I did promise, to give you some explanations to the expressions I posted last week. Here they are:
In intermediate lesson 6 the students were given some more sayings, this time about bodyparts: Like this one:
- Smaken är som baken: delad.
Saturday 17 November 2012
Comments to the weather sayings
Jag lovade ju...
I did promise, to give you some explanations to the expressions I posted last week. Here they are:
Det som göms i snö kommer fram i tö.
You can not hide anything for good. It'll come out eventually - like when the snow is melting (=tö) What's hidden in the snow comes out in the thaw.
Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder.
No bad weather, just bad clothes. This probably doesn't need much of an explanation.
Efter regn kommer solsken.
After rain comes sunshine. There is the same saying in English, or am I wrong?
Kläder efter väder
Clothes suitable for weather. A saying usually seen on letters from school before a school trip.
Spotta inte i motvind.
If things are against you, don't act badly. It'll only get back to you. Don't spit against the wind.
Solen lyser även på liten stuga.
Even people who don't have much in the material world, can have happiness and good times.
Även solen har sina fläckar.
Even the most popoluar and good people has their bad sides. The sun also has it's stains.
In intermediate lesson 6 the students were given some more sayings, this time about bodyparts: Like this one:
I did promise, to give you some explanations to the expressions I posted last week. Here they are:
In intermediate lesson 6 the students were given some more sayings, this time about bodyparts: Like this one:
Thursday 8 November 2012
Swedes love talking about the weather!
And that's why the Intermediate lesson today, lesson number 5, is about the weather. We practice phrases, words, pronunciation and everything we need to know about this popular topic. Yes, we even learn how to complain about the weather:
Fy, ett sånt väder! (Not correctly spelled, but that's how we say it.)
We can see that weather is important to us Swedes by looking at popular sayings, some of them very often used:
Fy, ett sånt väder! (Not correctly spelled, but that's how we say it.)
We can see that weather is important to us Swedes by looking at popular sayings, some of them very often used:
- Det som göms i snö kommer fram i tö.
- Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder.
- Efter regn kommer solsken.
- Kläder efter väder
- Spotta inte i motvind.
- Solen lyser även på liten stuga.
- Även solen har sina fläckar.
Your assignment: Understand these sayings, not only word by word, but also the meaning behind it. A translation and interpreting help will come on this blog next week!
Wednesday 24 October 2012
May I ask the Swedish teacher a question?
Of course! Teachers love questions! That is usually a very good sign of a thinking student.
We have maybe all been there: we have a question (or many) but we don't ask it because we are not comfortable in the classroom, we are worried the question is stupid or we simply don't want to be annoying. So here are some questions (including answers) that students have asked lately. Who knows, maybe you are sitting on the same! Could be worth scrolling through...
Do you conjugate Swedish verbs after person?
No. Unlike English, the Swedish verbs have the same form no matter the person: I am, you are, he is = Jag är, du är, han är.
Easy!
The conjugation group 3 of the Swedish verbs (the ones ending with a long vowel in imperative form (bo, må, sy...), do they always get double "d" in the form of the past tense?
Yes. Bo - bodde, må - mådde, sy - sydde
What is the Swedish word for the violin? I found 'fiol' and 'viol' written in the same book.
You can say both fiol (the most common) and violin (more formal and traditional) but never viol.
The word 'från' is pronounced as 'fran' rather than 'fron' Why is this? The letter å requires the lip rounding, doesn't it?
I'm not sure where you have heard this, but the word från is usually pronounced fron, although as a preposition not emphasized, so very unclear and fast. I wouldn't say that it's pronounced "fran" though.
What is the difference between åker and går?
We tend to use går = walk, what we do with our legs, and åker = go in some kind of transportation. The verb går can also be used in phrases where the way we are transported is less important: gå på bio, gå på restaurang, gå på teater...
Why is the last name Svensson (s sound) pronounced differently than Persson (sh sound)?
R + s (as in Persson) always gets an sh-sound.
If I say 'Jag är inte gift och jag har inte barn' Do I have to say 'inte' twice?
Yes, you have to repeat the sentence adverb (satsadverbial = inte).
