Pratar om vädret
Talking about the weather · a free Swedish immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
Det är kallt ute idag.
It is cold outside today.
Literal It is cold out today.
A classic Swedish weather opener using the impersonal 'det är' plus an adjective. 'Ute' (outside) contrasts with 'inne' (inside).
- 'Det är' is the standard impersonal construction for weather descriptions in Swedish.
- 'Ute' (outside) and 'inne' (inside) are common spatial adverbs.
Ska det regna imorgon?
Is it going to rain tomorrow?
Literal Shall it rain tomorrow?
Uses the modal verb 'ska' to express a future prediction. 'Regna' is the infinitive of 'to rain', used impersonally with 'det'.
- 'Ska' + infinitive expresses future intention or prediction.
- 'Imorgon' (tomorrow) is written as one word in Swedish.
Jag gillar inte när det blåser så hårt.
I don't like it when it blows so hard.
Literal I like not when it blows so hard.
Expresses a personal weather preference using 'gilla' in a negative construction. 'Blåser' is the present tense of 'blåsa' (to blow/be windy).
- Negation with 'inte' comes after the conjugated verb in Swedish main clauses.
- 'Blåser' is the present tense of 'blåsa', used impersonally with 'det'.
Det verkar som att det blir soligt nästa vecka.
It seems like it will be sunny next week.
Literal It seems as that it becomes sunny next week.
Uses 'verkar som att' (seems like) for a cautious prediction. 'Blir' is the present tense of 'bli' (to become), used for future states.
- 'Verkar som att' + subordinate clause is a natural hedging phrase.
- 'Nästa vecka' (next week) uses the indefinite noun after 'nästa'.
Vi borde ta med paraply, för det kan bli regn.
We should bring an umbrella, because it might rain.
Literal We should take with umbrella, for it can become rain.
Uses the modal 'borde' (should) for practical advice and 'kan bli' (can become/might be) to express possibility.
- 'Borde' is the past tense of 'böra', used for polite recommendations.
- 'Ta med' is a separable phrase meaning 'to bring along' (literally 'take with').
Vädret är perfekt för en promenad i parken.
The weather is perfect for a walk in the park.
Literal The weather is perfect for a walk in the park.
Approves of the weather for an activity. 'Vädret' is the definite form of 'väder' (weather), a neuter noun.
- 'Väder' is a neuter noun; the definite singular is 'vädret'.
- The preposition 'för' here means 'for' in the sense of 'suited to'.
Det snöar för första gången i år!
It's snowing for the first time this year!
Literal It snows for first time in year!
Expresses excitement about the season's first snowfall. 'Snöar' is the present tense of 'snöa' (to snow), used impersonally.
- 'För första gången' is a fixed phrase meaning 'for the first time'.
- 'I år' (this year) is a set time expression, written as two words.
Temperaturen har sjunkit mycket den senaste veckan.
The temperature has dropped a lot this past week.
Literal The temperature has sunk much the latest week.
Uses the present perfect to describe a recent trend. 'Sjunkit' is the supine form of 'sjunka' (to sink/drop).
- Present perfect: 'har' + supine ('sjunkit' from 'sjunka').
- 'Den senaste veckan' (this past week) uses the superlative 'senaste' as a definite adjective.
Hur är vädret i Stockholm på vintern?
What is the weather like in Stockholm in winter?
Literal How is the weather in Stockholm on the winter?
Swedish asks 'hur är vädret?' (how is the weather?) rather than 'what is the weather like'. 'På vintern' uses the definite noun with 'på' for seasons.
- 'Hur är vädret?' is the idiomatic Swedish way to ask about weather conditions.
- Seasons use the definite form with 'på': 'på vintern', 'på sommaren', 'på hösten', 'på våren'.
Det är varmare idag än igår, tack och lov.
It is warmer today than yesterday, thank goodness.
Literal It is warmer today than yesterday, thanks and praise.
Uses a comparative adjective and the idiomatic phrase 'tack och lov' (thank goodness). Comparisons use 'än' (than).
- Comparative of adjectives: 'varm' → 'varmare' (warm → warmer).
- 'Tack och lov' is a fixed idiomatic expression of relief.
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
väder
weather
Hur är vädret idag?
What is the weather like today?
Definite form: vädret. Nearly always used in the definite when discussing current conditions.
regn
rain
Det kommer regn imorgon.
There is rain coming tomorrow.
The verb form is 'regna': 'Det regnar' (it is raining).
soligt
sunny
Det är soligt och varmt ute.
It is sunny and warm outside.
