When you start learning Swedish, you’ll quickly realize that direct translations don’t always work.

Sometimes, Swedish has a single word that describes a specific feeling or situation that would take a whole sentence to explain in English.

You’ve probably heard of lagom.

It’s often called the most “Swedish” word there is.

But what does it actually mean? And what other words do you need to know to sound like a local?

In this guide, I’ll explain the meaning of lagom and introduce you to other helpful “untranslatable” words.

What does lagom mean?

If you ask a Swede what lagom means, they will likely tell you it means “not too little, not too much.”

And that is exactly right. It translates to “just the right amount.”

But lagom is more than just a measurement. It is a cultural concept that describes balance. In Sweden, standing out too much or being too extreme is often avoided. You want things to be balanced.

For example, if someone asks how much milk you want in your coffee, you can answer with lagom.

This means you don’t want a tiny drop, but you don’t want the cup to be half milk either. You want the standard, perfect amount.

Here are examples of how to use it:

Lagom can describe almost anything: the weather, the amount of food on your plate, or even your workload.

The importance of fika

After lagom, the word fika is probably the most famous Swedish term.

Many people translate fika as “coffee break,” but that is not quite right. A fika is a social institution.

It is a moment where you slow down, sit with friends or colleagues, and have a drink (usually coffee) and something sweet (like a cinnamon bun or kanelbulle).

You can fika as a verb, or have a fika as a noun.

In many Swedish workplaces, fika is mandatory. It is when you bond with your coworkers. You wouldn’t just grab a coffee to-go and drink it at your desk - that is just drinking coffee, not fika.

Orka: Do you have the energy?

Orka is a verb that is used constantly in spoken Swedish, especially by younger people.

It means “to have the energy” or “to have the mental strength” to do something. It is very similar to the English phrase “can be bothered.”

If you are really tired after school or work, you might not orka cook dinner.

You can also use it to ask if someone has the physical strength to hold something.

Hinna: To be on time

In English, if you want to say you have enough time to do something, you have to use a few words. You say, “I have time to…” or “I can make it…”

In Swedish, there is a specific verb for this: hinna.

Hinna means “to find the time” or “to manage to do something in the time available.”

It is a very efficient word that makes scheduling much easier!

Jobbig: A word for everything difficult

Jobbig is a fantastic adjective that covers a wide range of negative feelings.

It can mean:

• Annoying
• Tiring
• Difficult
• Awkward
• Strenuous (sweaty)

If you have a heavy bag to carry, it is jobbig. If your friend is being annoying, they are jobbig. If you have a tough math test, that is also jobbig.

Regional bonus: The northern word “he”

Sweden is a long country, and there are regional differences in vocabulary.

If you travel to the north of Sweden (Norrland), you might hear the word he.

In standard Swedish, you use words like sätta, ställa, or lägga to describe putting something down, depending on if you are standing it up, sitting it down, or laying it flat.

In the north, they make it simple. They just say he.

He essentially means “to put” or “to place.”

It is a great example of how dialects can sometimes make a language simpler!

Summary

Learning these untranslatable words gives you a peek into Swedish culture.

Using lagom shows you understand balance. Using fika shows you value social time. And using orka shows you know how to complain like a real Swede!

Here is a quick summary of the vocab: