Swedish Genealogical Word List
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The Swedish Genealogical Word List shows Swedish words and their English translations for many words that are found in documents used to research Swedish ancestors. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Swedish-English dictionary such as the Swedish Historical Dictionary Database, SHDD. (Or see "Additional Resources" below.)
Swedish is a Germanic language like Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic. A major spelling and grammar reform was introduced in Sweden in 1917. The sections of Language Characteristics, Key Words, and Additional Resources below are designed to help you find the words you need.
Word List[edit | edit source]
Click on the little box next to the word Swedish or English to sort the list by that language. Or, hold down the "ctrl" and "f" keys on your keyboard to search for a specific word. If you are looking for an occupation see Sweden Occupations.
To get help with common abbreviations in Swedish records see: Sweden Abbreviations in Family History Sources.
The entire Swedish to English word list is available in a PDF file Swedish to English Word List from the FamilySearch Wiki May 2011.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| adelsman | nobleman |
| arton(de) | eighteen (eighteenth) |
| adlig | noble |
| adopterad | adopted |
| adress | address |
| adressbok | directory |
| afton | evening |
| akut luftrörsinflammation | Bronchitis |
| aldrig | never |
| alla, allt | all |
| almsveda | shingles |
| alltid | always |
| allvarlig blodbrist | anemia |
| ambarn | nursing child |
| ammande kvinna | nursing mother |
| anasarcha | anasarca (a form of edema) |
| andra | second, others |
| andfåddhet | respiratory distress |
| andnöd | respiratory distress |
| andtäppa | shortness of breath, asthma |
| anemi | anemia |
| anfall | seizure(s) |
| angiven | given, stated |
| ankom | came, arrived |
| anmärkningar | remarks, annotations |
| annan | other |
| antavla | pedigree chart |
| anteckning | note, annotation, remark |
| april | April |
| apostem | swelling, boils, or growths of some sort |
| arbetare | worker, laborer |
| arjeplogsjukan | porphyria |
| arkiv | archive |
| aromatisk värk | rheumatism |
| arrendator | tenant farmer, leaseholder |
| arton | eighteen |
| arv | inheritance |
| arvinge | heir |
| arvskifte | distribution of an inherited estate |
| arvsot | hereditary illness |
| asiatiska influenzan | asian flu |
| aterom | atheroma |
| att | that (for example: know that he died) |
| attest | certificate |
| augusti | August |
| augustifeber | malaria |
| av | of |
| avgift | fee |
| avgång | departure |
| avgått | moved |
| avgått med döden | died (departed through death) |
| avig börd | birthing complications |
| avliden | deceased, death |
| avskedad | discharged, resigned |
| avlsag | postpartum infection |
| avsomna | die, death |
| avvittring | assignment of an inheritance to children of first marriage |
| backe | hill |
| backstugusittare | one who owned a small cottage, dugout dweller |
| bagare | baker |
| bakom | behind |
| baneman | slayer |
| baneslag | death blow, mortal stroke |
| banesår | death wound, mortal wound |
| bann | excommunication |
| banna | to scold, chide, reprehend, reprove |
| bannlysa | to excommunicate |
| baptist | Baptist |
| bar | carried |
| bara | only |
| bar barnet | carried or held the child (at baptism font) |
| barn | child(ren) |
| barnafånge | complications at childbirth |
| barnbarn | grandchild(ren) |
| barnbok | preconfirmation roll (in Finland) |
| barnbördshus | maternity hospital |
| barnförlämning | polio |
| barnkolera | diarrhea |
| barnkoppor | smallpox |
| barnkvävning | Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Mother was often blamed for smothering the child. Sometimes the priest held an investigation to determine weather the death was an accident |
| barnlös | childless |
