In our Swedish courses, students often tell us that they want to be able to make small talk in Swedish. It is a natural way to get to know colleagues and acquaintances better. Even though the actual subject matter is often simple, small talk can be challenging. You not only need to find the right words. You also need to know how to start a conversation, react to what the other person says, change the subject and end the conversation naturally.
In this article, we go through five common conjunctions and several short reaction words that make it easier to keep an everyday conversation going.
Keep the conversation going with five common conjunctions
Conjunctions connect words and clauses. They are particularly useful in small talk because they help you develop your answers.
If you only say:
– Jag var hemma i helgen.
I stayed at home this weekend.
the conversation can easily come to an end. By adding a conjunction, you can continue:
– Jag var hemma i helgen, för jag var ganska trött.
I stayed at home this weekend because I was quite tired.
The other person now has more information to react to.
| Conjunction | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| och | adds information | Jag jobbade i lördags och träffade några vänner på söndagen. I worked on Saturday and met some friends on Sunday. |
| men | shows a contrast | Det var kallt, men solen sken. It was cold, but the sun was shining. |
| för | explains why | Jag tog bussen, för det regnade. I took the bus because it was raining. |
| så | shows a result | Det regnade, så jag tog bussen. It was raining, so I took the bus. |
| eller | presents alternatives | Ska du vara hemma eller gå ut i kväll? Are you staying at home or going out tonight? |
Pay particular attention to the difference between för and så:
– Jag tog bussen, för det regnade.
I took the bus because it was raining.
The reason comes after för.
– Det regnade, så jag tog bussen.
It was raining, so I took the bus.
The result comes after så.
After the conjunction, we normally begin the next main clause with the subject:
– Jag var trött, men jag gick till jobbet ändå.
I was tired, but I went to work anyway.
– Det var fint väder, så vi åt lunch utomhus.
The weather was nice, so we ate lunch outside.
Use short reaction words
In natural conversations, we do not always reply with complete sentences. Short words can show that we are listening, understanding or reacting emotionally.
Jaha
Jaha often shows that you have understood or acknowledged that something is the case:
– Jag ska börja på ett nytt jobb nästa vecka.
I’m starting a new job next week.
– Jaha! Vad spännande!
Oh! How exciting!
Depending on the intonation, jaha can express interest, surprise, disappointment or irritation.
Nähä
Nähä, on the other hand, is used when something is not the case or turns out not to be the case.
– Jag kommer tyvärr inte på vår after work imorgon.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it to our after-work event tomorrow.
– Nähä, vad synd.
Oh, that’s a shame.
The word can also be used when it is time to end a break or begin something new:
– Nähä, om vi skulle börja jobba igen?
Well, shall we get back to work?
Jo
Jo is primarily used when you give a positive answer to a negative question or objection:
– Tycker du inte om kaffe?
Don’t you like coffee?
– Jo, det gör jag.
Yes, I do.
In everyday conversations, jo can also introduce a cautious or reflective answer:
– Hur är det på det nya jobbet?
How is the new job?
– Jo, det är bra, men det är mycket att lära sig.
Well, it’s good, but there is a lot to learn.
Oj
Oj shows that you are reacting to something unexpected:
– Jag jobbade till klockan elva i går kväll.
I worked until eleven o’clock last night.
– Oj! Då måste du vara trött.
Wow! You must be tired.
Oj can express both positive and negative surprise:
– Jag fick jobbet!
I got the job!
– Oj, grattis!
Wow, congratulations!
If you would like to hear how intonation changes the meaning, you can read and listen to Jaha, nähä and joho – sound more like a Swede.
Common conversational moves in Swedish small talk
A conversation consists of different turns. Here are some common phrases that help you move from the beginning to the end.
Start a conversation
A simple du can be used to get the other person’s attention:
– Du, hur gick mötet?
Hey, how did the meeting go?
– Du, har du några planer för helgen?
Hey, do you have any plans for the weekend?
Here, du is not just a pronoun. It also works as a signal: “I want to say or ask you something.”
Introduce a topic
You can introduce a new topic with questions such as:
– Har du hört att de ska öppna en ny restaurang här?
Have you heard that they are going to open a new restaurant here?
