Alphabet and Pronunciation
This lesson introduces the Swedish alphabet and provides a quick guide to Swedish pronunciation. Some sounds in Swedish are not in English and will take a bit of practice to get right. Pronunciation also varies a bit depending on the region that Swedish is spoken.
At the end of this lesson are two samples of spoken Swedish, along with the transcript in both Swedish and English.
| A a | (ah) | Sounds like the a in father when followed by a single consonant. Otherwise between the a in bat and the u in but. |
| B b | (bay) | Pronounced as in English. |
| C c | (say) | Pronounced like k, except when followed by e, i, y, ä, or ö, where it is pronounced like s. |
| D d | (day) | Pronounced as in English. In the combination dj the d is silent. |
| E e | (ay) | Pronounced like e in bed when followed by a single consonant. Otherwise like ay in day. |
| F f | (eff) | Pronounced as in English. |
| G g | (gay) | Before the vowels (e i y ä ö) or in the combination gj, pronounced like y in yes. Otherwise pronounced like g in go. |
| H h | (hoh) | Pronounced as in English. H is silent in the combination hj. |
| I i | (ee) | Pronounced like i in bid when followed by a single consonant. Otherwise like ee in see. |
| J j | (yee) | Pronounced like y in yes. |
| K k | (koh) | Before the vowels (e i y ä ö) or in the combination kj, pronounced like sh in shirt. Otherwise pronounced like k in king. |
| L l | (ell) | Pronounced as in English. L is silent in the combination lj. |
| M m | (em) | Pronounced as in English. |
| N n | (en) | Pronounced as in English. |
| O o | (oo) | Pronounced like o in hoop or o in hop. |
| P p | (pay) | Pronounced as in English. |
| Q q | (kew) | Rare in Swedish. |
| R r | (ar) | Pronounced as in English. Except rs which is pronounced sh. Can be silent before n and t. |
| S s | (ess) |
Pronounced like s in sit. The combination rs is prounounced sh. The combinations sj, skj, stj, as well as sk before (e i y ä ö) do not have an equivalent sound in English. Somewhat like the h in huge. |
| T t | (tay) | Pronounced as in English. The combination tj is pronounced like sh in ship. |
| u | (Sound not in English) | Pronounced like oo but with the lips more rounded. Represented by ew. |
| V v | (vay) | Pronounced same as English. |
| W w | (dobbel vay) | Pronounced like v. Not common in Swedish |
| X x | (eks) | Pronounced like ks. |
| Y y | (Sound not in English.) | A sound between ee and oo. |
| Z z | (sayta) | Rare in Swedish. Pronounced like the s in sit. |
| Å å | (oh) | Pronounced like oa in boat. |
| Ä ä (eh) | Pronounced like e in get. | |
| Ö ö | (Not in English) | Pronounced as a sound between ay and o. Represented by oe. |
For a more thorough guide to pronunciation see. Wikipedia Swedish orthography and Wikipedia Swedish phonology
Video
Here is a youtube video by "Swedish with Axel" to help you with Swedish pronunciation.