Å, Ä and Ö
The three letters are at the end of the Swedish alphabet and are independent characters.
North Germanic language
Have Swedish translated
svenska
Swedish documents are relevant in education, work, business and cross-border family matters.
Swedish is spoken by approximately ten million people, mostly in Sweden and parts of Finland.
Geographical distribution of Swedish
- Main distribution
- Other regional use
- Selected Diaspora
Sweden
Finland
Norway
Denmark
Schematic selection of important distribution areas. Language usage does not always follow national borders; the map is not complete population statistics.
Language profile
Swedish at a glance
- Proper name
- svenska
- language family
- North Germanic language
- font
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- sv
Documents and deployment
The language direction is often used
It's not just the language that matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste also classifies document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirement and desired language direction.
Have the document checked- Employment and business contracts
- Diplomas and certificates
- Civil status documents
- Technical and medical texts
- Authority and insurance documents
Origin and development
How language developed
Swedish is one of the North Germanic languages and developed from Old Norse. The Bible translation under Gustav Vasa in the 16th century is considered an important early standardization.
A spelling reform in 1906 brought many forms closer to pronunciation. In Finland, Swedish has official status and its own administrative traditions alongside Finnish.
Good to know
What makes this language special
Swedish in Finland
FinlandSwedish authority and place names may differ from the Swedish context.
Certainty in the word
The definite article is often added as an ending; Compound technical words must be carefully broken down.
A little language insight
Three first expressions
The transcription only serves as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transcription | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| God dag | — | Good afternoon |
| Tack | — | Thank you |
| Var soon | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide values and may vary depending on the definition, year of survey and inclusion of second language speakers.
- 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 standardized language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and area names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial source status: July 14, 2026. Information will be cross-checked before production goes live.
Swedish FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Swedish
Can I have Swedish translated into German and German into Swedish?
Both directions can be requested. A binding commitment is made after checking the type of document, subject area, certification, date and intended use.
Which documents are often relevant when speaking Swedish?
Employment and business contracts, diplomas and certificates, civil status documents, technical and medical texts are among the typical occasions. Other types of documents can also be checked with an easy-to-read photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste look for in Swedish?
The language direction, document type, Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, purpose and possible need for certification are checked.
Do I need a certified translation for my Swedish document?
This is decided by the receiving authority, the court, the notary or the other requesting body. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be presented; then the need can be classified appropriately.
Is a photo enough for the first check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and easy-to-read photo or PDF is usually sufficient to check the offer. Depending on the order, the original may also be required for later execution.
Have Swedish ↔ German tested specifically
Send an easy-to-read photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste personally checks the language direction, document, purpose and certification requirements.