Is this correct? 'Har du barn? Jag är gift men jag har inte barn'
Ja. You can, if you want, leave out the second subject (jag).
What is the difference if I say 'Pratar/talar du svenska?'
Not a big difference. Talar is a bit more formal.
I did not understand the difference between these two sentences from one of the videos:
Hur åker vi till Stockholm? / Hur ska vi åka till Stockholm?
Talking in future, we can use both present tense and with ska + infinitiv-verb. We use present tense especially when it is given that we talk in future, for example together with an adverb describing time: imorgon. To answer your question: there doesn't have to be a difference in meaning between these two sentences, although the first example could be for right now (in this very example not so common).
Feel free to ask more questions! You can do it through the comments here on the blog, on the facebook page on Twitter or by email. Swedish2go wants to help with your Swedish!
We have maybe all been there: we have a question (or many) but we don't ask it because we are not comfortable in the classroom, we are worried the question is stupid or we simply don't want to be annoying. So here are some questions (including answers) that students have asked lately. Who knows, maybe you are sitting on the same! Could be worth scrolling through...
Do you conjugate Swedish verbs after person?
No. Unlike English, the Swedish verbs have the same form no matter the person: I am, you are, he is = Jag är, du är, han är.
Easy!
The conjugation group 3 of the Swedish verbs (the ones ending with a long vowel in imperative form (bo, må, sy...), do they always get double "d" in the form of the past tense?
Yes. Bo - bodde, må - mådde, sy - sydde
What is the Swedish word for the violin? I found 'fiol' and 'viol' written in the same book.
You can say both fiol (the most common) and violin (more formal and traditional) but never
The word 'från' is pronounced as 'fran' rather than 'fron' Why is this? The letter å requires the lip rounding, doesn't it?
I'm not sure where you have heard this, but the word från is usually pronounced fron, although as a preposition not emphasized, so very unclear and fast. I wouldn't say that it's pronounced "fran" though.
What is the difference between åker and går?
We tend to use går = walk, what we do with our legs, and åker = go in some kind of transportation. The verb går can also be used in phrases where the way we are transported is less important: gå på bio, gå på restaurang, gå på teater...
Why is the last name Svensson (s sound) pronounced differently than Persson (sh sound)?
R + s (as in Persson) always gets an sh-sound.
If I say 'Jag är inte gift och jag har inte barn' Do I have to say 'inte' twice?
Yes, you have to repeat the sentence adverb (satsadverbial = inte).
Is this correct? 'Har du barn? Jag är gift men jag har inte barn'
Ja. You can, if you want, leave out the second subject (jag).
What is the difference if I say 'Pratar/talar du svenska?'
Not a big difference. Talar is a bit more formal.
I did not understand the difference between these two sentences from one of the videos:
Hur åker vi till Stockholm? / Hur ska vi åka till Stockholm?
Talking in future, we can use both present tense and with ska + infinitiv-verb. We use present tense especially when it is given that we talk in future, for example together with an adverb describing time: imorgon. To answer your question: there doesn't have to be a difference in meaning between these two sentences, although the first example could be for right now (in this very example not so common).
Feel free to ask more questions! You can do it through the comments here on the blog, on the facebook page on Twitter or by email. Swedish2go wants to help with your Swedish!
Simple Swedish! Yeah right...
Finally I'm blogging again, and finally about this (I said to myself and some others a week ago that I would put it up on this blog, but haven't gotten around to it until now):
Sense of humour is very cultural and individual. See if you have the Åsa-culture-sense of humour by watching this video about the Simple Swedish language (excuse the bad language once in a while):
Sense of humour is very cultural and individual. See if you have the Åsa-culture-sense of humour by watching this video about the Simple Swedish language (excuse the bad language once in a while):
Thursday 11 October 2012
Phu!
So has the new web page finally gone live. After long long nights, (oops I guess it's after midnight again!) the new, more functional web page is going.
The difference? It is hopefully easier to find your way around in, and easier to figure out how to do with what.
But if something is missing: please let me know. I have not thought of everything yet, and there are still things on the list of things to put up.
