# Recommendations for Learning Swedish **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101 "2014-10-01T17:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/1 "2014-10-01T17:59:36Z")
Has anyone here ever studied Swedish? I’m thinking of trying to teach myself, but I have no idea what books (preferably with audio as well) would be best to start with. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/2 "2014-10-01T18:30:18Z")
In first with - [this guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_Yf4zz-yo)! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/3 "2014-10-01T19:12:11Z")
Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/4 "2014-10-01T19:39:10Z")
Some Google suggestions: [https://www.google.com/search?q=learn+swedish+online+resources](https://www.google.com/search?q=learn+swedish+online+resources) ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/5 "2014-10-01T19:51:46Z")
You could perhaps start with something like _[Vi ses! Vi hörs! 1 - Kursbok i svenska för invandrare](http://webbshop.ur.se/vi-ses-vi-hrs-1-kursbok-i-svenska-fr-invandrare)_, which is used as entry-level course literature in the government-run “Swedish For Immigrants”-program. That one comes with a CD. Or else I guess you could just start [right here](http://ielanguages.com/swedish1.html). With [spaced repetition](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced_repetition) software, you could make a flashcard for each word, and get crackin’. I hear keeping an image of Tomas Brolin under your pillow works wonders, too. Oh and get the _Hasse & Tage_ boxset too, while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/6 "2014-10-01T22:02:02Z")
My experience is that everyone in Sweden speaks phenomenal English. That said, I have heard great things about the Rosetta Stone programs. I know people who have learned various different languages, but not Swedish specifically. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/7 "2014-10-01T23:15:10Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > My experience is that everyone in Sweden speaks phenomenal English. Totally. If you want to learn Swedish just for shits and giggles, then by all means go ahead, but if it’s for communicating with the locals, then there’s no need. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/8 "2014-10-01T23:40:57Z")
I was gonna be a wise guy and suggest: move to Stockholm. 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/9 "2014-10-02T07:12:54Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I was gonna be a wise guy and suggest: move to Stockholm. 😉 😃 _bzzzt_, wrong answer. I have relatives who have lived in Sweden for 50 years, and _still_ don’t speak proper Swedish. It takes effort, not just “being there.” Just ask [this one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Silvia_of_Sweden). Also, and much, much more importantly, fuck Stockholm. If the OP wishes to move to Sweden, [hen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_(pronoun)) should move to Gothenburg. We don’t want [hen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_(pronoun)) to end up like one of _those_ people. ---
**Author:** ![chancetx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chancetx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chancetx)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/10 "2014-10-02T09:56:22Z")
I have an iphone app that teaches basic Swedish vocabulary (a word a day type thing.) There are others out there, but this is the one I have. It’s free so you’re not out anything if it’s not what you’re looking for. [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learn-swedish-free-wordpower/id293880647?mt=8](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learn-swedish-free-wordpower/id293880647?mt=8) Try listening to Swedish-language music while you’re learning. Helps with pronunciation and structure. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/11 "2014-10-02T11:55:48Z")
> [@chancetx](#): > > Try listening to Swedish-language music while you’re learning. Helps with pronunciation and structure. Good idea, that. What kind of music you like, OP? I can recommend solid Swedish-language stuff in most genres. (Same with Swedish films.) ---
**Author:** ![troubledwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@troubledwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troubledwater)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/12 "2014-10-02T13:01:24Z")
[Swedish for English speakers on duolingo.com](https://www.duolingo.com/course/sv/en/Learn-Swedish-Online) (free online instruction). I’m 236 days into the French lessons and the site claims I can read 62% of all French articles. I’m not sure about that, since I’ve barely learned any verb tense other than present, but otherwise I do feel I’ve made a lot of progress. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/13 "2014-10-02T14:52:26Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Good idea, that. What kind of music you like, OP? I can recommend solid Swedish-language stuff in most genres. (Same with Swedish films.) I have a fairly eclectic taste in music—from groups like Celtic Women and the Irish Rovers, to the Beach Boys and the Beetles, and even some older country music (Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson type) and bluegrass. Pretty much the only things I don’t like are rap and heavy metal. