När man talar om trollen så står de i farstun
Literal translation:
When talking about the trolls they stand in the vestibule
Meaning: Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
Typical Swedish words, phrases, sayings & idioms – and their Swedish to English translations!
What the he** are the Swedes actually saying? Swedish Deconstructed is the place where you’ll find the funniest typical Swedish expressions with their literal and actual Swedish to English translations.
Att ha råg i ryggen
Literal translation:
To have rye in the back
Meaning: To be brave/strong/perseving/of good character.
Kofångare
Literal translation:
Cow catcher
Meaning: Front bumper on a car.
Att trolla med knäna
Literal translation:
To do magic tricks with the knees
Meaning: To achieve the impossible with ease.
Att sko sig på någon
Literal translation:
To shoe onself on someone
Meaning: To exploit someone.
Full i sjutton
Literal translation:
Full in seventeen
Meaning: Fill of mischeif.
Spola kröken
Literal translation:
Flush the bend
Meaning: Stop drinking.
Att vara lite glad i hatten
Literal translation:
To be a little happy in the hat
Meaning: To be a bit drunk.
Låt mig suga på den karamellen
Literal translation:
Let me suck on that piece of candy
Meaning: Said when you want to reflect on something.
Att sitta med skägget i brevlådan
Literal translation:
To sit with the beard in the mailbox
Meaning: To be in a predicament.
Kroppkakor
Literal translation:
Body cookies
Meaning: A Swedish dish.
Att vara lite på kanelen
Literal translation:
To be a little on the cinnamon
Meaning: To be drunk.
Att vara pang på rödbetan
Literal translation:
To be bang on the beetroot
Meaning: To get straight to the point.
Toffelhjälte
Literal translation:
Slipper hero
Meaning: A man who is completely under the control of his woman.
Det vet i katten
Literal translation:
That knows in the cat
Meaning: I have no idea.
Han har satt sin sista potatis
Literal translation:
He has put his last potato
Meaning: Said about someone who has done something for the last time.
Heja Sverige friskt humör, det är det som susen gör!
Literal translation:
Cheer Sweden healthy temper, that is what the swoosh does!
Meaning: Swedish sport chant (no further explanation available).
Den gubben gick inte!
Literal translation:
That old man didn't walk!
Meaning: You can't fool me.
I grevens tid
Literal translation:
In the time of the count
Meaning: At the eleventh hour.
Att göra sin gubbe
Literal translation:
To do one's old man
Meaning: Dribbling past an opponent (sports).
I bara mässingen
Literal translation:
In just the brass
Meaning: In the nude.
Ont krut förgås inte så lätt
Literal translation:
Evil gunpowder doesn't perish so easily
Meaning: Bad weeds grow tall.
Tjoflöjt!
Literal translation:
Yo flute!
Meaning: Old greeting phrase.
Att ha huvudet på skaft
Literal translation:
To have the head on a handle
Meaning: To be alert.
Att torska
Literal translation:
To cod
Meaning: To lose.
Att vara om sig och kring sig
Literal translation:
To be about oneself and around oneself
Meaning: Continuosly trying to gain small (economic) advantages.
Att ana ugglor i mossen
Literal translation:
To sense owls in the swamp
Meaning: To suspect something.
Att glida in på en räkmacka
Literal translation:
To slide in on a shrimp sandwich
Meaning: Achieving something without effort.
Att slå en sjua
Literal translation:
To punch a seven
Meaning: To pee.
Att vara lite på lyset
Literal translation:
To be a little on the light
Meaning: To be a bit drunk.
Din lyckans ost!
Literal translation:
You cheese of happiness!
Meaning: What you say to someone who's really (undeservedly) lucky.
Buksvåger
Literal translation:
Belly brother-in-law
Meaning: A guy that has had sex with the same person as you.
Att visa var skåpet ska stå
Literal translation:
To show where the closet shall stand
Meaning: To be in charge.
Att inte ha alla indianer i kanoten
Literal translation:
Not to have all the native americans in the canoe
Meaning: To be a bit stupid.
Att ta kål på någon
Literal translation:
To take cabbage on someone
Meaning: To kill someone.