A web page is never done. So some feedback and input is always apreciated.
Tack och godnatt!
The difference? It is hopefully easier to find your way around in, and easier to figure out how to do with what.
But if something is missing: please let me know. I have not thought of everything yet, and there are still things on the list of things to put up.
A web page is never done. So some feedback and input is always apreciated.
Tack och godnatt!
Monday 1 October 2012
A new option to learn Swedish
Swedish2go is adding on. The add-on is for all of you who for some reason can't make the fixed time for the hourly live Swedish lessons currently offered weekly. Starting October 15th, you have the option to take part of the beginner - or the intermediate lessons whenever you want.
How?
Through a subscription, you can get access to the recorded 1 hour lessons. With one new lesson per week to view, you can follow a Swedish language course that easily fits your schedule regardless of the time and place. The only difference is that it isn't live, so the possibility to ask questions right there and then won't be available. However, you will still have the possibility to ask the teacher questions through facebook or email and you'll get a response as soon as possible.
In addition to the recorded hourly lessons you will get access to the related tutorial grammar videos from Swedish2go and also a guide to free online self study material for you to practice what the teacher has gone through.
For 8 weeks you will be fed with one new lesson per week. However you will keep having access to your recorded lessons for another 4 weeks after that.
For more information take a look through our website at: www.swedish2go.com
How?
Through a subscription, you can get access to the recorded 1 hour lessons. With one new lesson per week to view, you can follow a Swedish language course that easily fits your schedule regardless of the time and place. The only difference is that it isn't live, so the possibility to ask questions right there and then won't be available. However, you will still have the possibility to ask the teacher questions through facebook or email and you'll get a response as soon as possible.
In addition to the recorded hourly lessons you will get access to the related tutorial grammar videos from Swedish2go and also a guide to free online self study material for you to practice what the teacher has gone through.
For 8 weeks you will be fed with one new lesson per week. However you will keep having access to your recorded lessons for another 4 weeks after that.
For more information take a look through our website at: www.swedish2go.com
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Svensk mat utomlands
Swedish food abroad
... more correctly: this text is more about the Swedish food that we don't find abroad - not in Canada anyway, where I presently spend some time. All cultures and countries have their different items, goodies, treats etc. Canada has a lot of them, that I miss when back in Sweden, but Canada is also missing out on a lot.
This one, for example:
Photo: Åsa Bouck
Kalles kaviar!
The picture is taken in Canada. I had my husband export it in the suitcase together with a block of ice from Sweden to Canada. Because the list of things I miss to eat over here is a lot longer now since Ikea took away all the genuine Swedish imports in their food section and replaced everything with Ikea brand! The charm is gone. Ikea probably makes tons of money on the change, but I am disappointed.
What else can't be found here... Filmjölk! Leverpastej! Saltlaktris! Mjukost på tub! (Yes, they laugh at us Swedes here in Canada, thinking that we put any food into a tube. Well they can laugh! They just don't realise how convenient and smart that is.)
And even though some things can be found abroad, the selection of certain items are different between countries. I know that my kids miss the "forever-long" isle of sugary breakfast cereals in the stores when we go back to Sweden, but their health-conscious mom misses the variety of healthy cereals, because that is a bit harder to find in North America. I also miss the selection of bread and the selection of cheese.
What's the point of this little text? I'm not sure. Maybe to prepare people going to Sweden that there's a lot of good stuff over there, but also that you will for sure miss things that you can't find. See the positive things in each country (and bring with you what you can't find). That's why I am going out for lunch, eating an amazing hamburger after having a restaurant breakfast with American pancakes, eggs and bacon!
(Living in Sweden, but from a different country? What eatable things do you miss? Are you a Swede living somewhere else? What do you miss? Please share with me.)
And don't forget to keep your eyes on the web site that shortly will have a new design: www.swedish2go.com
... more correctly: this text is more about the Swedish food that we don't find abroad - not in Canada anyway, where I presently spend some time. All cultures and countries have their different items, goodies, treats etc. Canada has a lot of them, that I miss when back in Sweden, but Canada is also missing out on a lot.
