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A1Swedish·29 cards

Sorry, I don't understand: rescue lines

Ask people to slow down, repeat, explain and spell, at the pharmacy, at a noisy party and on the phone.

Swedes often switch to English the moment you hesitate. These lines let you stay in Swedish: ask for a repeat, check a word, and tell people you're learning. Tom is six months into Swedish and determined to use it.

Two women talking in a bright, modern living room, sharing thoughts and gestures.
Photo: RDNE Stock project on Pexels
  1. 1

    Förlåt, jag förstår inte.

    Sorry, I don't understand.

    Tip: 'Not' goes after the verb.

  2. 2

    Förstår du svenska?

    Do you understand Swedish?

    Tip: A question just swaps verb and subject.

  3. 3

    Jag kan inte så mycket svenska än.

    I don't know much Swedish yet.

    Tip: lit. 'I can not so much Swedish yet' — for languages, use the verb 'can'.

  4. 4

    Vill du att vi pratar engelska?

    Do you want us to speak English?

    Tip: You'll hear this offer a lot.

  5. 5

    Vi kan ta det på svenska.

    We can do it in Swedish.

    Tip: lit. 'We can take it in Swedish.'

  6. 6

    Kan du prata lite långsammare?

    Could you speak a bit slower?

    Tip: Comparative with -are.

  7. 7

    Vad betyder det?

    What does that mean?

    Tip: Use this verb for what a word means.

  8. 8

    Menar du ett pass?

    Do you mean a passport?

    Tip: This verb is about what a person means.

  9. 9

    Precis!

    Exactly!

    Tip: The happiest word for a learner to hear.

  10. 10

    Nu förstår jag!

    Now I get it!

    Tip: Starts with 'now', so the verb comes before 'I'.

  11. 11

    Tack för tålamodet!

    Thanks for your patience!

    Tip: lit. 'Thanks for the patience' — Swedish uses 'the' where English says 'your'.

  12. 12

    Förlåt, vad sa du?

    Sorry, what did you say?

    Tip: Short past tense of 'say'.

  13. 13

    Jag hör inte vad du säger.

    I can't hear what you're saying.

    Tip: Swedish says 'I don't hear', not 'I can't hear'.

  14. 14

    Kan du säga det igen?

    Can you say that again?

    Tip: The everyday way to ask for a repeat.

  15. 15

    Du pratar jättebra svenska!

    Your Swedish is really good!

    Tip: lit. 'You speak giant-good Swedish!' — a compliment you'll hear.

  16. 16

    Jag håller på att lära mig svenska.

    I'm learning Swedish.

    Tip: lit. 'I hold on to learn myself Swedish' — for something in progress.

  17. 17

    Jag förstår mer än jag kan säga.

    I understand more than I can say.

    Tip: True for almost every learner.

  18. 18

    Vad menar du?

    What do you mean?

    Tip: About what a person means, not a word.

  19. 19

    Är det bra eller dåligt?

    Is that good or bad?

    Tip: Bad takes -t after det.

  20. 20

    Säg till om jag pratar för fort.

    Tell me if I talk too fast.

    Tip: lit. 'Say to if…' — a friendly offer worth understanding.

  21. 21

    Det var ett svårt ord!

    That was a hard word!

    Tip: Past tense for an immediate reaction.

  22. 22

    Vänta lite, jag slår upp det.

    Hang on, I'll look it up.

    Tip: lit. 'I hit it up' — looking up a word.

  23. 23

    Vad heter det på svenska?

    What's it called in Swedish?

    Tip: lit. 'What is it called in Swedish?'

  24. 24

    Sa jag rätt?

    Did I say it right?

    Tip: lit. 'Said I right?'

  25. 25

    Rätta mig gärna om jag säger fel.

    Feel free to correct me if I get something wrong.

    Tip: The middle word adds 'please, gladly'.

  26. 26

    Jag hängde inte med.

    I didn't catch that.

    Tip: lit. 'I didn't hang along' — couldn't keep up.

  27. 27

    Kan du stava det?

    Can you spell it?

    Tip: Handy for every street name.

  28. 28

    En gång till, tack.

    One more time, please.

    Tip: lit. 'One time more, thanks.'

  29. 29

    Kan du skicka adressen i ett sms?

    Can you send me the address in a text?

    Tip: Safest for addresses and door codes.