Written by Annamaria
30 Nov 2024
Life in Sweden is full of unwritten and unspoken rules that everyone somehow knows about and obeys religiously. Some of these little habits and traditions can seem baffling when you first encounter them but after some time, they become natural to you too. By mastering these rules, you’ll adapt to the Swedish environment with style, good snacks, and a well-timed ‘Oj!’. Are you ready? Let’s dive in…
Upgrade your vocabulary with “Ouff,” “Oj,” and “Jahaa”
Learning the basics of Swedish might be useful for a smoother life in Sweden. If you are just starting out, these three magical sounds can carry you through almost any situation. Something mildly interesting? “Jahaa” Something surprising? “Oj!” Did your train get canceled? “Ouff!” If there’s one phrase I would highlight, it’s “Jahaa.” It means “Oh, I see,” “I understand,” or “whatever, life goes on.” Accidentally moved to Sweden for love? “Jahaa.” Master these, and you might just sound like a real Swede.
Never say no to fika
There is no such thing as too much coffee in Sweden. No matter who you are—the CEO, the professor, an intern, or a student, you get the same coffee, the same pastry, and the same seat at the table. It’s egalitarianism at its most delicious. But beware: fika has rules. You don’t just grab a cookie and walk away. Fika is about spending time together, so you sit down, take a deep breath, and enjoy it. The unspoken rule? Everyone eats at the same pace. Swedes would rather chew in slow motion than finish first and make everyone else feel awkward.
If you ever decline fika, people will look at you like you just confessed to hating puppies. “Oh, you’re busy?” they’ll say, with barely concealed horror. “But there’s kladdkaka.” Swedes value balance and fika is sacred proof that no one is too busy to pause and get caffeinated. Saying no to fika is like saying no to friendship, cookies, and the meaning of life. So drink that tenth cup of coffee, eat the cinnamon bun, and embrace the sugar coma.
The art of avoiding eye contact
In Sweden, direct eye contact is reserved for life-or-death situations. On public transport, stare deeply into your phone or the void. If someone accidentally looks your way, remember: panic, glance out the window, and pretend it never happened. Spotting someone you know on the street? Cross to the other side. Neighbor in the elevator? Stare at the buttons like they hold the secrets to life. But don’t confuse this for rudeness—Swedes just respect your personal bubble as much as their own. But the second someone says “Hej,” prepare for 100% genuine friendliness. It’s all or nothing here.
Develop a sixth sense for knowing when to take a number
In Sweden, life is a series of queues, not just any. They use ticket systems everywhere! Visiting a doctor? Take a number. Buying cheese at the deli? Take a number. Are you thinking about not taking a number? Take a number anyway – you never know when it might be useful. Cutting in line, though? Absolute blasphemy. They may not confront you directly because of their inner fear of conflict but their passive-aggressive stares will pierce your soul. And don’t even think about hovering too close to the person ahead of you.
Picture this: you’re at a busy café on a Friday afternoon. The queue starts to form and everyone is perfectly spaced apart. But the stakes are high – there’s only one tray of kanelbullar left. In some cultures, this might lead to chaos. In Sweden? Never. No one will dare skip ahead. Instead, there’s a sense of trust in the system. If it’s meant to be, the cinnamon bun will be yours. If not? Well, that’s just lagom – fair and balanced. When you finally reach the counter, the server offers you the last kanelbulle. You glance at the person behind you, just to check their reaction. They nod stoically, silently communicating: It’s your turn. You’ve earned it. You take the bun proudly with a respectful “Tack så mycket”.
Learn to bike in every weather condition
Snow? Rain? Hurricane? Doesn’t matter. Swedes will bike through it all like they’re starring in an action movie. To truly adapt, invest in waterproof everything, slap a basket on your bike, and pedal your way into Nordic immortality. There’s no bad weather in Sweden, only bad clothing. Swedes are born with an innate sense of layering and can survive apocalyptic storms in style. Your mission: buy a proper rain jacket, thermal underwear, and hiking boots. Bonus points if you own a Fjällräven backpack and use it unironically.
But here’s the catch: Sweden may be one of the safest countries in the world for people but for bikes? Not so much. Forget to lock your bike and you might as well wave it goodbye. Your new bike lock will probably cost more than the bike itself if you bought it on Facebook Marketplace. Oh, these bikes! They’re suspiciously cheap, mysteriously still working, and always come with a faint whiff of guilt. Sure, the chain might squeak like it’s possessed, but hey, it gets you to ICA. Just don’t ask too many questions about where it came from.
Prep your soul for Swedish summer optimism
The second the temperature hits 10°C (50°F), Swedes act like it’s the Bahamas. T-shirts appear, outdoor dining resumes, and parks fill with picnickers. Sure, it’s still freezing in the shade, but who cares? Got an unexpected heatwave of 18°C? Swedes will exclaim, “It’s SO hot today!” while grilling korv (sausages) at the nearest lake. And don’t even get me started on Swedish beaches. A “perfect beach day” might involve icy water, cloudy skies, and a stiff breeze that threatens to send your towel into the Baltic. But they’re all in. Ice cream in hand, they’ll declare it “the best summer ever!”. Summer is short, so Swedes are all about enjoying every last ray of sun, and so am I.
Embrace the life in Sweden
So grab that suspiciously cheap bike from Facebook Marketplace, practice your best “Jahaa”, and embrace the time for fika. You’ll find yourself not only adapting to these rules but possibly actually enjoying them. That’s just how Sweden is. There’s truly no other place on Earth like it. And while life in Sweden thrives on order, it sometimes needs a little chaos too. So don’t be afraid to bring your own uniqueness to the mix. Laugh at the absurdity, embrace the awkward moments, and every now and then, shake things up (just a bit).
