First Phrases

Train and bus phrases · Svenska

Train and bus phrases in Swedish: 15 phrases

Buy a ticket, ask which platform or stop, check the next departure, ask about delays and changes, pay by card, find your seat, get off at your stop, find the exit or taxi rank, deal with a missed train and say thank you. Short, polite phrases for trains and buses in a new country. Pair them with Meet & Mint once you are settled.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Informal (friendly). In Sweden everyone says "du", also with ticket staff and drivers; there is no formal "you" to worry about. "Tack" and "hej" do the work of politeness. Ticket rules differ between SJ trains, regional trains and local buses, so check your operator's rules or app before you travel. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How to read the sounds: Swedish stress is in CAPITALS. a = 'ah', å = the o of 'more', ä = the e of 'bed' (or 'air' before r), ö = the u of 'fur', y = say 'ee' with rounded lips (written ew). sj and tj are soft hushing sounds; k before e, i, y, ä, ö sounds like English 'ch'. Double consonants make the vowel before them short.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    En biljett till ..., tack.
    Say it like: en bil-YETT til ..., tack
    One ticket to [place], please.
    Register: Put the place name where the dots are. Many people buy in an app.
  2. 02Neutral
    En tur och retur, tack.
    Say it like: en tewr ok reh-TEWR, tack
    A return ticket, please.
    Register: "Tur och retur" = there and back.
  3. 03Neutral
    Från vilket spår går det?
    Say it like: frawn VIL-ket spawr gawr deh
    Which platform does it leave from?
    Register: "Spår" = platform / track.
  4. 04Neutral
    Är det här tåget till ...?
    Say it like: air deh hehr TAW-get til ...
    Is this the train to ...?
    Register: Say the destination after "till".
  5. 05Neutral
    Stannar bussen i ...?
    Say it like: STAN-nar BUS-sen ee ...
    Does this bus stop at ...?
    Register: "Stanna" = to stop.
  6. 06Neutral
    När går nästa?
    Say it like: nair gawr NES-ta
    When is the next one?
    Register: Works for a train or a bus.
  7. 07Neutral
    Tåget är försenat. Hur mycket?
    Say it like: TAW-get air fur-SEH-nat. hewr MEW-keh
    The train is delayed. How long?
    Register: "Försenad" = delayed; "hur mycket" asks how much (late).
  8. 08Neutralcheck
    Var ska jag validera biljetten?
    Say it like: vahr skah yaag va-lee-DEH-ra bil-YET-ten
    Where do I validate my ticket?
    Register: Most Swedish tickets are in an app or on a card; ask before you board if unsure.
  9. 09Neutral
    Kan jag betala med kort?
    Say it like: kan yaag beh-TAH-la meh kort
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: Cash is often not accepted on buses.
  10. 10Neutral
    Är den här platsen ledig?
    Say it like: air den hehr PLAT-sen LEH-dig
    Is this seat free?
    Register: Asked before you sit next to someone.
  11. 11Neutral
    Ursäkta, jag ska av här.
    Say it like: EWR-shek-ta, yaag skah ahv hehr
    Excuse me, I am getting off here (this is my stop).
    Register: "Ska av" = am getting off.
  12. 12Neutral
    Måste jag byta tåg?
    Say it like: MOS-te yaag BEW-ta tawg
    Do I need to change trains?
    Register: "Byta" = to change.
  13. 13Neutralcheck
    Var är utgången / taxistationen?
    Say it like: vahr air EWT-gawng-en / TAK-see-sta-hoo-nen
    Where is the exit / the taxi rank?
    Register: Choose one: "utgången" or "taxistationen".
  14. 14Neutral
    Jag har missat mitt tåg. Vad kan jag göra?
    Say it like: yaag hahr MIS-sat mit tawg. vahd kan yaag YUR-a
    I missed my train. What can I do?
    Register: Say it at the ticket desk or to staff.
  15. 15Neutral
    Tack, ha en bra resa.
    Say it like: tack, hah en brah REH-sa
    Thank you, have a good trip.
    Register: "Trevlig resa" is also common.

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Quick answers

How do you ask for a train ticket in Swedish?

Say: "En biljett till ..., tack." (One ticket to [place], please.)

Should I use formal or informal Swedish with ticket staff and drivers?

In Sweden everyone says "du", also with ticket staff and drivers; there is no formal "you" to worry about. "Tack" and "hej" do the work of politeness. Ticket rules differ between SJ trains, regional trains and local buses, so check your operator's rules or app before you travel. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I ask which platform a train leaves from in Swedish?

Say: "Från vilket spår går det?" (Which platform does it leave from?)

How do I say I missed my train in Swedish?

Say: "Jag har missat mitt tåg. Vad kan jag göra?" (I missed my train. What can I do?)

Train and bus phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

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