| barnmorska | midwife |
| barnmördare | murderer of a child |
| barnpiga | maid for children |
| barnsbörd, barnsäng | childbirth |
| barnsjuka | children's disease |
| barnsnöd | complication at childbirth |
| barnsäng | childbirth |
| barnsängsfeber | perpetual complications or sickness at birth |
| Basedows sjukdom | hyperthyroidism |
| befolkning | population |
| begrava | bury |
| begravning | burial |
| begravningslängd | burial record |
| begravningsplats | cemetery |
| begått H(errens) H(eliga) Nattvard | taken the Lord\'s Holy Communion |
| benröta, benbrand, benetter | bone-rotting disease |
| benuppmjukning | rickets, caused by vitamin D deficiencies |
| benåd | pardon |
| benämd | called |
| berg | hill, mountain |
| bergfolk | mountain people, highlanders |
| bergslag | mining district |
| bergsman | miner |
| beskattning | taxation |
| beskrivning | description |
| besökare | customs official (archaic), visitor (modern) |
| beteckning för ägare eller brukare | indication if owner or renter |
| betjänt | servant, civil servant |
| bettlare | beggar |
| betyg | certificate |
| bevaka | protect |
| bevis | certificate, proof, evidence |
| bevistat läsförhören | present at household examination (clerical survey) |
| beväring | conscript |
| beväringsman | recruit |
| bilaga | supplement, enclosure |
| binnikemask | tapeworm |
| biografi | biography |
| biträde | assistant |
| bleksot | anemia |
| blind | blind |
| Blindtarms inflamation | appendicitis |
| bliva | to become |
| blodförgiftning | sepsis |
| blodkastning | excessive blood flow to a specific area of the body, leading to a build up of blood in that area |
| blodkoppor | no modern term. Infections or sicknesses that cause blood blisters |
| blodpropp | thrombus |
| blodsjuka | blood disorder |
| blodslag | cerebal stroke |
| blodsot | presents similar to dysentery but it can refer to several different illnesses |
| blodstörtning | severe or sudden bleeding |
| blödning | bleeding |
| blödarsjuka | hemophilia or inability of the blood to clot, causing excessive bleeding from minor injuries |
| bo | to live, home, estate |
| bok | book |
| bokhållare | bookkeeper |
| bonde | farmer |
| borg | castle, fortress |
| borgare | citizen, burgher |
| borgmästare | mayor |
| borta | absent |
| bortgift | married elsewhere |
| bostad | domicile |
| boupptekning | probate, estate inventory |
| bredvid | next to |
| bro | bridge |
| bror | brother |
| brorsdotter | niece, brother\'s daughter |
| brorsson | nephew, brother\'s son |
| brottfällig | epileptic fits |
| brud | bride |
| brudfolk | bridal couple |
| brudgum | bridegroom |
| brudpar | bridal couple |
| bruk | foundry, mill, iron industry |
| brukare | tenant farmer, leaseholder |
| bruksarbetare | foundryman, mill hand, iron worker |
| brukningsdelen | farm division |
| bryggare | brewer |
| bräcklighet | frailty |
| brännsjuka | feber disease, literally a "burning disease" |
| bröllop | wedding |
| bröstarvinge | heir |
| bröstfeber | pneumonia |
| bröstsjuka | chest illness, pneumonia |
| bröstkov | shortness of breath |
| bröstkvav | shortness of breath, can mean suffocation |
| bröstlidande | chest disease |
| bröstpassion | chest pain |
| bröstveda | chest disease |
| bröstvärk | chest pain |
| bukbet | abdominal pain |
| brukbrok | umbilical hernia |
| bukrev | constipation |
| bukvred | intestinal blockage |
| by | village |
| bygd | countryside, region, area |
| byggmästare | contractor, builder |
| båda | both |
| båtsman | seaman, sailor |
| bägge | both |
| bägges barn | child of both parents |
| bälgslag | colic |
| böcker | books |
| böld | abscess, boil |
| böter | fee, fine |
| bötfälld | fined |
| caution | security, deposit (as in bondsman) |
| cautionister | witness |
| choret (koret) | the most eastern part of the church floor plan, usually by the altar |
| Christendom, Kristendom | Christianity, Christian, religious |
| circa (ca.) (Latin) | about, approximately |
