Swedish Language Facts
Interesting Swedish Language Facts
If you’re thinking about learning Swedish it’s always good to know a little about the origins and history of the language you are learning. Here, Cactus Language offers up our most interesting Swedish language facts:
1. Swedish is a North Germanic language derived from Old Norse
Swedish differentiated itself from Danish in the Middle Ages. Swedish has been heavily influenced by other Germanic languages, especially Danish, throughout its history. In the 18th century, Swedish also borrowed a large number of words from French. While Swedish has many dialects, Standard Swedish became the standardised form of Swedish spoken nationally in Sweden during the 19th and 20th century.
2. There are around 9 million native Swedish speakers across the world
Swedish is mainly spoken in Sweden, where it is an official language, and in some coastal parts of Finland. In addition to this, it is estimated that around 40,000 students are learning Swedish as a second language outside Sweden and Finland.
3. Several Swedish words made it into the English language
Examples of Swedish loanwords include gravlax (a Nordic dish served as a starter), moped (formed of motor” and “pedal”, this word refers to a small motorcycle), ombudsman (a public advocate), orienteering (sports using navigational skills), rutabaga (a root vegetable), tungsten (translating directly as “heavy stone”, it refers to a chemical element).
4. The longest Swedish word contains 28 letters
According to the Swedish Academy, Swedish’s longest word is realisationsvinstbeskattning. It stands for “capital gains tax”.
5. Swedish shares similarities with Danish and Norwegian
Swedish share a common history and is mutually intelligible with Danish and Norwegian. It is often said that by learning Swedish, one is actually learning three languages.
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Swedish Courses
An excellent way to improve your Swedish language skills is by taking a group Swedish language course with Cactus. We offer Swedish languages courses online and face-to-face in over 10 locations across the UK.
Private Tuition
Cactus offers a range of options for Swedish private tuition. You can choose one-to-one classes if you prefer online and tailored Swedish lessons that suit your schedule and location. For more information please visit our private tuition and corporate language training division.
