Posts tagged with "new year"

2010 is coming – be prepared!

Posted by jennie 4 Comments
Dec 29 2009

Christmas is over (at least the fun bits of it…) and the only thing left of it is the extra kilos of meatballs on my belly that I’m now proudly carrying. Luckily for me, there’s a new year – and a new decade! – waiting around the corner and we all know what that means, don’t we? Yes, it’s time for a fresh start, a new beginning, another gym membership and another long list of resolutions that we normally break around lunchtime New Year’s day. Therefore, I give you some useful Swedish phrases and words to learn as we are heading into the 10′s (tiotalet).

For New Year’s Eve:
Nyårsafton = New Year’s Eve
Gott nytt år! = Happy New Year!
Tvåtusentio = Two thousand ten
Raketer = Fireworks
Nyårslöfte = New Year’s resolution
Trerätters middag = Three course dinner
Finklädd = Dressed up
Skål! = Cheers!
Midnatt = Midnight
Nattmat = Evening snack
Vill du gifta dig med mig? = Would you marry me?
Ja, såklart! = Yes, of course!
Jag älskar dig = I love you

For New Year’s day:
Huvudvärk = Headache
Vätskebrist = Dehydrated
Skräpmat = Junk food
Det här är min sista cigarett! = This is my last cigarette!
Nikotinplåster = Nicotine patch

For January 2nd:
Vad kostar ett gymkort? = How much is a gym memebership?
Träna = Workout
Nyttigt = Healthy
Promenera = Walking
Nej tack = No, thank you

For 2010:
Nystart = New beginning
Återhämta = Recovery
Olympiska Spelen = The Olympic Games
Heja Sverige! = Go Sweden!
Läsplatta = Portable reading device or e-book
Sparkonto = Savings account
Alice i Underlandet = Alice in Wonderland
Solförmörkelse = Solar Eclipse
Val = Election
Kungligt bröllop = Royal wedding
Fotbolls-VM = The Football World Cup
Lycka = Happiness
Hälsa = Health
Välgång = Prosperity

Anyone having “Learn Swedish” as their New Year’s resolution?

Nyårsafton

Posted by Transparent Language 5 Comments
Dec 31 2008

Today is nyårsafton and everybody, their mother and their dog are getting ready for some mad partying tonight. Yet, I am staying home, because jag är förkyld.

Yes, I have a nasty cold, and so there’s no partying for me. I will stay at home, watch TV, and then watch fireworks, which they normally tend to fire in the playground right behind my house. I can watch the show from the comfort of my bedroom window. I will also do some designated driving for my friends in the wee hours of the morning.

But before you too disappear into your Systembolaget-fueled New Year’s eve madness, take a look at these two examples:

  • nyårsafton (def. –aftonen, pl. –aftnar, def. pl. –aftnarna) – årets sista dag – New Year’s Eve, 31 December
  • nyårsdagen (pl. -dagar, def. pl. -dagarna) – årets första dag – New Year’s Day – 1 January

See anything odd about this second word? No? Look again.

We don’t say “nyårsdag” but “nyårsdagen” – this word exists in singular only in the definite form.

And that’s probably the limit of our intellectual effort for today.

Remember, if you’re going to party hard – have someone else do the driving afterwards, or call a cab. It may cost an arm and a leg tonight, that’s for sure, but it’s better to start the year in one piece, safe and sound. And besides, nyårsdagen from the inside of a jail cell is not all that exciting.

Have a safe New Year’s eve and a fabulous New Year!
Kramar,
Anna

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