| civilregistret | civil registrar |
| civilstånd | marital status |
| coopvaerdi | merchant marine |
| dag | day |
| dagkarl | day laborer |
| dal | valley |
| Danmark | Denmark |
| danneman | farmer, gentleman |
| dansk | danish |
| datum | date |
| de | they |
| december | December |
| de där | those |
| de här | these |
| deja | maidservant, milkmaid |
| demoiselle | Miss |
| delinqventer | delinquent, criminal (old spellling) |
| den | the, it |
| den där | that |
| den här | this |
| deras | their |
| dess | his, her, its |
| det | the, it |
| det där | that |
| det här | this |
| diarre | diarrhea |
| djärv | bold, daring, venturesome |
| dog | dead, died |
| dom | sentence, judgment |
| dom | sentence, judgment |
| domare | judge |
| dombok | court record |
| domsaga | judicial district |
| dop | baptism, christening |
| doplängd | record of baptisms |
| dopnamn | given name |
| dotter | daughter |
| dragon | light cavalryman |
| drunknad | drowned |
| dräng | farmhand, bachelor |
| duplikat | duplicate record |
| dygn | 24 hours, day |
| då | then |
| där | there |
| därstädes | (of) that place |
| död, döda, döde | dead, death |
| dödbok | death record |
| dödfödd | stillborn |
| dödslista | death record |
| dödsorsak | cause of death |
| död utan bröstarvinge | died without issue |
| döpt, döpta, döpte, döpelse | christening |
| dött | has died |
| döv | deaf |
| efter | after |
| efterkommande | descendant(s) |
| eftermiddag | afternoon |
| efternamn | surname |
| efter sig lämnat | left behind, survived by |
| egendom | property |
| ej | not |
| ejusdem | same day/month |
| eldsvåda | extensive fire |
| elfte | eleventh |
| eller | or |
| elva | eleven |
| emigrerade | emigrated |
| en, ett | a, one |
| en/ett hundra(de) | one hundred (one-hundredth) |
| en/ett tusen(de) | one thousand (one-thousandth) |
| Engelska sjukan | ricketts (vitamin deficiency) |
| enligt | according to |
| epilepsi | epilepsy |
| ett, en | a, one |
| evangelisk | evangelical |
| fabrik | factory, mill |
| fabriksarbetare | factory worker |
| fadder | christening witness, godparent |
| fader | father |
| falla | fall, to be killed in war |
| fallande sot | epilepsy |
| familj | family |
| far | father |
| farbror | paternal uncle |
| farfar | paternal grandfather |
| farmor | paternal grandmother |
| fasta | fast, Lent |
| faster | paternal aunt |
| fattig | poor |
| fattighjon | pauper |
| fattighus | poorhouse |
| f. d. (före detta) | former(ly) |
| feber | fever |
| feberfrossa | malaria |
| februari | February |
| fem(te) | five (fifth) |
| femtio(nde) | fifty (fiftieth) |
| femton(de) | fifteen (fifteenth) |
| finländare, finne | Finn |
| finsk | Finnish |
| fiskare | fisherman |
| fjol (i fjol) | last year |
| fjorton(de) | fourteen (fourteenth) |
| fjärde | fourth |
| fjärdingsman | parish constable |
| flicka | girl |
| flicknamn | maiden name |
| fluss | any disease related to fluids |
| flytta | move |
| flyttningsbetyg | certificate of moving |
| fogde | sheriff, bailiff, warden |
| folio | page |
| folkskollärare | public school teacher |
| fortsättning (forts.) | continued |
| fosterbarn | foster child |
| fosterland | native land, fatherland |
| framför | in front of |
| fredag | Friday |
| frejd | a person's character, conduct |
| friherre | baron |
| frilla | concubine |
| frillebarn | bastard child |
| frossa | malaria |
| fru | Mrs. |
| från | from |
| frånskild | divorced |
| frälse | nobility |
| frälsegård, frälsehemman | tax-exempt farm (farm owned by a nobleman who collected the tax) |
| främmande | foreign, strange, belonging to another parish |
| fröken | Miss |
| fulslag | inflammation at the edge of a finger |
| fylleri | drunkenness |
| fyra | four |
| fyrtio(nde) | forty (fortieth) |
| fånig | brainsick, underwitted, idiotic (1889) |
| fältfeber | typhoid fever |
| fältskär | assistant army surgeon, barber- surgeon |
| fältväbel | sergeant major |
