If you google “dating in Sweden,” you’ll get loads of negative results and failure stories:
“Swedes have no dating culture.”
“Swedes just hang out and never date.”
“Swedes stay in their circles.”
Considering the nation’s strong emphasis on gender equality, Swedish women tend to be less dependent on men compared to women in some other countries. In addition, government-supported childcare makes it easier for mothers to be self-dependent.
But that doesn’t mean romance is dead! In fact, Swedes are very warm and loyal once you’ve developed a bond with them. Learning how to express your love in Swedish will greatly benefit you, whether you’re fetching for something long-term (like marriage) or pining for a more short-term, no-strings-attached arrangement. Sweden is actually the perfect place to land a casual relationship, as this is what most Swedes are looking for.
One of the best ways to win a Swede’s affection is to make an effort to learn their language, even if it’s only a few words and phrases. After all:
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.“
See a pattern there?
Big effort for a big reward.
In this blog post, we’ll be covering the best expressions for picking up your Swede, dating them, or even getting married—not to mention everything in-between.
While most Swedes speak fluent English, it’s good to spice things up with some Swedish to show your partner how interested you really are.
Without further ado, here are your 30+ Swedish love phrases.
Table of Contents
- Confess Your Affection: Pick-up Lines and More
- Fall in Deeper: “I Love You,” and More
- Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More
- Endearment Terms
- Must-know Love Quotes
- Conclusion
1. Confess Your Affection: Pick-up Lines and More
All great things come from small beginnings. This means that your initial interaction needs skillful execution—no matter how small a gesture or phrase you use. And what’s a better execution than surprising your future date with some Swedish skills?
Before we get into the expressions below, it’s worth noting a few things about the dating culture in Sweden.
Swedes are very outdoorsy people. As they like to say: Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder. / “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.”
So you should expect your dates to take place somewhere like a bokskogen (beech tree forest) or by the seaside! It’s probably not going to be a boring date, especially if you bring some charcoal with you for a quick BBQ on one of the free park fire pits.
Alternatively, you might go for the typical Swedish snack break en fika to get coffee and a pastry. This should be your go-to option for a first date, especially if you haven’t met the person before.
It’s worth noting that after your first date, you’re expected to be exclusive. So, no dating around until you and your Swede decide to part ways.
Now that you have a good idea of how things work in Sweden, here are seven expressions to ask your Swede out.
- Do you want to go out on a date with me?
Vill du gå på dejt med mig?
Swedes rarely make the first move, so you’ll probably have to do that for them. With Sweden being one of the best countries for gender equality, there are no unspoken gender roles. As such, you’ll likely be expected to make the first move even if you’re a woman.
- Will you be my valentine?
Vill du bli min valentine?
Until recently, Valentine’s Day was largely overlooked in Sweden. But it’s continuously flourishing and becoming more important to the younger generation.
A fun fact is that Swedes have a unique name for Valentine’s Day. They call it alla hjärtans dag, which literally translates to “all hearts day.” It’s worth noting that Swedes pronounce the word “valentine” just as it’s pronounced in English.
- You mean so much to me.
Du betyder så mycket för mig.
This sentence is great for affirming your appreciation for your partner, and it sends a clear sign of interest. You can use this sentence while hanging out or texting before you ask for a date.
- I think of you as more than a friend.
Jag ser dig som mer än en vän.
Stuck in the friendzone and not sure how to get out? Text this sentence and see how far things will go. Worst case scenario is you’ll impress your desired date with your Swedish skills, even if they don’t feel the same way.
- I’ve got a crush on you.
Jag är förtjust i dig.
Looking for a crush confession text? Drop this phrase in your conversation and keep your fingers crossed.
- You’re so beautiful.
Du är så vacker.
Loving those Swedish features of your female date? You might wanna let her know before asking her out.
- You’re so handsome.
Du är så snygg.
If you want your desired male date to know you’re into him, you might want to impress him with some Swedish and hope he asks you out!
2. Fall in Deeper: “I Love You,” and More
Swedes like to take things very slow. So falling in deeper may take more time than it’d normally take elsewhere. The following love phrases in Swedish might work wonders, but be sure to use them at the right moments and to not rush things.
I love you.
Jag älskar dig.
Words can’t describe my love for you.
Ord kan inte beskriva min kärlek till dig.
If I know what love is, it is because of you.
Om jag vet vad kärlek är, då är det tack vare dig.
You mean so much to me.
Du betyder så mycket för mig.
You are my sunshine, my love.
Du är mitt solsken, min älskling.
A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.
Hundra hjärtan skulle vara för få för att bära all min kärlek till dig.
3. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More
Let’s talk about marriage in Sweden.
Sweden is one of those places where people stay together and have children without ever getting married. Some Swedes find marriage to be unnecessary and out-dated, but that doesn’t mean that long-term relationships aren’t happening.
But there are exceptions to every rule. If you’re dating a Swede, chances are they’d be more open to marriage and accepting of how you do things…
Will you marry me?
Vill du gifta dig med mig?
I want to be with you forever.
Jag vill vara tillsammans med dig för alltid.
We were meant to be together.
Vi var menade att vara tillsammans.
I can’t imagine my life without you in it.
Jag kan inte tänka mig ett liv utan dig.
You are the one I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
Du är den jag har väntat på hela mitt liv.
4. Endearment Terms
After you’ve established a relationship with your Swede, the perfect addition would be to start using a Swedish term of endearment to constantly remind your partner of what they mean to you. Here are six of the best Swedish endearment terms.
Love
Älskling
Dearie
Raring
Dearest
Käraste
My heart
Hjärtat
My all
Mitt allt
Hottie
Snygging
5. Must-know Love Quotes
After establishing a relationship, it may be worth getting a bit creative with how you express your love. And what better way to do so than by throwing in a few love quotes every now and then? Here are seven love quotes in Swedish to get you started.
“Love is like the wind; you can’t see it, but you can feel it.”
“Kärleken är som vinden, du kan inte se den, men du kan känna den.”
“To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved is everything.”
“Att älska är ingenting. Att vara älskad är något. Men att älska och att vara älskad är allt.”
“Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.”
“Kärlek börjar med ett leende, växer med en kyss och slu*tar med en tår.”
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
“Vi accepterar den kärlek vi tror vi förtjänar.”
“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.”
“Ett kärleksfullt hjärta är den sannaste visdomen.”
“All you need is love.”
“Allt du behöver är kärlek.”
“The best feeling is when you look at him and he is already staring.”
“Den bästa känslan är när du tittar på honom och han redan ser på dig.”
6. Conclusion
Congratulations on getting this far. I’d assume that you’re pretty serious about improving your Swedish skills, and that makes your odds of meeting an amazing Swede even higher.
Which of these Swedish love phrases was your favorite? Are you ready to try it out on your Swedish lover?
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