This one, for example:
Photo: Åsa Bouck
Kalles kaviar!
The picture is taken in Canada. I had my husband export it in the suitcase together with a block of ice from Sweden to Canada. Because the list of things I miss to eat over here is a lot longer now since Ikea took away all the genuine Swedish imports in their food section and replaced everything with Ikea brand! The charm is gone. Ikea probably makes tons of money on the change, but I am disappointed.
What else can't be found here... Filmjölk! Leverpastej! Saltlaktris! Mjukost på tub! (Yes, they laugh at us Swedes here in Canada, thinking that we put any food into a tube. Well they can laugh! They just don't realise how convenient and smart that is.)
And even though some things can be found abroad, the selection of certain items are different between countries. I know that my kids miss the "forever-long" isle of sugary breakfast cereals in the stores when we go back to Sweden, but their health-conscious mom misses the variety of healthy cereals, because that is a bit harder to find in North America. I also miss the selection of bread and the selection of cheese.
What's the point of this little text? I'm not sure. Maybe to prepare people going to Sweden that there's a lot of good stuff over there, but also that you will for sure miss things that you can't find. See the positive things in each country (and bring with you what you can't find). That's why I am going out for lunch, eating an amazing hamburger after having a restaurant breakfast with American pancakes, eggs and bacon!
(Living in Sweden, but from a different country? What eatable things do you miss? Are you a Swede living somewhere else? What do you miss? Please share with me.)
Photo: Magnus Skoglöf/imagebank.sweden.se Photo: Miriam Preis/imagebank.sweden.se
And don't forget to keep your eyes on the web site that shortly will have a new design: www.swedish2go.com
Monday 24 September 2012
Swedish sayings with the butt!
Svenska talesätt
Don't ask me why, but Swedes use several sayings including the butt, (häck, rumpa, ända, bak...)sometimes translated by Google translate with the ass (yes, I know I have advised you NOT to use google translate, but I find it amusing so I do it once in a while anyway, and maybe also with the purpose of showing why you shouldn't...)
Here's a few sayings for you to learn:
Jag har häcken full
Now, try this on Google translate! What we mean with this is that we have a ton to do, so we probably won't have time for anything else. This is commonly used among staff in Sweden (according to my North American hard working husband who thinks that the one thing Swedes are good at is FIKA!)Hur man än vänder sig har man rumpan bak
Now, this situation is never fun: meaning that no matter what you do, you are in trouble. Maybe this saying is popular in Sweden because the country is full of people scared of conflicts. And we all know, that we can not always make everyone happy.Smaken är som baken, delad
...just meaning that we all have a different taste in things and there's nothing we can do about it. Normally this can be used to avoid conflicts, when we feel the tension build up about our different opinions regarding for example a movie, a sports club, or even politics.Att ha eld i baken
= to be in a huge hurry, running around like crazy. Usually used as a contrast from being totally relaxed and maybe even lazy, to, for some reason, being totally stressed and focused.
... and eld i baken is what Swedish2go has right now. The web page is currently being renovated for your convenience and the first online group classes are being prepared. Hectic and fun! Sign up for a class and see what it is all about! (info@swedish2go.com). (Read about the courses on www.swedish2go.com)
Thursday 20 September 2012
Be careful with translations!
Dictionaries, and sometimes even Google translate, are important tools when learning a language, but don't forget your common sense! Your brain is a better tool than any dictionaries. Here's why:
We can say: "Slå upp ett glas vitt, är du snäll."
Well - that doesn't make much sense if you look in the dictionary: "Beat up a glass of white, are you kind."
???
The English language has some verbs with particles to it, giving the verb a completely new meaning. And the Swedish language does too. In fact, we've got tons of them! So "Slå upp" doesn't mean "Beat up" in this situation, it means "Pour". But in other situation it could mean "look up". Huh? Well, use your brain and figure out if it makes sense. Because we can't poor a telephone number, and we can't look up a glass of white wine.
So, please, when studying Swedish, or any language, don't take the dictionaries, or even less Google translate, too seriously. Use your brain!