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/14 "2014-10-02T18:53:28Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > I have a fairly eclectic taste in music—from groups like Celtic Women and the Irish Rovers, to the Beach Boys and the Beetles, and even some older country music (Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson type) and bluegrass. Pretty much the only things I don’t like are rap and heavy metal. Good Swedish-language singer-songwriters (Sweden has no proper country music): [Cornelis Vreeswijk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJgdrkMtyA0), [Fred Åkerström](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX2ccZ1Dmu0), [Lisa Ekdahl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GDQGAZunEg) and [Erik Aschan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eROZtbywUSg) (far less known than the others, but the dude’s got heart). Folk-music-with-a-twist (apropos “Celtic Women and the Irish Rovers”): I’ll admit the first thing that came to mind was [Nordman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR6j7br1_Rc), who was huge in the 90’s, but is now considered a bit of a joke. The lovely [Monica Zetterlund](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOgN3jVgv1w) recorded some find old folk tunes, too, though. [Jan Johansson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMgitKv-78I) played jazzy piano versions of Swedish folk songs, but his stuff is all instrumental, so not really relevant. Benny Andersson, of ABBA fame, has recorded a lot of folk music as well, with Orsa Spelmän and whatnot. Haven’t heard it, though. There is also a long tradition of _[visor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_ballad_tradition)_ - traditional Swedish ballads, going all the way back to Bellman - but I can’t really say I know much about that, either. I don’t really think there’s a Swedish-language The Beach Boys, let alone a Swedish-language The Beatles. (The [Hep Stars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hep_Stars), alas, sang in English.) The 70’s is a whole different ball game – that’s when [Swedish-language rock](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progg) really exploded. Whole different era, though. Very political and whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/15 "2014-10-02T19:12:27Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > My experience is that everyone in Sweden speaks phenomenal English. That said, I have heard great things about the Rosetta Stone programs. I know people who have learned various different languages, but not Swedish specifically. > [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Totally. If you want to learn Swedish just for shits and giggles, then by all means go ahead, but if it’s for communicating with the locals, then there’s no need. Mine isn’t, but then, I deal with teenagers, children, small town factory workers, supermarket cashiers… Also, being able to communicate in English is helpful for getting around, but not for finding out what the news are saying. When me and my coworkers asked our Swedish ones for some basic Swedish words, the answer was “oh, you don’t need to learn Swedish, everybody here speak English!” Yeah, sort of… but you didn’t answer our question! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/16 "2014-10-02T19:32:08Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > My experience is that everyone in Sweden speaks phenomenal English. That said, I have heard great things about the Rosetta Stone programs. I know people who have learned various different languages, but not Swedish specifically. Agreed. I have not been to Sweden, but I’ve been to Norway (same thing, right?) and everyone speaks English. Even the kid at the gas station out in the middle of nowhere spoke excellent English. I was in Norway for several weeks on business and the folks I was working with were very helpful wrt my interest in learning some of the language, but it was completely unnecessary. Note: being a Germanic language, there are lots of cognates. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/17 "2014-10-02T23:43:09Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > … > Also, and much, much more importantly, fuck Stockholm. If the OP wishes to move to Sweden, [hen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_(pronoun)) should move to Gothenburg. We don’t want [hen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_(pronoun)) to end up like one of _those_ people. Getting off topic, but I would move to Gothenburg in a heartbeat. Beautiful city with incredibly nice (and fit) people. And the summer vacation! ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/18 "2014-10-03T00:49:57Z")
[Swedish Made Simple](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vMsCEWbd-A) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/19 "2014-10-03T09:43:08Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër? There isn’t a ë and it’s börk börk börk not børk børk børk. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Agreed. I have not been to Sweden, but I’ve been to Norway (same thing, right?) and everyone speaks English. Even the kid at the gas station out in the middle of nowhere spoke excellent English. A couple of the bus drivers didn’t but there was also the possibility that they were playing dumb and/or trying to rip me off. No more than an hour outside of Oslo. But probably a big factor is the speaker’s age. Swedish is the same thing as Norwegian except the writing is much different. Danish is the same thing as Norwegian except that the speaker is drunk or something. Icelandic is Icelandic. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101/20 "2014-10-03T09:59:55Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Icelandic is Icelandic. Actually, Icelandic is about 10% Norwegian and 90% Klingon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommendations-for-learning-swedish/700101.md?page=2)