Language/Swedish/Vocabulary/Going-to-a-restaurant
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In this lesson, we will learn how to order food and drinks in Swedish at a restaurant. It's essential to know some basic vocabulary and expressions to avoid confusion and enjoy your meal.
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Vocabulary
Here are some essential words and phrases to know when visiting a Swedish restaurant:
Swedish | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Mat | mɑt | Food |
Dryck | drʏkː | Drink |
Meny | mɛny | Menu |
Förrätt | fœr'ɛtː | Appetizer |
Huvudrätt | hʉvɵd'rɛtː | Main course |
Efterrätt | 'ɛftɛr'ɛtː | Dessert |
Vatten | 'vatːɛn | Water |
Öl | øːl | Beer |
Vin | viːn | Wine |
Kaffe | 'kafːɛ | Coffee |
Tack | takː | Thank you |
Ja | jaː | Yes |
Nej | nɛj | No |
Expressions
Here are some useful expressions when ordering food and drinks at a restaurant:
- En bord för {number} personer, tack. (A table for {number} people, please.)
- Kan vi få se menyn, tack? (Can we see the menu, please?)
- Vad kan du rekommendera? (What can you recommend?)
- Jag vill gärna ha {dish}. (I would like to have {dish}.)
- Hur vill du ha {dish}? (How do you want your {dish}?)
- Medium, tack. (Medium, please.)
- Kan jag få {drink}, tack? (Can I have {drink}, please?)
- En annan sak, tack. (Something else, please.)
- Notan, tack. (The check, please.)
Culture Corner
In Sweden, it's common to pay for the meal at the register instead of waiting for the server to bring the check. It's also customary to tip around 10%, but it's not mandatory, as service fees are often included in the bill. In many restaurants, it's also possible to order "dagens rätt," which is the dish of the day and usually an affordable option.
Practice
- Role-play a conversation at a Swedish restaurant. Practice ordering food and drinks, asking for the check, and thanking the server.
- Watch a Swedish cooking show or food-related video and try to recognize some of the words and phrases we've learned in this lesson.
Sources
- Swedish Vocabulary and Phrases for the Restaurant
- Ordering at a Café in Swedish | Swedish Language Blog
- Swedish vocabulary for English speakers - 9000 words (Paperback ...
Other Lessons
- Problems in Swedish
- Numbers
- Animal
- Asking for directions
- Animals
- Months of the Year
- Seasons
- Types of jobs
- Colors
- Workplace Swedish
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