To ask questions
Like in English, there are different ways to ask for directions in Swedish. In this accompanying table, you find the most important expressions to use when you want to know the best way to get to a place and how far it is.
Var finns (det) …? | Where is there …? |
Var ligger (det) …? | Where is there …? |
Var är …? | Where is …? |
Finns det … i närheten? | Is there … nearby? |
Hur kommer jag dit? | How do I get there? |
Hur kommer jag till …? | How do I get to …? |
Hur långt är det till …? | How far is it to …? |
Är det långt till …? | Is it far to …? |
Just replace the three dots with what you seek. This could be a definite or indefinite noun. If you want to know where the host is (if there is only one close by, you say the name of the hostel or the person you speak to knows what you mean), then you will use the definite form. Vandrarhemmet. So the question we get is Var ligger vandrarhemmet?. If you aren’t really sure if there is a hostel in this city, you need to use the indefinite form, which is ett vandrarhem. The question is then changed to Var ligger det ett vandrarhem?. The det is going to be located between the verb and the noun. The same goes for Var finns …? and Var finns det …?. If the noun is definite, you construct the question without det. The construction Var är …? only works with the definite form.
To receive answers
Important expressions to understand the right way and not get lost:
höger | right |
vänster | left |
till höger | to the right |
till vänster | to the left |
rakt fram | straight ahead |
tillbaka | back |
på höger sida | on the right |
på vänster sida | on the left |
till höger om | right of |
till vänster om | left of |
förbi | past |
Verbs
To tell the directions to someone could use the imperative mood or present tense. Important verbs are e.g. gå (go) and ta (take).
gå! | go!, walk! |
du går | you go, you walk |
man går | you go, one goes, you walk, one walks |
ta! | take! |
du tar | you take |
man tar | you take, one takes |