What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing's for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, "We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us." The older I get, the more I agree with him! Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person's journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you're planning to stay in for more than a quick visit, you're sure to need at least a few 'life events' phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it's generally expected that we will show up with good manners... Show more

Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet. So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals. SwedishPod101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After... Show more

Did you know there are many different types of calendars? As you probably know - a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia. Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth's movement around the sun - the "solar calendar". Other calendars keep time by observing the moon's movements, a combination of the moon and the sun's movements, and seasons. Through SwedishPod101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date. Having a good plan for a visit... Show more

Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to . Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag - another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East? Well, we won't know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate. To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at SwedishPod101! Why don't you take the time to study Swedish travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your ... Show more

Especially if you're planning a prolonged visit to , using the correct Swedish numbers for counting in Swedish could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes. Table of Contents A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems Why is it Important to Learn Swedish Numbers? Learning Swedish Numbers Why Choose SwedishPod101 to Learn all about Swedish Numbers? 1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems 1. The Ishango Bone The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal... Show more

Ever heard of the four stages of culture shock? They are the four mental states every foreigner goes through when moving to a new country. Here’s a chart depicting each stage: Honeymoon is the period when your stay is all fun and games, and everything is still going as planned. You’re experiencing the "tourist" Sweden and you have no complaints. Fast-forward to the second or third month, and you’ll slowly but surely start sliding down into the culture shock hole. You start missing home, become sensitive to the more negative aspects of Swedish society, and begin to feel the changes that are taking effect in your life.  Thereafter comes adjustment, and that’s the period when you have to make the most mistakes and go... Show more

If you're planning to visit Sweden or want to move there, it's important to know about the different ways you can introduce yourself in Swedish, and how to start a conversation. Let's say you meet a new person and want to know this individual more. There are some things you should keep in mind before you introduce yourself in Swedish, since Swedish introductions are different than in other countries. That said, a simple "My name is," in Swedish can go a long way. In this article, we’ll go further into the subject of introducing yourself in Swedish so that you’ll never be at a loss for words! You’ll have the Swedish self-introduction down in no time. Table of Contents The Very First Meeting: Identifying Yourself Introductions in... Show more

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in Swedish could be just what you need to find it. Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your Swedish partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At SwedishPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your Swedish lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material... Show more

All social interactions have to begin somehow, and the most common way to start a conversation in Swedish is to exchange greeting phrases. So how do you say hello in Swedish? Well, the most common Swedish word for hello is hej, though there are several more ways of saying hello in Swedish, both informal and formal. For example: Hallå Hej hej God morgon God eftermiddag God kväll Tjena Tja How do you know which of these greetings to use and when? Don’t worry—we’ve sorted it out for you. All of these words mean hello, but some are informal, others are formal, some are slang, and others are used only in specific situations. The choice of a particular greeting phrase in Swedish can signify social status, how close you are as... Show more

Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day... Show more