| fästehjon | betrothed couple, engaged pair |
| fästekvinna | fiancée (female) |
| fästman | fiancé (male) |
| fästmö | fiancée (female) |
| fästning | fortress |
| född, födda, födde, födelse | born, birth |
| föddes | was born |
| födelse | birth |
| födelsebok | birth record |
| födelsedag | birthday |
| födelselängd | birth record |
| födelseort | place of birth |
| födorådstagare | a person supported by another after giving up their estate. For example, residing for free, tax exemption, and receiving other fringe benefits. May be abbreviated as: Ftgr |
| följande | following, next |
| för | for |
| fördelsman | person receiving support after giving his estate to another |
| fördärvad | severely crippled |
| före | before |
| föregående | previous, preceding |
| förelyst | banns (in Finland) |
| förening | society |
| förfäder | forefathers |
| förgiftad | poisoned |
| förhör | household examination |
| förklara | declared, explained |
| förklaringen | explanation |
| förkylning | common cold |
| förlossning | delivery (childbirth) |
| förlovad | engaged |
| förlovning | engagement |
| förmiddag | morning, forenoon |
| förmyndare | guardian |
| förmäla | marry (older term) |
| förnamn | given name |
| förra giftet | previous marriage |
| förre, (den) | former |
| förrätta | perform |
| församling | parish, congregation |
| församlingsbok | clerical survey |
| första | first |
| första gången | first time |
| förstår | understand |
| förstoppning | constipation |
| försumlighet | negligence, neglectfulness |
| försvarslös | unemployed person, vagrant |
| förteckning | list |
| föräldralös | orphan |
| föräldrar | parents |
| gamla | old |
| gamla boken (G.B.) | old book, previous clerical survey |
| gammal | old |
| garvare | tanner |
| gata | street |
| gatehus, gatuhus | A term used in Southern Sweden for a crofters house similar to a backstuga |
| genast | right away, immediately |
| genealogi | genealogy |
| genom | through |
| gesäll | journeyman |
| gift | married |
| gifta sig | to marry |
| gifte | marriage |
| giftermål | marriage ceremony |
| giftoman | bride\'s sponsor |
| gikt | gout |
| god | good |
| gosse | boy |
| granne | neighbor |
| gratialist | receiving a pension or cash from some special fund |
| grav | grave |
| gravationer (estate inventories) | claims against another persons estate |
| grekisk katolsk | Eastern Orthodox |
| grenadjär | infantryman |
| greve | count (title of nobility) |
| gruva | mine |
| gräns | boundary line, border |
| gudeligen | godly |
| gudfader | godfather |
| gudmoder | godmother |
| gulsot | jaundice |
| gång | time |
| gård | farm, house |
| gåvor | donations |
| gäll (gäld) | clerical district |
| gästgivare | innkeeper |
| gördelmakare | brazier |
| halv- | half-, step- |
| halvsyskon | half siblings |
| hammarsmed | forging smith |
| han | he |
| handelsman | merchant |
| handskmakare | glove maker |
| hans | his |
| hantverkare | artisan |
| hastig | acute |
| hattmakare | hatmaker |
| hava | to have |
| havande | pregnant |
| hederlig | honorable, honest |
| hektisk feber | infectious disease accompanying a fever |
| helgonskyld | tax or wage to the klockare often a agricultural product |
| helig | holy |
| hem | home |
| hemma | at home |
| hemman | farm, homestead |
| hemmansbrukare | farmer |
| hemmansägare | farmer, homeowner |
| hemort | residence |
| hemvist | domicile |
| henne | her |
| heraldik | heraldry |
| herr | Mr. |
| Herren | Lord |
| herrgård | manorial estate |
| hetsig feber | inflammatory fever |
| hinderlös | free, unhindered (to travel, marry) |
| hinderlöshetsbetyg | certificate of being unhindered |
| historia | history |
| hittebarn | foundling |
| hjon | person belonging to a group, for example tjänstehjon, inhysseshjon, fattighjon |
| hjonelag | connubial union (union in the state of marriage) |
| hjulmakare | wheelwright |
| hjärnblödning | stroke, cerebral hemorrhage |
| hjärtslag | cardiac arrest |
