Swedish Alphabet
When beginning to learn Swedish, perhaps the most crucial element—at least where reading and writing are concerned—is the alphabet. So, how different is it to the one you already know? Fortunately for new students, not very. You only need to learn three extra letters: å, ä, ö. The other 26 are exactly the same as what we use in English.
While the Swedish alphabet only has a few extra letters, each is a vowel. That means that not only are there new vowels to master, but even more vowel combinations with which to become comfortable. In fact, this rather extensive inventory of vowels makes for as many as 17 vowel phonemes, which can be a challenge for beginners looking to conquer Swedish pronunciation. Language learners need to develop an ear for the cadence of Swedish and get comfortable making mistakes and seeking out feedback.
Using the Rosetta Stone Dynamic Immersion® methodology, you’ll learn to speak the language, not just memorize the words. What makes it effective is that we prepare you to use your new language in your everyday life. So it’s not just about the features, but what you’re able to do because of them. It helps you get ready to handle situations with confidence.
Learning the Swedish Language
As a new learner, it’s tempting to merely translate words into Swedish. But learning a language is about more than just vocabulary acquisition. Once you’ve gotten comfortable with the sounds of the Swedish language, you should begin to learn the common phrases that are building blocks of conversations. Here are a few words and phrases you’ll hear.
• Tack = Thanks!
• God Morgon = Good Morning
• Hej Då = Goodbye
• Snälla = Please
• Ursäkta = Excuse me
• Förlåt = Sorry
• Hur mår du? = How are you?
Because of the thousands of cognates, English speakers often have a jumpstart on Swedish. The Swedish language can sound familiar to non-native speakers and provides a chunk of vocabulary to build on. In addition to cognates, Rosetta Stone makes your bite-sized Swedish lessons more effective by introducing words and common phrases in the context of everyday situations. Whether it’s a taxi ride or paying for groceries, you’ll be learning the Swedish words you need in an immersive environment that mimics real-world conversations.
As your studies progress, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. This sounds counter-intuitive, but making mistakes is part of the natural process of learning. Get comfortable speaking Swedish out loud, even if it means you might make a few gaffes. Rosetta Stone lets language learners rehearse this through live tutoring sessions with a native Swedish speaker. These unscripted conversations build confidence without the risk and provide another avenue for feedback as you progress on your language learning journey.
Above all, speak Swedish daily Sounding like a local doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a product of daily practice speaking the language out loud and honing your pronunciation. Rosetta Stone designs Swedish lessons with this in mind, making sure they sync across devices so you’ll have access to language learning that never leaves your side. Whether it’s by listening to Audio Companion, reading along with Stories, or speaking through every Unit, using the award-winning Rosetta Stone app makes it easy for Swedish learners to get the practice they need to feel confident speaking for themselves.
Rosetta Stone helps you get the pronunciation just right. Our patented TruAccent™ speech-recognition engine instantly compares your voice to native and non-native speakers, so you get real-time feedback for the most accurate pronunciation. It’s also adjustable, which allows you to fine-tune your accent. TruAccent is among the most powerful tools for helping you learn and speak the Swedish language.
After beginners have acquired basic words, short phrases, and their proper pronunciation, it’ll be a natural transition to learn the longer phrases that make up so much of everyday conversation. Rosetta Stone’s brief, 10-minute lessons are built in exactly this way, teaching the basics first, then moving onto longer phrases. This approach helps you acquire the skills to understand and be understood in Russian with confidence.
Try Our Award-Winning App
Surround yourself with Swedish whenever, wherever with the Rosetta Stone app.
Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation.
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