Here are some more particle verbs that you can't translate word by word:
(Emphasis in our pronunciation is on the bold particle:)
Komma av sig (to suddenly forget what you were supposed to say)
Komma bort (could mean to get away, but also that something has disappeared)
Lägga av (to quit)
Lägga ner (to shut down, or quit something (like a project or business))
Känna till (to know of something)
Känna igen (No... not feel again! It means recognize)
You get to know more about "partikelverb" in the higher levels of the Swedish studies! Keep it up! (See! That's an English "partikelverb"!)
We can say: "Slå upp ett glas vitt, är du snäll."
Well - that doesn't make much sense if you look in the dictionary: "Beat up a glass of white, are you kind."
???
The English language has some verbs with particles to it, giving the verb a completely new meaning. And the Swedish language does too. In fact, we've got tons of them! So "Slå upp" doesn't mean "Beat up" in this situation, it means "Pour". But in other situation it could mean "look up". Huh? Well, use your brain and figure out if it makes sense. Because we can't poor a telephone number, and we can't look up a glass of white wine.
So, please, when studying Swedish, or any language, don't take the dictionaries, or even less Google translate, too seriously. Use your brain!
Here are some more particle verbs that you can't translate word by word:
(Emphasis in our pronunciation is on the bold particle:)
Komma av sig (to suddenly forget what you were supposed to say)
Komma bort (could mean to get away, but also that something has disappeared)
Lägga av (to quit)
Lägga ner (to shut down, or quit something (like a project or business))
Känna till (to know of something)
Känna igen (No... not feel again! It means recognize)
You get to know more about "partikelverb" in the higher levels of the Swedish studies! Keep it up! (See! That's an English "partikelverb"!)
Wednesday 19 September 2012
New course added!
Ok, I can't only have a class for total beginners. What are all the other people, who knows a little bit of Swedish, going to do? So on the same day as the beginner class starts, the intermediate lesson is following: October 11th at 21.00 in Sweden.
Yes, it may be late in the evening for those of you already living in Sweden, but for all parents of young children, it's probably perfect. And the very hard working ones has time to come home. In north America, it could be perfect to put your lunch box in the microwave and enjoy your lunch break while learning Swedish from your teacher in front of the computer. For you in Great Britain/Ireland, 20.00 is regular evening course time, so congratulations! I guess in Australia... do you like very early morning studies?
I guess, with a global virtual classroom, there is never a time that is good for everyone.
This intermediate course, which also has a duration of 8 weeks, 1 hour/week, is for those who has some basic knowledge of Swedish, but is missing quite a bit of words and grammar understanding. Here is an example of what the course covers:
Phrases while shopping, groceries, Swedish traditions and customs, describing the way, phrases while at the doctor, talking about the weather (last subject VERY important in Sweden!).
Of course this course also includes quite a bit of grammar (also explained in English) and pronunciation drills. And just like the beginner course, you will have a chance to ask questions in writing, test your understanding of the last lesson and practice more on your own before the following lesson. You will be guided to free online study material related to what the last lesson covered and you will also be provided with Swedish2go video tutorials containing the same grammar as the teacher has taught you.
Please look at the Swedish2go website for full course description!
When interested in trying the first lesson for free, please write an email to info@swedish2go.com and let me know! Don't forget to say which course you want to participate in. (You are of course welcome to join both!)
Yes, it may be late in the evening for those of you already living in Sweden, but for all parents of young children, it's probably perfect. And the very hard working ones has time to come home. In north America, it could be perfect to put your lunch box in the microwave and enjoy your lunch break while learning Swedish from your teacher in front of the computer. For you in Great Britain/Ireland, 20.00 is regular evening course time, so congratulations! I guess in Australia... do you like very early morning studies?
I guess, with a global virtual classroom, there is never a time that is good for everyone.
This intermediate course, which also has a duration of 8 weeks, 1 hour/week, is for those who has some basic knowledge of Swedish, but is missing quite a bit of words and grammar understanding. Here is an example of what the course covers:
Phrases while shopping, groceries, Swedish traditions and customs, describing the way, phrases while at the doctor, talking about the weather (last subject VERY important in Sweden!).