| hjärtsprång | heart disease |
| hon | she |
| honom | him |
| hos | at, in, with |
| hosta | cough |
| hovrätt | circuit court of appeal |
| hujus | this month |
| hur | how |
| hus | house |
| husar | light cavalryman |
| husbonde | master of a family or of a house |
| husfader | head of household, father |
| husfolk | farmers, farm people |
| husförhör, husförhörslängd | clerical survey, household examination |
| husman | farm laborer (owned house but not land) |
| husmoder | female head of household, mother |
| hustru | wife |
| hyresgäst | lodger |
| håll och styng | pneumonia |
| här | here |
| härad | civil district within a county |
| häradsrätt | district court |
| härstädes | here, at given location |
| hög | high |
| höger | right |
| höst | autumn |
| i | in |
| icke | not |
| i dag | today |
| i fjol | last year |
| ifrån | from |
| i går | yesterday |
| ihjälslagen | beaten to death |
| i morgon | tomorrow |
| inflyttning | incoming, moving in |
| inflyttningsbetyg | moving in certificate |
| inflyttningslängd | moving in register |
| ingen | no, no one, none |
| inget | nothing, none |
| inhyses | a person living gratis (costless, free) at another persons house, lodger |
| innehåll | contents |
| innevarande | current |
| inskrivning | entry |
| inskrivningsskyldiga | conscription duty |
| invandrare | immigrant |
| invandring | immigration |
| januari | January |
| jord | earth, soil, land |
| jordbrukare | farmer |
| jordebok | land record |
| jordegumma | midwife |
| jordfästning | funeral, burial service |
| jordregisternamn | land registry name |
| jude | Jew |
| judisk | Jewish |
| jul | Christmas |
| juli | July |
| jungfru | Miss, maiden, virgin |
| juni | June |
| jägare | hunter |
| jägmästare | forester |
| jämte | together with |
| kallad | called, named |
| kallbrand | gangrene |
| kammarskrivare | assistant clerk |
| kapellförsamling | chapelry, dependent branch of a parish |
| kaplan | assistant minister |
| karbunkel | carbuncle |
| karl | man, male |
| karta | map |
| katalog | directory, catalog |
| katekismilängd | communion record |
| katolsk | Catholic |
| kavallerist | cavalryman |
| kikhosta | whooping cough |
| klensmed | toolmaker, locksmith |
| klockare | parish clerk |
| knekt | soldier |
| knektekontrakt | agreement of enrollment |
| kofferdi | merchant marine |
| kolare | charcoal burner |
| kolera | cholera |
| kolik | colic |
| kommen ifrån | came from |
| komminister | assistant minister |
| kommun | township, municipality, parish |
| kommunikant | person receiving communion |
| kommunionbok | communion book |
| kommunionlängd | communion record |
| konfirmation | confirmation |
| konfirmationslängd | confirmation record |
| kontrahenterna | marriage applicants |
| kontrakt | deanery (clerical district) |
| konung, kung | king |
| konvulsioner | convulsions |
| kopparslagare | coppersmith |
| koppor | smallpox |
| kov | shortness of breath |
| kramp | convulsions |
| krank | illness |
| krigsarkiv | war archive, military archive |
| kristendom, christendom | Christianity, Christian, religious |
| kristendomskunskap | religious knowledge |
| kristnad | christened, baptized |
| krono- | belonging to the crown (government) |
| kronohemman | farm owned by the crown (government) |
| krukmakare | potter |
| kräfta | cancer |
| kung, konung | king |
| kungarike | kingdom |
| kunglig | royal |
| kusin | cousin |
| kunskap | knowledge |
| kvarlåtenskap | possessions left after death |
| kvarn | mill |
| kvarter | block, quarter |
| kvinna, kvinnkjön | woman, female |
| kvinnoklinik | maternity hospital/clinic |
| kväll | evening |
| kvävning | suffocation |
| kyrka | church |
| kyrkobok | parish register |
| kyrkoby | village in which the parish church is located |
| kyrkogång | introduction of mother into congregation after childbirth |
| kyrkogård | churchyard, cemetery |
| kyrkoherde | parish minister |
| kyrkosocken | ecclesiastical parish |