Neuter form of 'solig'. Used in weather descriptions after 'det är'.
snö
snow
Det ligger snö på marken.
There is snow on the ground.
Verb: 'snöa' → 'Det snöar' (it is snowing).
temperatur
temperature
Temperaturen sjunker på natten.
The temperature drops at night.
Definite: 'temperaturen'. Used in its definite form in weather talk.
blåser
is blowing / it's windy
Det blåser kraftigt idag.
It is blowing strongly today.
Present tense of 'blåsa'. Used impersonally: 'det blåser'.
molnigt
cloudy
Det är molnigt och grått idag.
It is cloudy and grey today.
Neuter form of 'molnig'. Common form: 'en molnig dag' (a cloudy day).
paraply
umbrella
Glöm inte ditt paraply!
Don't forget your umbrella!
Borrowed from French 'parapluie'. Plural: paraplyer.
prognos
forecast
Vad säger väderprognosten?
What does the weather forecast say?
Often compounded as 'väderprognos' (weather forecast). Definite: 'prognosen'.
varmare
warmer
Det är varmare i söder.
It is warmer in the south.
Comparative of 'varm' (warm). Superlative: 'varmast'.
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Det är en grå måndagsmorgon och Lena tittar ut genom fönstret. Himlen är täckt av mörka moln och det blåser kallt från norr. Hon tar sin tjocka jacka och paraplyet, för väderprognosten säger att det ska regna hela dagen. På väg till jobbet möter hon sin granne Erik. 'Hemskt väder idag, eller hur?' säger han och skrattar lite. Lena nickar och svarar: 'Ja, men nästa vecka ska det bli soligare, tack och lov!'
Sentence by sentence
Det är en grå måndagsmorgon
It is a grey Monday morning
'Det är' sets the scene. 'Grå' (grey) is an invariable adjective form. 'Måndagsmorgon' (Monday morning) is a compound noun and must be written as one word in Swedish.
Himlen är täckt av mörka moln
The sky is covered with dark clouds
Passive construction: 'täckt av' (covered by). 'Mörka' is the plural/definite form of 'mörk' (dark).
det blåser kallt från norr
it is blowing cold from the north
Impersonal weather verb 'det blåser'. 'Kallt' is the neuter adverbial form of 'kall' (cold). 'Norr' (north) without article.
väderprognosten säger att det ska regna hela dagen
the weather forecast says it will rain all day
Subordinate clause introduced by 'att' (that), followed by 'ska' + infinitive for future. 'Hela dagen' means 'the whole day'.
Hemskt väder idag, eller hur?
Horrible weather today, isn't it?
'Hemskt' (horrible) is used colloquially about bad weather. 'Eller hur?' is a versatile tag question meaning 'isn't it / right?'
nästa vecka ska det bli soligare, tack och lov
next week it should be sunnier, thank goodness
'Soligare' is the comparative of 'solig' (sunny). 'Tack och lov' is a fixed idiomatic expression of relief, literally 'thanks and praise'.
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Impersonal Weather Constructions: 'det är' + adjective and 'det' + weather verb
Swedish describes weather using 'det' (it) as a dummy subject that refers to nothing specific — just like English 'it' in 'it's raining'. With weather adjectives, use 'det är + adjective'. With weather verbs like 'regna', 'snöa', and 'blåsa', use 'det + verb' directly. These are the two core patterns for all weather talk.
det är + [adjective] | det + [weather verb (present tense)]
Det är kallt och blåsigt.
It is cold and windy.
Det regnar ute.
It is raining outside.
Det snöar i norra Sverige.
It is snowing in northern Sweden.
Det är soligt och varmt idag.
It is sunny and warm today.
Det åskar och blixtrar.
It is thundering and lightning.
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Translate to Swedish: 'It is cold outside today.'
Hint Use 'det är' + adjective for weather descriptions.
Complete the sentence: 'Vi borde ta med _______, för det kan bli regn.' (We should bring an _______, because it might rain.)
Hint Think about what you carry when it rains.
What does this mean in English? 'Det verkar som att det blir soligt nästa vecka.'
Hint 'Verkar' means 'seems' and 'soligt' relates to 'sol' (sun).
Which sentence best describes snowing for the first time this year?
Rewrite using the opposite meaning: 'Det är varmare idag än igår.' (Make it colder today than yesterday.)
Hint 'Varmare' is the comparative of 'varm'. What is the comparative of 'kall'?
That’s today’s phraseberry.
Nice work, you understood something real today. Come back tomorrow for a fresh one.
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