Swedish is a North Germanic language spoken by over 10 million people. If you're just starting your journey, mastering the alphabet, numbers, and basic pronunciation is the key to unlocking everything else. This guide covers the 29-letter Swedish alphabet, numbers from 0 to 100, essential pronunciation rules, and how Swedish sounds differ from English. Whether you're planning a trip to Stockholm or just curious about the language, these fundamentals will give you a strong start. For more practical vocabulary, check out our 100 Common Swedish Phrases for Travellers & Beginners.
The Swedish Alphabet: 29 Letters (Including Å, Ä, Ö)
The Swedish alphabet is based on the Latin script, just like English, but it has three extra vowels: Å, Ä, and Ö. These letters are not optional—they are distinct letters that can change the meaning of a word. For example, mäta (to measure) versus mata (to feed). The full alphabet has 29 letters: A–Z plus Å, Ä, Ö, in that order. Note that W is considered a separate letter but is rarely used except in loanwords and surnames.
Pronunciation of the Three Extra Vowels
- Å – Pronounced like the “o” in “more.” Example: gå (go).
- Ä – Pronounced like the “ai” in “air.” Example: äta (eat).
- Ö – Pronounced like the “i” in “bird” (British) or the “ur” in “fur.” Example: öppna (open).
Swedish Vowel Sounds: A Detailed Table
Swedish vowels can be short or long, and their pronunciation changes depending on length and surrounding consonants. The table below shows the nine vowel letters (A, E, I, O, U, Y, Å, Ä, Ö) and their common sounds. Y is always a vowel in Swedish, unlike English.
| Letter | Long sound (example) | Short sound (example) |
|---|---|---|
| A | ah (like “father”) – tak (roof) | a (like “cat”) – tack (thanks) |
| E | ay (like “pay”) – se (see) | eh (like “bed”) – sä (säger shortened) |
| I | ee (like “see”) – sil (sieve) | ih (like “sit”) – sill (herring) |
| O | oo (like “fool”) – son (son) | o (like “book”) – sock (sock) |
| U | ew (like “few”) – hus (house) | uh (like “put”) – stuck (stuck) |
| Y | ü (like French “tu”) – ty (since) | ü short – sytt (sewn) |
| Å | aw (like “saw”) – gå (go) | o (like “pot”) – gått (gone) |
| Ä | ai (like “fair”) – ära (honor) | e (like “bet”) – ärr (scar) |
| Ö | ur (like “fur”) – öm (tender) | u (like “burn”) – fönster (window) |
Numbers 0–100 in Swedish
Numbers are straightforward once you know a few patterns. Here they are from 0 to 10:
- 0 – noll
- 1 – ett
- 2 – två
- 3 – tre
- 4 – fyra
- 5 – fem
- 6 – sex
- 7 – sju
- 8 – åtta
- 9 – nio
- 10 – tio
Eleven to nineteen are irregular: 11 – elva, 12 – tolv, 13 – tretton, 14 – fjorton, 15 – femton, 16 – sexton, 17 – sjutton, 18 – arton, 19 – nitton. The tens are formed by adding -tio to the root: 20 – tjugo, 30 – trettio, 40 – fyrtio, 50 – femtio, 60 – sextio, 70 – sjuttio, 80 – åttio, 90 – nittio, 100 – hundra. Compound numbers like 21 are “tjugoett” (twenty-one) and 47 is “fyrtiosju”. Note that Swedish uses a decimal comma, but numbers are written similarly.
Basic Pronunciation Rules
Swedish pronunciation has a few features that differ from English. First, stress usually falls on the first syllable of a word. Second, Swedish has two tones (accents) that can change meaning, but they're mostly predictable: acute accent (single tone) used in many one-syllable words, and grave accent (falling tone) common in two-syllable words. Third, the letter R is trilled or uvular depending on region. Fourth, sj-sound (as in sju) is a unique voiceless fricative, while tj-sound (as in tjugo) is like English “sh” but with tongue position higher. Finally, G is hard before A, O, U, Å; soft (like English “y”) before E, I, Y, Ä, Ö. K similarly is soft before front vowels. For example, köra (drive) sounds like “chöra”.
These rules may seem daunting, but with practice they become natural. Reading aloud and listening to native speakers—such as in Swedish films or music—helps immensely. For tools to practice, check out our Best Apps and Sites to Learn Swedish in 2026 guide. And if you need to translate along the way, the Best Swedish-English Translation Tools & Dictionaries (2026) can be your constant companion.
How Swedish Reads vs. English
Swedish writing is relatively phonetic: words are spelled as they sound more consistently than English. However, there are some traps. For instance, the letter O can be long or short, and the sj sound appears in many spellings (sj, sk, skj, stj, and even ch in loanwords). Also, Swedish often merges words: “det” (it) and “är” (is) become det är pronounced “de e” in casual speech. Reading Swedish requires knowing these common reductions, such as och (and) pronounced “ock” or often “o”.
Another difference is the definite article: Swedish adds an ending to nouns instead of using a separate word. For example, “en bil” (a car) becomes “bilen” (the car). This affects how you read sentence structure. Also, word order can feel inverted in questions and subordinate clauses. For example, “Igår köpte jag en bok” (Yesterday bought I a book).
Despite these quirks, Swedish is considered one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn because of shared vocabulary and grammar roots. To deepen your cultural understanding, explore our article on Fika, Lagom & Allemansrätten: Swedish Cultural Concepts Explained.
Putting It All Together: Your First Steps
Start by memorizing the alphabet song (same tune as the English one, but with Å, Ä, Ö at the end). Practice counting objects around you in Swedish. Then, read short phrases aloud, paying attention to vowel length and the special sounds. Consistency is more important than intensity—ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week.
Remember, Swedish så (so) is easy to pronounce, but sju (seven) takes practice. Don't worry about perfection; Swedes appreciate any effort. For more resources, start from the swedish.so homepage.