– Har du sett den nya serien?
Have you seen the new series?
– Har du läst artikeln om bostadspriserna?
Have you read the article about house prices?
– Vad tyckte du om matchen?
What did you think of the match?
– Jag måste bara berätta en sak!
I just have to tell you something!
When speaking to several people, use ni:
– Har ni hört vad som hände?
Have you heard what happened?
Change the subject
Two very useful expressions are:
– Förresten …
By the way …
– Apropå det …
Speaking of that …
Apropå det shows that the new topic is connected to what you were already talking about:
– Jag ska träffa Anna i helgen.
I’m meeting Anna this weekend.
– Apropå det, hur går det på hennes nya jobb?
Speaking of that, how is her new job going?
If the connection is weak or does not exist at all, you can jokingly say:
– Apropå ingenting …
Speaking of nothing in particular …
When the conversation goes quiet
Silence is not always a problem. You can show that you are still listening with words and phrases such as:
– Mmm …
Mm-hm …
– Jodå …
Yes, sure … / Well, yes …
– Precis.
Exactly.
– Ja, så är det.
Yes, that’s how it is.
You can also ask a simple follow-up question:
– Hur menar du?
What do you mean?
– Vad hände sedan?
What happened next?
– Hur kändes det?
How did it feel?
End a coffee break
In Swedish, you do not always need to say exactly what you mean. If everyone knows that the coffee break is almost over, it may be enough to say:
– Ska vi?
Shall we?
– Då var det dags.
Well, it’s time.
– Är det dags att jobba igen?
Is it time to get back to work?
– Ska vi gå tillbaka?
Shall we go back?
An ending jaha or nähä is also common:
– Jaha, ska vi ta och fortsätta då?
Well, shall we carry on then?
– Nähä, det är väl dags att gå tillbaka.
Well, I suppose it’s time to go back.
With this in mind, let’s look at a typical example of Swedish small talk.
Dialogue: small talk during a coffee break
Sara: Du, caféet på hörnet ska stänga.
Hey, the café on the corner is going to close.
Omar: Jaha, vad trist.
Oh, that’s a shame.
Sara: Jag gillar det, för det är lugnt och kaffet är gott.
I like it because it is quiet and the coffee is good.
Omar: Jo, det är trevligt, men det är ganska dyrt.
Yes, it is nice, but it is quite expensive.
Sara: Sant. De ska öppna ett bageri där, så vi får prova det i stället.
True. They are going to open a bakery there, so we will have to try that instead.
Omar: Oj! Vet du när det öppnar?
Oh! Do you know when it opens?
Sara: Nästa månad, tror jag. Ska vi gå dit på lunchen eller efter jobbet?
Next month, I think. Shall we go there at lunchtime or after work?
Omar: På lunchen kanske. Förresten, hur gick ditt möte i morse?
Maybe at lunchtime. By the way, how did your meeting go this morning?
Sara: Bra, faktiskt.
Good, actually.
Omar: Jaha, vad skönt.
Oh, that’s a relief.
There is a brief silence.
Sara: Mmm … Ska vi?
Mm … Shall we?
Omar: Ja, då var det dags att gå tillbaka.
Yes, it’s time to go back.
How to get better at making small talk in Swedish
You do not need to learn all the expressions at once. Start with a simple structure:
- Ask a question.
- React with a short word.
- Add information using a conjunction.
- Ask a follow-up question.
A short conversation could look like this:
– Vad gjorde du i helgen?
What did you do this weekend?
– Jag var hemma, för jag var trött.
I stayed at home because I was tired.
– Jaha. Såg du någon bra film?
Oh. Did you watch any good films?
– Ja, jag såg en svensk film, men jag förstod inte allt.
Yes, I watched a Swedish film, but I did not understand everything.
The most important thing is not to make every sentence perfect. The goal is to show interest and give the other person something to respond to.
Practise Swedish in real conversations
Would you like to feel more confident when speaking Swedish at work, during coffee breaks or in other everyday situations?
In our individual Swedish lessons online and in Stockholm, we practise using Swedish in real conversations. The lessons are adapted to your level, your goals and the situations in which you need Swedish.
Individual Swedish lessons cost SEK 595 per hour.