| kyrkotagen | introduction of mother into congregation after childbirth |
| kyrkovaktare | church officer |
| kyrkovärd | church or parish warden |
| käresta | loved one, wife |
| kön | sex, gender |
| köpebrev | purchase deed, title deed |
| köping | small town |
| köpman | merchant |
| körsnär | furrier |
| lag | law |
| laga år kommen | of legal age |
| land | land, country |
| landsarkiv | provincial archive |
| landsförsamling | rural parish of a city |
| landskap | province |
| lapp | Lapp |
| ledig | unmarried, free |
| leva | to live |
| levande | living |
| lik | corpse |
| lilla | little, small |
| liten | little, small |
| lots | sea pilot |
| lucka | gap (missing records) |
| lunginflammation | pneumonia |
| lungsot | consumption, tuberculosis |
| luteran, lutersk | Lutheran |
| lysning | banns |
| lysningslängd | banns register |
| lyst | posted banns |
| låg | low |
| lägenhets | apartment |
| lägersmål | illicit relations |
| lägrad kvinna | woman who has had illicit relations |
| lägre | lower |
| läkare | doctor |
| län | county |
| längd | roll, record, book |
| länsman | sheriff |
| lärare | teacher |
| lärling | apprentice |
| lönskaläge | illicit relations between unmarried persons |
| löpande | current |
| lördag | Saturday |
| lösdrivare | vagrant |
| magref | colic |
| magsjukdom | stomach disease |
| magvärk | stomachache |
| magskärv | painful stomach disease |
| maj | May |
| majestät | royal majesty (as in Kunglig Majestät) |
| majestätsbrott | treason |
| maka | spouse, mate, husband, or wife |
| makarnas gemensamma barn | child(ren) a couple had together |
| make | spouse, mate, husband, or wife |
| mamsell | Miss |
| man, mankjön | man, male, husband |
| mantal | assessed unit of land |
| mantalskriven | registered for tax/census purposes |
| mantalslängd | tax/census record |
| marasmus | malnutrition |
| marknad | market, fair |
| mars | March |
| maskslag | fainting |
| maskinist | machinist, engineer |
| massel | small rash, similar to measles |
| matros | sailor, seaman |
| med | with |
| medborgare | citizen |
| medlem | member |
| mellan | between |
| men | but |
| middag | noon |
| midnatt | midnight |
| militär | military |
| minderårig | underage |
| mindre | lesser, smaller |
| ministerialbok | parish register |
| minut | minute |
| mjölnare | miller |
| moder, mor | mother |
| moderpassion | hysteric fits |
| morbror | maternal uncle |
| morfar | maternal grandfather |
| morgon | morning |
| morgongåva | morning gift, dowry |
| mormor | maternal grandmother |
| mosaisk | Jewish |
| moster | maternal aunt |
| mot | against, toward |
| murare | mason |
| mycket | very, much |
| myndig | of legal age |
| myndling | pupil or ward |
| måg | son-in-law |
| målsman | guardian |
| månad | month |
| måndag | Monday |
| mässling | measles |
| mästare | master |
| mördad | murdered |
| namn | name |
| nationalitet | nationality |
| natt | night |
| nattvard | communion |
| nedan(för) | below |
| nedkomst | birth |
| nedre | lower |
| nervfeber | typhoid fever |
| nervslag | sudden paralysis |
| nio(nde) | nine (ninth) |
| nittio(nde) | ninety (nintieth) |
| nitton(de) | nineteen (nineteenth) |
| njurpassion | kidney stone disease |
| noll | zero |
| nord | north |
| Norge | Norway |
| norr(a) | north, northern |
| norsk | Norwegian |
| november | November |
| nu | now |
| nummer | number |
| ny (a) | new |
| nya boken (N.B.) | new book, next clerical survey |
| nybyggare | settler |
| nyfödd | newborn |
| nytt | new |
| någon | someone, anyone |
| något | something, somewhat |
| nämdeman | juryman |
| när | when |
| nära | near |
| näringsfång | source of livelihood, business, industry |
| närvarande | present |
| närvaro | presence |
| nöddop | emergency baptism |
| oangiven | not given |
| obefintliga | persons whose residence is not known |
| och | and |
| också | also |
| odaterad | not dated |
| odöpt | not christened |
| ofta | often |
| ofärdig | lame, crippled |
