Before we talk about the meanings of “kiss” and “slut” in Swedish, let’s take a step back and look at the origins of English and Swedish. These two languages derive from the same language tree. They’re both Germanic! Of course, English is West Germanic, and Swedish is North Germanic, so they’re not completely the same. But since they share an origin, they still have a lot in common.
Let’s check out the similarities in grammar first. One of the most obvious similarities is adjective-noun order. That is, both languages place the adjective before the noun. For example, take the adjective “cute” in English, which is “söt” in Swedish. Then take the noun “dog” in English, which is “hund” in Swedish. (Does “hund” remind you of anything? Maybe the English word “hound,” a synonym for dog?)
In English, we say “cute dog,” and in Swedish, “söt hund.” In both languages, “cute” comes first.
This is in contrast to Latin-derived languages. These languages place the adjective after the noun, so it would be “dog cute” instead of “cute dog.” For instance, in French, we get “chien mignon.” (Chien = dog; mignon = cute.)
English and Swedish also share a lot of vocabulary. Some are 1:1, and some are similar enough.
Some examples:
| English | Swedish |
|---|---|
| Book (noun) | Bok |
| Cat | Katt |
| Dumb | Dum |
| Here | Här |
| Intelligent | Intelligent |
| Knife | Kniv (In Swedish, we pronounce the “k” at the beginning of a word.) |
| Smart | Smart |
| There | Där |
But here’s the thing. Yes, English and Swedish have a lot of grammar and vocabulary in common. Languages from the same tree tend to do that. But at the same time, they also tend to come up with or settle on the same sounds for words, when, actually, their meanings aren’t always the same. And since we have so much in common, we often forget this fact! And then, you know, we end up accidentally telling a Swedish person we want them to pee on us. So here are some words in common that have totally different meanings in Swedish and English — and I mean totally different — like “bra,” “slut,” “fart,” “kiss”, “barn,” and more.
Let’s talk about it.
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Barn
Alright, we’re starting off completely tame and getting crazier as we go. Ready?
“Barn” is not a building used for storing farm products in Swedish. It actually means “children.” Here’s an example:
Hälsosam mat är framför allt viktig för barn.
Healthy food is especially important for children.
How do I refer to a building used for storing farm products then??
You can say “lada.”
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Bra
In Swedish, “bra” means “good.”
Here are some examples:
En bra restaurang
A good restaurant
Inte bra atmosfär, men maten är mycket bra.
Not a good atmosphere, but the food is very good.
En bra lägenhet, trevligt inredda, bra läge.
A good apartment, nicely furnished, good location.
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Well in that case, how do I say “upper body undergarment for women” in Swedish??
That would be “behå.”
En bra behå.
A good bra.
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Fart
This word means “speed” in Swedish.
Examples:
Ge honom fart på våra procedurer.
Get him up to speed on our procedures.
Barnen rusa in med fart.
The children rush in with speed.
Kajaken tar fart och glider framåt.
The kayak takes speed and glides forward.
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Infart, Utfart
If you’re driving around Sweden, you might see signs that say “infart” and “utfart.” Here, “infart” means “entrance,” or “driveway,” and “utfart” means “exit” or also “driveway.”
Examples:
Vänta, det står en bil på vår infart.
Wait. That’s her car in the driveway.
Garage och privat infart med grind.
Garage and private entrance with gate.
Det finns en separat utfart leder till garaget.
There is a separate driveway leading to the garage.
Vi är nästan vid en utfart.
We’re almost at an exit.
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So, to “break wind” in Swedish?
You can say “fis.”
Låter som en fis i badkaret.
Sounds like a fart in the bath.
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Kiss
Don’t ask a Swedish person to give you a kiss. This word in Swedish actually means “urine.” Ahhh!!! You see?? You have to be careful! Just because the word sounds the same in English, doesn’t mean it is!
Example:
Sparris får mitt kiss att lukta konstigt.
Asparagus makes my urine smell funny.
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How to say “kiss” as in “touching lips.”
The noun, “a kiss” would be “kyss” (pronounced shiss) or “puss” in Swedish. I know, I KNOW. 🤦🏻♀️
Examples:
Förtrollningen kan brytas med en kyss.
The spell can be broken with a kiss.
Ge mig en puss.
Give me a kiss.
Meanwhile, the verb, “to kiss”, would be “att kyssa.”
Jag utmanar dig att kyssa mig.
I dare you to kiss me.
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Slut
In Swedish, “slut” means “end,” “finished,” or “over.”
Examples:
Och därmed är vårt samtal slut.
And with that, our conversation is over.
Även de svåraste erfarenheter har ett slut.
Even the most difficult things come to an end.
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So how do I say offensive things to women?
You don’t. Ever. It’s not a bra idea. Abort! Abort!!!
The word is “slampa,” though. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. It won’t slut well for you.
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English and Swedish derive from the same origin, so it’s no wonder that they sometimes have the same sounds for words. But now you know that the meanings of those words are not always the same, and that “slut” in Swedish isn’t an offensive word! Hopefully this will help you feel more comfortable and bra speaking Swedish with your friends and family.
Enjoyed this article? Learn more about Swedish here, and English here.
