Swedish Vocabulary To Navigate Stockholm Like A Local
Author
Knowing the right vocabulary makes navigating Stockholm a breeze.
The city has an amazing public transport network of subways, buses, ferries, and commuter trains.
Locals move quickly and efficiently through this system every day.
This guide provides the exact Swedish words and phrases you need to travel around Stockholm like a true native.
Table of Contents:
Public transport in Stockholm
The public transport system in Stockholm is run by a company called SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik).
You’ll see the blue SL logo on buses, trains, and subways all over the city.
The subway system is divided into three main color lines: red, green, and blue.
Here are the most common transport words you need to know.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| En tunnelbana | A subway / underground |
| Ett pendeltåg | A commuter train |
| En buss | A bus |
| En spårvagn | A tram |
| En färja | A ferry |
| En tunnelbanestation | A subway station |
| En hållplats | A bus or tram stop |
| En plattform | A platform |
Asking for and understanding directions
Sometimes maps fail us and we need to ask someone for help.
Swedes are generally very happy to give directions if you ask politely.
Use this basic vocabulary to understand where you need to go.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| Höger | Right |
| Vänster | Left |
| Rakt fram | Straight ahead |
| Gå över gatan | Cross the street |
| Bakom | Behind |
| Framför | In front of |
| Nära | Near |
Here’s a brief example of how to ask for directions to the central train station.
Ursäkta, var ligger centralstationen?
Gå rakt fram och ta sedan höger.
Buying tickets and passes
You can’t pay with cash on buses or trains in Stockholm.
Most locals use the SL mobile app or simply tap their contactless bank card to pay.
The Swedish word for tapping your card on a reader is blippa.
Here are the common words related to tickets and travel barriers.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| En biljett | A ticket |
| En enkelbiljett | A single ticket |
| Ett resekort | A travel card |
| En spärr | A ticket barrier |
| Att blippa | To tap (a card or phone) |
You might need to speak to a worker at the barrier if your ticket isn’t working.
Jag skulle vilja köpa en enkelbiljett.
Du kan blippa ditt bankkort i spärren.
Local Stockholm slang for getting around
People from Stockholm have their own distinct slang for navigating the city.
If you use these words, you’ll blend right in with the locals.
Tubben
This is the local slang for the subway.
Instead of saying tunnelbanan, Stockholmers say vi tar tubben (we take the tube).
Pendeln
This is short for pendeltåget (the commuter train).
You’ll hear this constantly if you travel outside the immediate city center.
Stan
This is the short form of staden, which means “the city”.
When locals say they’re going to stan, they specifically mean the central downtown area of Stockholm.
Plattan
This is the local nickname for Sergels Torg.
It’s the large, black-and-white tiled public square located right outside the central station.