Of course this course also includes quite a bit of grammar (also explained in English) and pronunciation drills. And just like the beginner course, you will have a chance to ask questions in writing, test your understanding of the last lesson and practice more on your own before the following lesson. You will be guided to free online study material related to what the last lesson covered and you will also be provided with Swedish2go video tutorials containing the same grammar as the teacher has taught you.
Please look at the Swedish2go website for full course description!
When interested in trying the first lesson for free, please write an email to info@swedish2go.com and let me know! Don't forget to say which course you want to participate in. (You are of course welcome to join both!)
Tuesday 11 September 2012
The date is set for beginner Swedish class - distanskurs i svenska!
October 11 at 19.00 Swedish time!*
That is the date you can look forward to starting your Swedish language lessons. And you don't have to come to me. I will come to you - in the computer. The meeting will be all online. For one hour, you will hear me teaching you about grammar, words, phrases, pronunciation. You will also be able to ask questions in the chat function.
Between each class, which will be once a week for 8 weeks with last class ending November 29, you will be directed to specific work material online - free material for those who wish, payed online textbooks for those who want something more thorough. This material will help you increase your reading and listening comprehension. Along with that you will also get access to related tutorial grammar and/or pronunciation videos from Swedish2go.
The first lesson is free of charge - you don't have to commit to anything. However, you do have to register to get access to the online meeting. If you decide to continue, all you have to do is pay the 399 Swedish kronor (approximately US$ 65) and you will have access to all the following classes in the course, including extra material.
This is a beginner course in Swedish, Nybörjarkurs i svenska på distans, and the special thing about it is that you will get a lot of Swedish grammar explanations in English, to help the understanding of the rules. Grammar is hard enough, so we don't have to do it ALL i Swedish!
After this course, you should have a basic understanding of the most important Swedish rules of grammar and pronunciation. You will also know how to talk about basic topics, such as time, family, introduction and hobby.
Below is a description of the course content:
Svenska online, nybörjarkurs (Swedish beginner course)
Lesson 1, October 11th 2012 @ 19.00 - 20.00 Swedish time:- Phrases to (greet)
- Presentation phrases
- Grammar:
- Verb: present tense
- Questions/answers (question words/yes/no-questions)
- Pronouns, subjective form
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Presentation cont.
- Week days and ways of saying time
- Phrases to greet (cont.)
- The Swedish vowels (short/long)
- Grammar:
- Prepositions in presentation phrases
- Conjunctions
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Telling time, the clock
- Grammar:
- Verb: present tense + imperative
- Word order
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Phrases to be nice
- Translating "Like"
- Vocabulary: verbs
- Grammar:
- En/ett
- Adjectives, indefinite form
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Hobby and free time activities
- Grammar:
- Verb: Present tense, helping verbs + infinite form
- Sentence adverbial (satsadverb)
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Talk about family
- Grammar:
- Objective pronouns
- Possessive pronouns
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Talking in helping verbs
- Grammar:
- Past tense
- Definite/indefinite form of subject/adjectives
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Optional homework, and sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
- Repetition of the course, in a bit more advanced level - getting ready to move on
- Grammar:
- Word order - repetition
- Verb tenses - repetition
- Adjectives - repetition
- Pronunciation
- Room for questions by chat
- Sheet of questions in relation to the above topics for you to check that you have understood
Monday 10 September 2012
Swedish online lessons live!
Swedish2go is adding on to its selection of how and what to study. Keep your eyes up for Swedish online classes live! Coming soon, in different Swedish language levels, are oportunities to sign up for a series of Swedish instructional classes online! After each class of Swedish grammar and pronunciation you will be guided to extra material related to the topic in the live meeting so you can work with the new Swedish grammar knowledge by yourself.
The beginner levels will be supported in English, with lots of translation help. As you move on to more advanced levels of Swedish, classes will be in Swedish for the most part.
Follow this blog to see when we go live, or keep an eye at www.swedish2go.com. You can also send an email to info@swedish2go.com and we will keep you posted on when everything starts!
