Sproken
B1Swedish·30 cards

New in the building: talking to the neighbours

Moving into a Swedish apartment building — introducing yourself in the stairwell, learning how the tvättstuga works, borrowing a drill, and handling the note about your housewarming party.

Swedish neighbours are quiet until there is a reason to talk: a new face in the stairwell, the laundry-room rules, or a note about noise. This deck covers one week as the new tenant on the third floor, with the phrases that turn the older neighbour into an ally.

Picturesque street with white houses, black shutters, flowerpots, and traditional lamps.
Photo: Haberdoedas Photography on Pexels
  1. 1

    Hej, jag har precis flyttat in på tredje våningen.

    Hi, I just moved in on the third floor.

    Tip: 'flytta in' = move in; 'tredje våningen' = third floor.

  2. 2

    Välkommen till huset!

    Welcome to the building!

    Tip: huset = the house/building, also for apartment blocks.

  3. 3

    Vi bor i lägenheten mittemot.

    We live in the apartment opposite.

    Tip: mittemot = opposite / across the hall.

  4. 4

    Hur länge har du bott här?

    How long have you lived here?

    Tip: 'hur länge' + perfect for duration up to now.

  5. 5

    I över tjugo år.

    For over twenty years.

    Tip: 'i' + duration = for (a period).

  6. 6

    Om det är något, är det bara att knacka på.

    If there's anything, just knock.

    Tip: 'det är bara att' + infinitive = just (do it); 'knacka på' = knock.

  7. 7

    Hur funkar det med tvättstugan?

    How does the laundry room work?

    Tip: 'funka' = work (colloquial); tvättstuga = shared laundry room.

  8. 8

    Man bokar en tid på tavlan i källaren.

    You book a slot on the board in the basement.

    Tip: tavlan = the booking board; källaren = the basement.

  9. 9

    Glöm inte att städa efter dig.

    Don't forget to clean up after yourself.

    Tip: 'städa efter sig' = clean up after oneself. The rule of rules.

  10. 10

    Annars blir folk sura.

    Otherwise people get grumpy.

    Tip: 'sur' = sour/grumpy; plural 'sura' with folk.

  11. 11

    Får jag låna en borrmaskin?

    May I borrow a drill?

    Tip: 'låna' = borrow (and lend); borrmaskin = drill.

  12. 12

    Självklart, jag hämtar den.

    Of course, I'll get it.

    Tip: 'hämta' = fetch.

  13. 13

    Bara du lämnar tillbaka den.

    As long as you return it.

    Tip: 'bara du' = as long as you; 'lämna tillbaka' = return.

  14. 14

    Jag lämnar tillbaka den i morgon.

    I'll return it tomorrow.

    Tip: Present tense for a near-future promise.

  15. 15

    Jag såg att det satt en lapp i trapphuset.

    I saw there was a note in the stairwell.

    Tip: A note 'sits' on a wall: 'det satt en lapp'. trapphus = stairwell.

  16. 16

    Någon klagade på ljud i helgen.

    Someone complained about noise at the weekend.

    Tip: 'klaga på' = complain about; 'i helgen' = at the weekend.

  17. 17

    Oj, det var nog min inflyttningsfest.

    Oops, that was probably my housewarming party.

    Tip: inflyttningsfest = housewarming; 'nog' = probably.

  18. 18

    Det är lugnt, det händer alla.

    It's fine, it happens to everyone.

    Tip: 'det är lugnt' = it's cool/fine; 'hända någon' = happen to someone.

  19. 19

    Men det är tyst efter tio på vardagar.

    But it's quiet after ten on weekdays.

    Tip: vardag = weekday; the quiet-hours rule in most buildings.

  20. 20

    Jag ska tänka på det.

    I'll keep that in mind.

    Tip: 'tänka på' = think of / keep in mind.

  21. 21

    Ska jag sätta upp en lapp och be om ursäkt?

    Should I put up a note and apologize?

    Tip: 'sätta upp' = put up; 'be om ursäkt' = apologize.

  22. 22

    Det skulle uppskattas.

    That would be appreciated.

    Tip: 'uppskattas' = be appreciated (s-passive).

  23. 23

    Förresten, vi har gårdsfest i juni.

    By the way, we have a courtyard party in June.

    Tip: gårdsfest = party in the shared courtyard.

  24. 24

    Alla i huset brukar komma.

    Everyone in the building usually comes.

    Tip: 'brukar' = usually (does).

  25. 25

    Jag kommer gärna.

    I'd love to come.

    Tip: 'gärna' turns 'I come' into 'I'd love to'.

  26. 26

    Ta med något att grilla.

    Bring something to grill.

    Tip: 'ta med' = bring; 'att grilla' = to barbecue.

  27. 27

    Var ställer man återvinningen?

    Where do you put the recycling?

    Tip: 'ställa' for putting things standing; återvinning = recycling.

  28. 28

    I soprummet på gården.

    In the garbage room in the yard.

    Tip: soprum = waste room; gården = the courtyard.

  29. 29

    Tack, nu känner jag mig hemma.

    Thanks, now I feel at home.

    Tip: 'känna sig hemma' = feel at home (reflexive).

  30. 30

    Vi ses i trappen!

    See you on the stairs!

    Tip: trappen = the stairs; the neighbour's goodbye.