| ogift | unmarried |
| oktober | October |
| okänd | unknown |
| olycka | accident, misfortune |
| om | if, about |
| omkommen | died accidentally, drowned |
| omkring | about |
| omvändelse | conversion |
| omyndig | minor |
| onsdag | Wednesday |
| ondslag | syphilis |
| ordbok | dictionary |
| ormbett | bitten by a snake |
| orsak | cause, reason |
| ort | place |
| ortförteckning | locality list, gazetteer |
| ortodox | (Eastern) Orthodox |
| otidigt sängelag | fornication betweeen a couple who intends to marry (who are not engaged) |
| ovan, ovanför | above |
| oxel | tumour |
| oäkta | illegitimate (child) |
| passion | suffering |
| pastor | parish minister |
| pastorat | parish |
| pastorsexpedition | parish office |
| personernas | the person\'s |
| pest | plague |
| piga | maid, maiden, servant girl |
| pilt(ebarn) | boy, male child |
| pingst | Pentecost, Whitsunday |
| pliktad | fined |
| plåga | pain |
| podager | gout |
| pojke | boy |
| postaddress | mailing address |
| profoss | flogmaster (military) |
| prost | dean |
| prosteri | deanery |
| präst | minister |
| prästgård | parsonage |
| på | on, upon, at (some place), in (about time) |
| påsk | Easter |
| påssjuka | mumps |
| regemente | regiment |
| register | register, index |
| repslagare | rope maker |
| Riddarhuset | house of nobility |
| rike | state, realm |
| riksarkiv | national archives, state archives |
| rote | district within a parish |
| rotehjon | person supported by a parish district |
| rotesoldat | soldier for a district in a parish |
| rulla | record, roll |
| rusthåll | farm equipping a (cavalry) soldier |
| rusthållare | owner of a farm equipping a cavalry soldier |
| rymt, rymd | runaway |
| rysk, ryss | Russian |
| Ryssland | Russia |
| ryttare | cavalryman |
| rådhusrätt | city court |
| rådman | councilman |
| rådstu(gu)rätt | city court |
| räkenskapslängd | records of accounts |
| rätt | court, right, correct |
| rättare | farm foreman |
| rödsot | dysentery |
| röta | gangrene |
| rötfeber | gangrene, typhus fever, putrid fever |
| sakna(s) | miss, missing |
| salig | the deceased, blessed |
| samhälle | community |
| samma | (the) same |
| sammanavla | beget, conceive |
| sammanviga | marry |
| samma städes | (of) the same place |
| samt | and, together with |
| samtycke | permission, consent (to) |
| sangliggande | bedridden |
| scharlakansfeber | scarlet fever |
| sedan | since |
| sekel | century |
| senare, (den) | later, the latter |
| sent | late |
| september | September |
| sex | six |
| sexman | parish caretaker |
| sextio(nde) | sixty (sixtieth) |
| sexton(de) | sixteen (sixteenth) |
| sida | page |
| sig | himself, herself, itself |
| sin, sitt, sina | his, her, its (own) |
| sinnesrubbad | deranged |
| sinnessjuk | insane |
| sinnessvag | feebleminded |
| sjelfspillan | one who committed suicide (old spelling) |
| sju | seven |
| sjuk | sick |
| sjukdom | sickness |
| sjuklig | sickly |
| sjunde | seventh |
| sjuttio(nde) | seventy (seventieth) |
| sjutton(de) | seventeen (seventeenth) |
| självmord | suicide |
| sjätte | sixth |
| sjö | lake |
| sjöman | sailor, seaman |
| skarprättare | executioner, hangman |
| skarpskytt | sharpshooter |
| skatt | tax |
| skattehemman | farm on which taxes are to be paid to the crown (government) |
| skeppare | skipper |
| skerfva | rickets or malnutrition |
| skilsmässa | divorce |
| skog | forest |
| skogvaktare | forester |
| skola | school |
| skollärare | schoolteacher |
| skomakare | shoemaker |
| skorstensfejare | chimney-sweep |
| skottår | leap year |
| skrud | gown (bridal) |
| skräddare | tailor |
| skörbjugg | scurvy |
| slag(anfall) | stroke |
| slagen af åskan | hit by lightning |
| slagsmål | fight |
| slaktare | meat cutter, butcher |
| slot | castle |
| slut | end |
| släkt | family, clan |
| släktbok | lineage book |
| släktforskning | genealogy |
| släkting | relative |
| släktled | generation |
| smed | blacksmith |