The beginner levels will be supported in English, with lots of translation help. As you move on to more advanced levels of Swedish, classes will be in Swedish for the most part.
Follow this blog to see when we go live, or keep an eye at www.swedish2go.com. You can also send an email to info@swedish2go.com and we will keep you posted on when everything starts!
Wednesday 5 September 2012
Time to go outside!
Svamp
Languages are interesting. It shows how different interest areas are valued higher in some languages than others. Take "mushrooms", for example. Yes, of course there are different names of the mushrooms in the English language, but I find that it's only the gourmet lovers who actually use the different type of words. For most people, a mushroom is a mushroom! Ah ah. Not for a Swede. We would never go to a store and ask to buy "mushrooms". That's like going into a candy store asking for "candy". There are so many kinds to choose from!
Swedes are nature lovers, and one thing we love to do while out in the nature is to pick "mushrooms" (or blueberries, lingonberries etc). It's a big hobby. Many fanatics find their favourite spot in the woods to come back to year after year. And if you do find your gold mind (the chanterells are called "the gold of the forests") you don't tell anyone! Keep it a secret, so you can enjoy your variety of mushrooms to yourself!
Time to harvest the wild delicacies is from later summer until frost. That's now! So here are some vocabulary for you:
Languages are interesting. It shows how different interest areas are valued higher in some languages than others. Take "mushrooms", for example. Yes, of course there are different names of the mushrooms in the English language, but I find that it's only the gourmet lovers who actually use the different type of words. For most people, a mushroom is a mushroom! Ah ah. Not for a Swede. We would never go to a store and ask to buy "mushrooms". That's like going into a candy store asking for "candy". There are so many kinds to choose from!
Swedes are nature lovers, and one thing we love to do while out in the nature is to pick "mushrooms" (or blueberries, lingonberries etc). It's a big hobby. Many fanatics find their favourite spot in the woods to come back to year after year. And if you do find your gold mind (the chanterells are called "the gold of the forests") you don't tell anyone! Keep it a secret, so you can enjoy your variety of mushrooms to yourself!
Time to harvest the wild delicacies is from later summer until frost. That's now! So here are some vocabulary for you:
- Plocka svamp - pick mushroom
- Lingon - lingonberry (Ikea sells this jam all over the world if you haven't tried it and if you don't live in Sweden)
- Vilse - lost
- Svampställe - favourite place for your mushroom picking
- Champinjon - champignon (or common mushroom)
- Kantarell - chanterell
- Karljohanssvamp - king bolete, or cepe
- Flugsvamp - death cap/fly agaric (non-edible)
Thursday 30 August 2012
Summer is over
A long summer has past and for Swedish2go it's been a summer filled with packing and moving. For the following year (until summer 2013), Swedish2go will have it's base out of Canada. That's the best part of new technology: it's totally global! You can learn just as much Swedish from Swedish2go no matter where in the world you or we are!
Why Canada? Swedish2go owner Åsa Bouck (me) is married to a Canadian and to get a portion of Canadian air, language (English) and culture into the family life, it's important with a real life experience. But Sweden is still our first choice home, and we'll be back!
So what's going on back in Sweden?
Kräftskiva! (=Crayfish party)
During August this is the most popular parties to get invited to. And if you are doing the very real thing, it's a full weekend event: putting out traps in the lake, collecting your crayfish in the night, cooking them alive the next day and enjoying it, off course together with white wine and snaps (special Scandinavian shooters) and singing while wearing funny paper hats (not just the kids). If living in Sweden or ever visiting Sweden in August, do your best to get invited to a Swede having kräftskiva!
Understand Swedish? Read this article about kräftskiva.
Surströmming! (= Rotten herring)
Well... the nice translation for it may not be rotten herring, but fermented Baltic herring. Agneta Lilja, Södertörns högskola is explaining that because of it's very special smell and flavour, it divides the population into two sides: for and against it. The author of the text can unfortunately not be proud and say that I've eaten or even smelled this delicacy. Here may be some of the reasons:
Read in Swedish about surströmming!
