First Phrases

Winter home problems · Svenska

Winter home problems phrases in Swedish: 15 phrases

Tell the landlord or agency that the heating, hot water or power has failed, report a leak, frozen pipe, damp or a window that will not close, ask them to send someone, book a plumber or electrician, ask when they can come, the cost and an invoice, and say it is urgent. Short, natural phrases for when something breaks at home in winter.

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.

Register: Informal (friendly). In Sweden everyone says "du", including the landlord ("hyresvärd"), the property company ("fastighetsägare" or "förvaltare") and tradespeople. "Rörmokare" = plumber, "elektriker" = electrician. In a rented flat you often report faults to the "fastighetsjour" (the property's emergency line). Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

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
    Värmen fungerar inte.
    Say it like: VEHR-men fung-YEH-rar IN-teh
    The heating isn't working.
    Register: Add "sedan igår" (since yesterday).
  2. 02Neutral
    Vi har inget varmvatten.
    Say it like: vee har ING-et VARM-vat-ten
    We have no hot water.
    Register: Say "Jag har" if you live alone.
  3. 03Neutral
    Elementet läcker.
    Say it like: eh-leh-MEN-tet LEK-ker
    The radiator is leaking.
    Register: "Element" is the word for a radiator in Sweden.
  4. 04Neutral
    Värmepannan visar en felkod.
    Say it like: VEHR-meh-pan-nan VEE-sar en FEHL-kood
    The boiler shows an error code.
    Register: Read out the code. Many flats have district heating ("fjärrvärme") with no boiler of your own.
  5. 05Neutral
    Strömmen har gått.
    Say it like: STRUR-men har goht
    The power has gone out.
    Register: Also "Vi har inget el" (we have no electricity).
  6. 06Neutral
    Ett vattenrör har frusit.
    Say it like: et VAT-ten-rur har FREW-sit
    A water pipe has frozen.
    Register: "Rör" = pipe.
  7. 07Neutral
    Det finns mögel och fukt på väggen.
    Say it like: deh fins MUR-gel ok fewkt poh VEG-gen
    There is mould and damp on the wall.
    Register: "Mögel" is mould, "fukt" damp.
  8. 08Neutral
    Fönstret går inte att stänga ordentligt.
    Say it like: FURN-stret gor IN-teh at STENG-a OR-dent-lit
    The window won't close properly.
    Register: Add "och det drar" (and there is a draught).
  9. 09Neutral
    Kan du skicka någon som kan titta på det?
    Say it like: kan dew SHIK-ka NOH-gon som kan TIT-ta poh deh
    Can you send someone to take a look?
    Register: Use it with the landlord or the property company.
  10. 10Neutral
    Jag vill boka en rörmokare eller en elektriker.
    Say it like: yah vil BOO-ka en RUR-moo-ka-reh EL-ek-trik-er
    I'd like to book a plumber or an electrician.
    Register: "Boka" = to book.
  11. 11Neutral
    När kan de komma?
    Say it like: nehr kan dom KOM-ma
    When can they come?
    Register: Add "idag" (today) or "imorgon" (tomorrow).
  12. 12Neutral
    Hur mycket kommer det att kosta?
    Say it like: hewr MEW-keh KOM-mer deh at KOS-ta
    How much will it cost?
    Register: Also "Kan jag få en offert?" (can I get a quote?).
  13. 13Neutral
    Kan jag få en faktura, tack?
    Say it like: kan yah foh en fak-TEW-ra tak
    Can I have an invoice, please?
    Register: "Faktura" is an invoice, "kvitto" a receipt.
  14. 14Neutral
    Det är brådskande.
    Say it like: deh eh BROHD-skan-deh
    It's urgent.
    Register: Add "tack" to keep it friendly.
  15. 15Neutral
    Jag har ett litet barn och det är mycket kallt.
    Say it like: yah har et LEE-tet barn ok deh eh MEW-keh kalt
    I have a small child and it's very cold.
    Register: For a baby: "en bebis".

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Quick answers

How do you say the heating isn't working in Swedish?

Say: "Värmen fungerar inte." (The heating isn't working.)

Should I use informal or formal Swedish with a landlord or tradesperson?

In Sweden everyone says "du", including the landlord ("hyresvärd"), the property company ("fastighetsägare" or "förvaltare") and tradespeople. "Rörmokare" = plumber, "elektriker" = electrician. In a rented flat you often report faults to the "fastighetsjour" (the property's emergency line). Phrases only: this card says nothing about who has to pay or fix what.

How do I ask someone to come and fix it in Swedish?

Say: "Kan du skicka någon som kan titta på det?" (Can you send someone to take a look?)

How do I ask when they can come and how much it costs in Swedish?

Try: "När kan de komma?" (When can they come?) and "Hur mycket kommer det att kosta?" (How much will it cost?)

Winter home phrases in another language

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