Language/Swedish/Vocabulary/Count-to-10
Hi Swedish learners! đ
In this lesson, we will focus on one of the most fundamental skills in any language - counting! We will cover cardinal numbers from 0 to 10 in Swedish, and provide you with cultural information and interesting facts along the way. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to count to 10 in Swedish with ease, and understand how these numbers are used in everyday life. Let's get started!
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Feelings and Emotions, Swedish Vocabulary â Body parts and health â Symptoms and ..., House & How to keep a conversation going.
Swedish Cardinal Numbers[edit | edit source]
As in many other languages, Swedish numbers are vital in daily life, from telling time to ordering food at a restaurant. To begin, let's learn the numbers 0 to 10 in Swedish:
| Swedish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| noll | [nÉlË] | Zero |
| ett | [ÉtË] | One |
| tvĂ„ | [tvoË] | Two |
| tre | [treË] | Three |
| fyra | [fyËra] | Four |
| fem | [fÉm] | Five |
| sex | [sÉks] | Six |
| sju | [ɧÊË] | Seven |
| Ă„tta | [ÉtËa] | Eight |
| nio | [niË] | Nine |
| tio | [ËtuËɧÊ] | Ten |
It is important to note that Unlike in English, the Swedish counting system is based on twenty. The numbers from 11 to 19 are constructed as follows: (1) the number 10, 'tio', and (2) the appropriate number from 1 to 9. For instance, to say 15 in Swedish, one would say 'femton', which is a combination of 'fem' (five) and 'tio'.
Cultural Information[edit | edit source]
Swedish counting words have been influenced by the countryâs native Germanic language. As many people know, Sweden is a country with a rich and diverse culture. Swedish culture is quite unique, and something that Swedes take great pride in is the country's love of the environment. Sweden is known for its many public parks, forests, and lakes. Swedes tend to be environmentally conscious and take steps to minimize their impact on the planet. In addition, the country is also known for its high-quality healthcare system, excellent education system, and expansive welfare state.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To provide you with a bit of context, let's create a simple dialogue to practice the numbers we've learned:
- Person 1: Hej! Vad heter du? (Hi! What's your name?)
- Person 2: Jag heter Anna. Vad heter du? (My name is Anna. What's yours?)
- Person 1: Jag heter Johan. (My name is Johan.)
- Person 2: Trevligt att trÀffas, Johan! (Nice to meet you, Johan!)
- Person 1: Detsamma, Anna! Kan du rÀkna till tio pÄ svenska? (Likewise, Anna! Can you count to 10 in Swedish?)
- Person 2: SjÀlvklart! Noll, ett, tvÄ, tre, fyra, fem, sex, sju, Ätta, nio, tio. (Of course! Zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.)
- Person 1: Bra jobbat! Du kan redan rÀkna till tio pÄ svenska. (Well done! You can already count to 10 in Swedish.)
Interesting facts[edit | edit source]
- Did you know that the Swedish numbering system was once based on 12 instead of 10? This old numbering system is still evident in some Swedish phrases and sayings, such as "en gross" (a dozen) and "halv tolv" (half past eleven). - An interesting fact about the Swedish language is that itâs gender-neutral. This means that unlike in many other languages, there are no masculine, feminine or neutral gender nouns. Instead, there is only one definite article, "den", which can be used for all nouns. For example, "den lĂ„nga stolen" (the long chair) and "den kalla ölen" (the cold beer).
Practice[edit | edit source]
Now that weâve covered the numbers, itâs time to practice! Try counting to 10 in Swedish again, this time without looking at the table. Take it slow and remember the pronunciation.
To improve your [Swedish] Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!