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Top 100 Most Common Swedish Verbs You Need To Know

Anna Svensson

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Anna Svensson

Top 100 Most Common Swedish Verbs You Need To Know

Learning the most common Swedish verbs is the fastest way to build your vocabulary.

Verbs are the essential action words that hold every language together.

By mastering the top 100 verbs, you’ll understand the vast majority of everyday Swedish conversations.

I’ve compiled the absolute most essential Swedish verbs you need to start speaking fluently today.

Keep reading to find the complete list and my top recommendations for practicing them.

Why learn common verbs first?

You don’t need to know thousands of words to start speaking Swedish.

Native speakers use the same core verbs over and over again in daily life.

When you focus on the most common verbs, you maximize your speaking potential with minimal effort.

Words like vara (to be), ha (to have), and göra (to do) make up a massive percentage of spoken Swedish.

Once you know these foundational verbs, you can easily construct basic sentences.

You can then add nouns and adjectives to these verbs to expand your thoughts.

Best resources for Swedish verbs

You need a reliable system to memorize and practice these action words.

Here are the top tools I recommend for mastering Swedish vocabulary.

  • Talk In Swedish is our own platform and the absolute best way to learn Swedish verbs in context.
  • Anki is a highly effective digital flashcard app that uses spaced repetition.
  • Quizlet is a popular website for creating your own custom verb study lists.

I highly suggest signing up for Talk In Swedish to hear native audio and practice these verbs in real-life scenarios.

The top 100 Swedish verbs

Below is the complete list of the top 100 most common Swedish verbs.

I’ve included the infinitive form, the present tense, and the English translation.

The present tense is very important because Swedish verbs don’t change based on the person speaking.

You use the exact same present tense form for “I”, “you”, “he”, “she”, “we”, and “they”.

Swedish verb (infinitive)Present tenseEnglish translation
varaärto be
haharto have
göragörto do / to make
bliblirto become / to be
sägasägerto say
gårto go / to walk
seserto see
kommakommerto come
viljavillto want
kunnakanto be able / can
vetavetto know (a fact)
gegerto give
tatarto take
tänkatänkerto think / to intend
tyckatyckerto think (an opinion)
trotrorto believe / to think
finnasfinnsto exist / to be
fårto get / to receive
börjabörjarto begin / to start
användaanvänderto use
tittatittarto look
jobbajobbarto work
arbetaarbetarto work
pratapratarto talk
talatalarto speak
skrivaskriverto write
läsaläserto read
ätaäterto eat
drickadrickerto drink
sovasoverto sleep
kännakännerto feel / to know (a person)
behövabehöverto need
betydabetyderto mean / to signify
försökaförsökerto try
frågafrågarto ask
svarasvararto answer
sittasitterto sit
ståstårto stand
liggaliggerto lie down (location)
läggaläggerto put / to lay
sättasätterto put / to place
ställaställerto put / to stand
hittahittarto find
letaletarto look for / to search
spelaspelarto play (game or instrument)
lekalekerto play (like a child)
hörahörto hear
lyssnalyssnarto listen
boborto live (reside)
levaleverto live (be alive)
köpaköperto buy
säljasäljerto sell
betalabetalarto pay
kostakostarto cost
körakörto drive
åkaåkerto go (by vehicle) / to travel
resareserto travel
flyttaflyttarto move (residence)
stannastannarto stay / to stop
slutaslutarto stop / to finish
händahänderto happen
brukabrukarto usually do
visavisarto show
gillagillarto like
älskaälskarto love
hatahatarto hate
förståförstårto understand
minnasminnsto remember
glömmaglömmerto forget
läralärto learn / to teach
studerastuderarto study
bestämmabestämmerto decide
hoppashoppasto hope
hjälpahjälperto help
ringaringerto call (on the phone)
skrattaskrattarto laugh
gråtagråterto cry
lelerto smile
väljaväljerto choose
öppnaöppnarto open
stängastängerto close
väntaväntarto wait
kallakallarto call / to name
fortsättafortsätterto continue
förklaraförklararto explain
träffaträffarto meet
mötamöterto meet / to face
vinnavinnerto win
förloraförlorarto lose (a game or money)
tappatapparto drop / to lose (an object)
bytabyterto change / to exchange
ändraändrarto alter / to change
låtalåterto sound / to let
verkaverkarto seem
undraundrarto wonder
saknasaknarto miss
följaföljerto follow
växaväxerto grow
byggabyggerto build
bjudabjuderto invite / to offer

How to use this list

Don’t try to memorize all 100 verbs in one single day.

Start by picking the top 10 verbs from the list above.

Practice forming short, simple sentences with them in the present tense.

Here’s a quick example of how you can use common verbs in a simple conversation:

Listen to audio

Vad gör du idag?

What are you doing today?
Listen to audio

Jag jobbar och sedan äter jag.

I am working and then I will eat.

As you get comfortable, add five new verbs to your practice routine every day.

Keep in mind that Swedish pronunciation can vary based on regional dialects.

In southern regions like Skåne, you’ll hear a different intonation for words like äta or säga.

However, the spelling and overall meaning of these 100 verbs remain identical everywhere in Sweden.

Consistency is the best way to master this vocabulary.

Sign up for Talk In Swedish today and start practicing these verbs naturally!

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