Ska man klä upp sig?

    Are you supposed to dress up?

    Tip: Literally 'shall one dress up oneself?'

  7. 7

    Jag tar på mig något fint i alla fall.

    I'll put on something nice anyway.

    Tip: Literally 'I take on me something fine in all cases'.

  8. 8

    Välkomna allihop!

    Welcome, everyone!

    Tip: Plural greeting; the second word means 'all of you'.

  9. 9

    Grattis till ert nya medborgarskap!

    Congratulations on your new citizenship!

    Tip: Congrats + 'to' + the thing. Plural 'your' for the whole group.

  10. 10

    Var ska vi sitta?

    Where should we sit?

    Tip: Location, not direction: no movement implied.

  11. 11

    Nya medborgare sitter längst fram.

    New citizens sit at the front.

    Tip: Literally 'longest forward': right at the front.

  12. 12

    Jag är faktiskt lite nervös.

    I'm actually a bit nervous.

    Tip: The middle word softens and adds 'actually'.

  13. 13

    Det behöver du inte vara.

    You don't need to be.

    Tip: Literally 'that need you not be': object first.

  14. 14

    Nu ska vi sjunga nationalsången tillsammans.

    Now we'll sing the national anthem together.

    Tip: Verb second after 'now'.

  15. 15

    Jag har övat på texten hela veckan!

    I've practised the words all week!

    Tip: Practise + 'on' + the thing.

  16. 16

    Du var jätteduktig!

    You did really well!

    Tip: Literally 'you were giant-skilled'. Common praise.

  17. 17

    Ska vi ta en fika och fira?

    Shall we have a coffee and celebrate?

    Tip: 'Have a coffee break' uses the verb 'take'.

  18. 18

    Varför är det just den sjätte juni?

    Why the sixth of June, exactly?

    Tip: The small word before the date means 'exactly, precisely'.

  19. 19

    Gustav Vasa valdes till kung den dagen.

    Gustav Vasa was elected king on that day.

    Tip: In 1523. 'Elected to king': no article.

  20. 20

    De flesta firar mest för att det är en ledig dag.

    Most people celebrate mainly because it's a day off.

    Tip: Literally 'the most celebrate mostly because'.

  21. 21

    Har det alltid varit en röd dag?

    Has it always been a public holiday?

    Tip: Red in the calendar = a day off for most.

  22. 22

    Nej, bara sedan 2005.

    No, only since 2005.

    Tip: Before that it was a flag day but a normal working day.

  23. 23

    Flaggar du hemma?

    Do you fly the flag at home?

    Tip: The noun 'flag' works as a verb too.

  24. 24

    Vi hissar flaggan på morgonen och tar ner den på kvällen.

    We raise the flag in the morning and take it down in the evening.

    Tip: Literally 'hoist' and 'take down'.

  25. 25

    Nationaldagen är inte lika stor som midsommar.

    The national day isn't as big as Midsummer.

    Tip: Not as ... as = not equally ... as.

  26. 26

    Det märks.

    You can tell.

    Tip: Literally 'it is noticed'.

  27. 27

    Det blir lite större för varje år.

    It's getting a bit bigger every year.

    Tip: Word for word: 'it becomes a bit bigger for each year'.

  28. 28

    Har du sett firandet på Skansen?

    Have you seen the celebration at Skansen?

    Tip: The famous open-air museum in Stockholm hosts the main event.

  29. 29

    Kungafamiljen brukar vara där.

    The royal family is usually there.

    Tip: Usually + infinitive.

  30. 30

    Jag skulle vilja gå dit någon gång.

    I'd like to go there some time.

    Tip: Would like = should want. 'To there' with movement.

  31. 31

    Glad nationaldag!

    Happy National Day!

    Tip: The same adjective as in birthday wishes.

  32. 32

    Tack, detsamma!

    Thanks, you too!

    Tip: Literally 'thanks, the same'. The standard reply to any wish.