Why Canada? Swedish2go owner Åsa Bouck (me) is married to a Canadian and to get a portion of Canadian air, language (English) and culture into the family life, it's important with a real life experience. But Sweden is still our first choice home, and we'll be back!
So what's going on back in Sweden?
Kräftskiva! (=Crayfish party)
During August this is the most popular parties to get invited to. And if you are doing the very real thing, it's a full weekend event: putting out traps in the lake, collecting your crayfish in the night, cooking them alive the next day and enjoying it, off course together with white wine and snaps (special Scandinavian shooters) and singing while wearing funny paper hats (not just the kids). If living in Sweden or ever visiting Sweden in August, do your best to get invited to a Swede having kräftskiva!
Understand Swedish? Read this article about kräftskiva.
Surströmming! (= Rotten herring)
Well... the nice translation for it may not be rotten herring, but fermented Baltic herring. Agneta Lilja, Södertörns högskola is explaining that because of it's very special smell and flavour, it divides the population into two sides: for and against it. The author of the text can unfortunately not be proud and say that I've eaten or even smelled this delicacy. Here may be some of the reasons:
- It's rotten.
- It's not only fermenting before the conservation of it, but also inside the cans, making the cans round-shaped !
- It's such a pressure in the can when you open it that you're advised to open it outside and under water.
- You are after opening the can advised to eat the rotten herring inside, since it attracts too many flies.
- It stinks (says everyone, even the rotten fish-lovers).
- It's an old Swedish tradition.
- It tastes much better than it smells.
- You eat it with tasty sides like, flat bread, butter, onion and potatoes.
- It's cheap!
Read in Swedish about surströmming!
Saturday 12 May 2012
Swedish vocabulary for May happenings
Many people love this time of year in Sweden. The nature is exploding, the hockey interest is at its peak (world cup, this time in Stockholm!) and the music expectations are high (the Eurovision song contest is coming up). Here's therefor a list of useful and up to date Swedish terms to learn (not always litterally translated):
So sit down and study this vocabulary and you'll be able to follow all the most important happenings in Sweden at the moment.
- Eurovision song contest = stora melodifestivalen (well mayby not formally, but gereally speaking)
- World cup of hockey = hockey VM
- Favorite to the gold = guldfavorit
- To win = att vinna
- To loose = att förlora
- To underestimate = att underskatta (exempelvis länder som Vitryssland)
- GO Sweden GO! = Heja Sverige!
- Blooming = blommar
- It's starting to get green = Det grönskar
- Bad weather = svenskt vårväder
- Barbeque = grilla
- Sit outside and eat, even though it's freezing = njuta av vårkvällen
So sit down and study this vocabulary and you'll be able to follow all the most important happenings in Sweden at the moment.
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Hold the thumbs!
Sweden needs all the thumbs we can get - in a Europe cup of handball. This is a country full of handball fans - and we love our national team.
So the saying "Det viktigaste är inte att vinna utan att kämpa väl" (= The most important is not to win, but to try hard) does not apply here. That's just a sweet way of trying to teach the kids to be good losers - although once overheard a father saying in the gym by the 8-year old's soccer game: the most important is to win. Hmmm... the old saying was something like that, but not really.
By the way: Holding the thumbs is Swedes' way of showing hope and luck. Kind of like crossing your fingers in the English language (Swedes cross their fingers when telling a white lie, by the way!). So hold your thumbs hard, when Sweden needs all the wins they can get in a handball-crazy Europe. The importance is not to try hard - but to win!
Follow it on EHF Euro 2012
So the saying "Det viktigaste är inte att vinna utan att kämpa väl" (= The most important is not to win, but to try hard) does not apply here. That's just a sweet way of trying to teach the kids to be good losers - although once overheard a father saying in the gym by the 8-year old's soccer game: the most important is to win. Hmmm... the old saying was something like that, but not really.
By the way: Holding the thumbs is Swedes' way of showing hope and luck. Kind of like crossing your fingers in the English language (Swedes cross their fingers when telling a white lie, by the way!). So hold your thumbs hard, when Sweden needs all the wins they can get in a handball-crazy Europe. The importance is not to try hard - but to win!
Follow it on EHF Euro 2012
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