Using an interpreter: the key words
The words for booking and working with an interpreter in Sweden, from phone interpreter to confidentiality.
In Swedish healthcare and with public authorities you can ask for an interpreter. These are the words you need to ask for one, describe what kind you want, and understand how they work.
- 1
en tolk
an interpreter
Tip: Someone who turns speech from one language into another, live.
- 2
att tolka
to interpret
Tip: Also means to interpret a text or a dream, just like in English.
- 3
en översättare
a translator
Tip: Works with written text, not live speech.
- 4
att översätta
to translate
Tip: For documents and texts.
- 5
en översättning
a translation
Tip: The written result.
- 6
en telefontolk
a phone interpreter
Tip: The most common kind in healthcare; joins the meeting on speakerphone.
- 7
en platstolk
an on-site interpreter
Tip: Physically in the room with you. The first part means 'place'.
- 8
en videotolk
a video interpreter
Tip: Joins on a screen.
- 9
en teckenspråkstolk
a sign language interpreter
Tip: Compound: sign language + interpreter. The gender comes from the last part.
- 10
en auktoriserad tolk
an authorised interpreter
Tip: Authorised by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet) after a test.
- 11
en tolkförmedling
an interpreting agency
Tip: The company that sends interpreters to clinics and authorities.
- 12
ett modersmål
a native language
Tip: Literally 'mother tongue'. Ett-word.
- 13
en dialekt
a regional variety of a language
Tip: Worth mentioning when you book: Arabic, Kurdish or Persian speakers may need a specific one.
- 14
ett tolkbehov
a need for an interpreter
Tip: The word on forms and booking systems. Ett-word because the last part is.
- 15
att boka tolk
to book an interpreter
Tip: No article in Swedish: 'book interpreter'.
- 16
en kallelse
an appointment letter
Tip: Literally 'a calling'. The letter telling you when to come; it often asks if you need an interpreter.
- 17
rätt till tolk
the right to an interpreter
Tip: No articles in the Swedish phrase.
- 18
en myndighet
a public authority
Tip: Any government agency: Skatteverket, Migrationsverket, the police.
- 19
en handläggare
a caseworker
Tip: The official handling your case at an authority.
- 20
en vårdcentral
a health centre
Tip: Your local GP clinic in Sweden.
- 21
ett läkarbesök
a doctor's appointment
Tip: Compound of 'doctor' + 'visit'. Ett-word because 'besök' is.
- 22
en anhörig
a relative, a family member
Tip: Next of kin. Family members shouldn't have to interpret for you.
- 23
att ha tystnadsplikt
to be bound by confidentiality
Tip: Literally 'to have silence duty'. Interpreters have it by law.
- 24
opartisk
impartial
Tip: Not taking either side. The prefix means 'un-'.
- 25
ett missförstånd
a misunderstanding
Tip: Ett-word.
- 26
att upprepa
to repeat
Tip: Literally 'up-repeat'.
- 27
att förklara
to explain
Tip: Literally 'make clear'.
- 28
långsamt
slowly
Tip: Adverb with -t; the comparative is used to ask for 'more slowly'.
- 29
en mening
a sentence
Tip: Also means 'a meaning' or 'an opinion'.
- 30
att avbryta
to interrupt
Tip: Literally 'off-break'. Interpreters may do it to ask for a pause.