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
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Swedish at a glance
- Native name
- svenska
- Language family
- North Germanic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- sv
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- 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 brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| God dag | — | Good day |
| Tack | — | Thank you |
| Var snäll | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year 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 current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Swedish FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Swedish
Can I have Swedish translated into German and German into Swedish?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
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?
The review covers the language direction, document type, use of the Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation of my Swedish document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Ask us to review your Swedish ↔ German requirements
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
