Å, Ä and Ö
These three letters appear at the end of the Swedish alphabet and are distinct characters.
North Germanic language
Have Swedish translated
svenska
Swedish documents are relevant to education, employment, business and cross-border family matters.
Swedish is spoken by approximately ten million people, mainly in Sweden and parts of Finland.
Geographical distribution of Swedish
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Denmark
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
Swedish at a glance
- Native name
- svenska
- Language family
- North Germanic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- sv
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Employment and business contracts
- Diplomas and certificates
- Civil-status documents
- Technical and medical specialist texts
- Public-authority and insurance documents
Origin and development
How the language developed
Swedish belongs to the North Germanic languages and developed from Old Norse. The Bible translation produced under Gustav Vasa in the 16th century is regarded as an important early stage of standardisation.
A spelling reform in 1906 brought many forms closer to their pronunciation. In Finland, Swedish has official status alongside Finnish and has its own administrative traditions.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Swedish in Finland
Official and place names used in Finland Swedish may differ from those used in Sweden.
Definiteness marked on the word
The definite article is often added as a suffix; compound specialist terms must be broken down carefully.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| God dag | — | Good day |
| Tack | — | Thank you |
| Var snäll | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Swedish language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Swedish FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Swedish
Can I have Swedish translated into German and German into Swedish?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Swedish?
Employment and business contracts, diplomas and certificates, civil-status certificates, and technical and medical specialist texts are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed using a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check for Swedish?
We check the language combination, document type, script (Latin alphabet), names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be needed.
Do I need a certified translation of my Swedish document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Ask us to review your Swedish ↔ German requirements
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
