Greetings
1. Greetings
'Hej' is the most common greeting, which always works. At more formal occasions, and especially when you meet someone you don’t know so well, you usually also greet them by shaking hands.
– Hej! (Hello!)
Greetings and responses
MOST COMMON
– Hej! (Hello!)
– Hej!
FRIENDLY
– Hej, hej! (Hello!/Hi!)
– Hej, hej!
INFORMAL
– Hejsan! (Hello!/Hi!)
– Hejsan!
QUITE INFORMAL
– Hallå! (Hello!)
– Hallå!
VERY INFORMAL
– Tjenare! (Hi!)
– Tjenare!
VERY INFORMAL
– Tjena! (Hi!)
– Tjena!
VERY INFORMAL
– Tja! (Hi!)
– Tja!
IN THE MORNING
– God morgon! (Good morning!)
– God morgon!
After the greeting
If you are asked 'Hur är det?' (How are you?) and answer 'Inget vidare.' (Not so good.), you may have to explain why you are not feeling very well. If you want to signal that things are not so good, without having to explain why, you can answer ‘så där’ (so-so) instead. See more in the section Asking how someone is feeling.
MOST COMMON
– Hur är det? (How are you?)
– Bra, tack! (I'm well, thanks.)
or
– Tack bra! (I'm well, thanks./Fine, thanks.)
or
– Bara bra! (I'm well!)
or
– Det är fint! (Everything is fine.)
VERY INFORMAL
– Hur är läget? (What’s up?)
or
– Läget? (What’s up?)
– Jo, tack! Och du? (Good, thanks. And you?)
or
– Jo, tack! Själv? (Good, thanks. And you?)
FRIENDLY
– Är det bra med dig? (Is everything fine?)
or
– Allt bra med dig? (How are things with you?)
– Det är okej! (Things are OK.)
FRIENDLY
– Allt väl? (All right?/How are things?)
– Det är lugnt! (It’s fine!/Things are good.)
or
– Så där! (So-so!)
or
– Inget vidare! (Not so good!)
Saying goodbye
MOST COMMON
– Hej då! (Goodbye!/Bye!)
– Hej då! Vi hörs! (Goodbye! We'll be in touch./Speak to you soon!)
or
– Hej då! Vi ses! (Goodbye! See you later!)
ON THE PHONE
– Vi hörs! (We'll be in touch./Speak to you soon.)
– Ja, det gör vi! (Yes, we will.)
FACE-TO-FACE
– Vi ses! (See you later.)
– Ja, det gör vi! (Yes, we will.)
AT BEDTIME
– God natt! Sov gott! (Good night! Sleep well!)
– God natt! (Good night!)
AFTER A FIRST MEETING OR REUNION
– Kul att ses! (Great to see you!)
– Detsamma! (The same to you too!/Likewise!)
GIVING REGARDS
– Hälsa Marie! (Say hello to Marie!)
or
– Hälsa din fru! (Say hello to your wife!)
– Ja, det ska jag göra. (Yes, I will.)
GIVING REGARDS
– Hälsa från mig! (Say hello from me.)
– Ja, det ska jag göra. (Yes, I will.)
SHOWING YOU CARE
– Sköt om dig! (Take care!)
or
– Ta hand om dig! (Take care!)
– Tack, du med! (Thanks, you too.)
or
– Tack, det ska jag göra! (Thanks, I will.)
Different greetings – three video clips
Subtitles in English:
– Hello!
– Hi there!
– How are you?
– Fine, thanks. And you?
– I’m fine, too, thanks.
Subtitles in English:
– Hi guys!
– Hi, how are you doing?
– Yeah, OK. What’s happening?
– Not much, really.
– OK, have fun, see you around!
– Yup, you too! ’Bye!
Subtitles in English:
– Hi, hello!
– Oh, hi!
– Everything OK?
– Yes, fine, thanks. And you?
– Not too good. The kids are ill.
– Oh, no, what a shame! Hope they get well soon.
– Thanks. See you soon!
– Hope so. Look after yourself!