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Swedish Has Compact Words – And That Poses a Challenge for Translators
Swedish is a Germanic language spoken by about 10 million people as their first language, mostly in Sweden and some parts of Finland. However, many people in other Scandinavian countries also understand Swedish. The language’s grammatical peculiarities include the additional letter Å and the two genders Utrum (for masculine and feminine terms) and Neutrum. One particular feature is that there are some Swedish words that cannot be easily translated.
Since there’s no direct translation, the meaning of these compact words must be paraphrased in other languages, often requiring longer explanations. Good examples include fredagsmys (spending a cozy Friday evening with family and snacks while watching TV) or kaffesugen (a desire for a nice cup of coffee and a small break from the daily routine). These special words challenge even native-speaking translators because they must authentically and appropriately convey these meanings in translation. With a professional translation, you can be sure that each word is translated correctly. Typically, true experts handle this process.
Friendly “Du” Instead of Formal “Sie” – What This Means for Translations
In Sweden, people address each other with the informal "Du" – no matter the context. Whether in private or business, Swedish speakers generally use "Du" even when they don’t know each other. Except for members of the Swedish royal family (and even here, the "Du" is becoming more accepted), no one feels offended when being addressed informally.
The switch from "Sie" to "Du" or vice versa should be considered in Swedish translations. Using the right form of address makes the text feel more familiar to readers and helps connect better. This is particularly important in marketing translations (and perhaps less so in legal translations). The less a (marketing) text sounds stiff or formal, the greater the likelihood the message will reach the audience – and attract new customers. If you're translating a Swedish text into German, you’ll need to pay attention to the reverse situation. After all, not every country uses the informal "Du" everywhere.
Swedish, Danish, Norwegian – Almost the Same
To someone who is unfamiliar with the three languages, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian might appear almost identical at first glance (and they also sound similar). In fact, they are closely related, all belonging to the Scandinavian language family. This means they share many common features and only differ in certain areas. For example, differences in grammar include the number of cases; Swedish and Norwegian use more cases than Danish. The position of verbs also varies depending on the language.
Swedes and Danes still understand each other quite well. Many words in both languages have similar roots and meanings, which facilitates communication. However, this doesn't apply to all words and expressions. For this reason, you shouldn’t assume that a Danish translation will reach all of Scandinavia as effectively. It's always better to translate your messages into the exact language of your audience. The native-language experts you need can be found at a professional translation service.
