Sweden's National Day
Useful sentences about the history, the flag, the ceremonies and the practical side of 6 June.
Why 6 June, how Swedes fly the flag, what happens at a citizenship ceremony and whether the gym is open: these sentences cover the national day from history to everyday life.
- 1
Sveriges nationaldag är den sjätte juni.
Sweden's national day is on the sixth of June.
Tip: Dates: 'the' + ordinal + month, no preposition.
- 2
Dagen kallas också svenska flaggans dag.
The day is also called Swedish Flag Day.
Tip: The -s ending makes 'call' passive: is called.
- 3
År 1809 fick Sverige en ny grundlag samma dag.
In 1809, Sweden got a new constitution on the same date.
Tip: Verb second after the year phrase.
- 4
Nationalsången heter ”Du gamla, du fria”.
The national anthem is called 'Du gamla, du fria'.
Tip: Its title means 'You old, you free'.
- 5
Jag kunde inte texten till nationalsången.
I didn't know the words to the national anthem.
Tip: 'Could not' = didn't know by heart.
- 6
Det flaggas över hela landet.
The flag is flown all over the country.
Tip: An impersonal passive: literally 'it is bannered'.
- 7
Många flaggar vid sina sommarstugor.
Many people fly the flag at their summer houses.
Tip: Their own = reflexive possessive.
- 8
Man tar ner flaggan när solen går ner.
You take the flag down when the sun sets.
Tip: Literally 'when the sun goes down'.
- 9
Flaggan får inte nudda marken.
The flag must not touch the ground.
Tip: 'May not' = must not.
- 10
Andra dagar har många en vimpel i flaggstången.
On other days, many people have a pennant on the pole.
Tip: Verb second after the time phrase.
- 11
Kungafamiljen deltar i firandet på Skansen.
The royal family takes part in the celebration at Skansen.
Tip: Take part in = 'part-take in'.
- 12
Firandet sänds på tv.
The celebration is broadcast on TV.
Tip: Broadcast = 'is sent' (passive).
- 13
Många kommuner ordnar en ceremoni för nya medborgare.
Many municipalities organise a ceremony for new citizens.
Tip: Organise = 'put in order'.
- 14
De nya medborgarna välkomnas med tal och musik.
The new citizens are welcomed with speeches and music.
Tip: Passive with -s: are welcomed.
- 15
Man behöver inte ha på sig något speciellt.
You don't need to wear anything special.
Tip: Wear = 'have on oneself'.
- 16
Alla fick en liten present av kommunen.
Everyone got a small gift from the municipality.
Tip: A gift 'of' someone, not 'from'.
- 17
Jag blev svensk medborgare förra året.
I became a Swedish citizen last year.
Tip: No article when saying what someone becomes.
- 18
Ceremonin fick mig att känna mig välkommen.
The ceremony made me feel welcome.
Tip: Make someone do = 'get someone to'.
- 19
Jag är stolt över att vara en del av det här landet.
I'm proud to be part of this country.
Tip: Proud 'over' something.
- 20
Vissa har på sig Sverigedräkten.
Some people wear the blue-and-yellow national costume.
Tip: A national costume designed in the early 1900s.
- 21
Barnen viftar med små pappersflaggor.
Kids wave small paper flags.
Tip: Wave 'with' something.
- 22
Vi grillar med grannarna.
We're having a barbecue with the neighbours.
Tip: Barbecue is a verb in Swedish.
- 23
Vi firade med tårta och kaffe.
We celebrated with cake and coffee.
Tip: A layer cake, the classic celebration cake.
- 24
Det är firande i parken med musik hela eftermiddagen.
There's a celebration in the park with music all afternoon.
Tip: No article in 'there is celebration'.
- 25
Många affärer har öppet, men de flesta är lediga.
Many shops are open, but most people are off work.
Tip: Shops 'have open' rather than 'are open'.
- 26
Har gymmet öppet på nationaldagen?
Is the gym open on the national day?
Tip: On + holiday uses the same preposition as 'on' a surface.
- 27
Bussarna går som på en söndag.
The buses run like on a Sunday.
Tip: Buses 'go' rather than 'run'.
- 28
Om dagen infaller på en lördag får de flesta ingen extra ledig dag.
If the day falls on a Saturday, most people don't get an extra day off.
Tip: Fall on = 'in-fall on'. Verb comes right after the if-clause.
- 29
Nationaldagen firas inte lika mycket i Sverige som i många andra länder.
The national day isn't celebrated as much in Sweden as in many other countries.
Tip: Not as much ... as = not equally much ... as.
- 30
Dagen är ett bra tillfälle att lära sig om Sveriges historia.
The day is a good chance to learn about Swedish history.
Tip: Chance = occasion here.