| smittkoppor | smallpox |
| smärta | pain |
| små (plural) | little, small |
| snatteri | pilfering |
| snickare | carpenter |
| socken | parish |
| soldat | soldier |
| som | who, which, that |
| sommar | summer |
| son | son |
| sondotter | son\'s daughter, granddaughter |
| sonhustru | son\'s wife, daughter-in-law |
| sonson | son\'s son, grandson |
| sotdöd | old age |
| sotsäng | sickbed |
| spannmålstorpare | tenant farmer, receiving part of his wages in grain |
| spinnare | spinner |
| spridda år | intermittent years |
| späd | infant |
| stad | city |
| stadsarkiv | city archives |
| stadsförsamling | city parish |
| stamfader | progenitor |
| stamtavla | descendancy chart |
| statare, statdräng | farm laborer |
| stattorpare | farm laborer, usually married |
| stenhuggare | stonecutter |
| stenpassion | gallbladder disease |
| sterbhus | a family or house where the master or mistress of the house is dead |
| stiefson | stepson |
| stifson | stepson |
| stift | diocese |
| stoft | mortal remains, or ashes |
| stor, stort, stora | large, big, great |
| straff | punishment |
| straffarbete | hard labor |
| strax | right away, immediately |
| strypsjuka | diptheria |
| studerande | student |
| stuga | cottage, house |
| stum | dumb, mute |
| stupa | to be killed in war |
| styrman | mate, on ship |
| styv- | step- |
| styvson | stepson |
| stånd | status, condition |
| ståndsperson | person of social standing |
| ställe | place |
| stärbhus | death estate |
| stöld | theft |
| summa | total |
| svaghet | weakness, feebleness |
| svagsint | feebleminded |
| sven | young man, apprentice |
| svensk | Swedish |
| Sverige | Sweden |
| svullnad | swelling, bloating |
| svulst | tumor |
| svåger | brother-in-law |
| svägerska | sister-in-law |
| svärfar | father-in-law |
| svärmor | mother-in-law |
| svärson | son-in-law |
| syd | south |
| syskon | siblings |
| syskonbarn | nephew(s), niece(s), cousin(s) |
| syssling | second cousin, tremänning |
| syster | sister |
| systerdotter | niece, sister\'s daughter |
| systerson | nephew, sister\'s son |
| syting | person receiving support after giving his estate to another |
| såg | saw, sawmill |
| sågställare | saw setter |
| sängliggande | bed-ridden |
| särskilda | special |
| säteri | freehold estate |
| söder (södra) | south (southern) |
| söndag | Sunday |
| testamente | will |
| tid | time |
| tidskrift | periodical |
| tiggare | beggar |
| till | to |
| tillsammans | together |
| tillstånd | dispensation, permission |
| timma | hour |
| timmerman | carpenter, builder |
| ting | court |
| tingslag | judicial district, assize division |
| tio(nde) | ten (tenth) |
| tionde | tenth, tithing |
| tiondebok | tithing record |
| tisdag | Tuesday |
| titel | title/occupation |
| tjugo | twenty |
| tjugoandra | twenty-second |
| tjugoen, tjugoett | twenty-one |
| tjugofem(te) | twenty-five (twenty-fifth) |
| tjugofjärde | twenty-fourth |
| tjugofyra | twenty-four |
| tjugoförsta | twenty-first |
| tjugonde | twentieth |
| tjugonio (nde) | twenty-nine (twenty-ninth) |
| tjugosex | twenty-six |
| tjugosju(nde) | twenty-seven (twenty-seventh) |
| tjugosjätte | twenty-sixth |
| tjugotre | twenty-three |
| tjugotredje | twenty-third |
| tjugotvå | twenty-two |
| tjugoåtta | twenty-eight |
| tjugoåttonde | twenty-eighth |
| tjuv | thief |
| tjänar | serves |
| tjänare | servant |
| tjänst | service, employment |
| tolfte | twelfth |
| tolv | twelve |
| torpare | crofter, cottager |
| torsdag | Thursday |
| tre (tredje) | three (third) |
| tremänning | second cousin |
| trettio | thirty |
| trettioen, trettioett | thirty-one |
| trettioförsta | thirty-first |
| trettionde | thirtieth |
| tretton(de) | thirteen (thirteenth) |
| trillingar | triplets |
| trolovade | betrothed, engaged |
| trosbekännelse | declaration of faith (religion) |
| trumslagare | drummer |
| trädgårdsmästare | gardener |
| tuberkulos | tuberculosis |
| tumör | tumor |
| tunnbindare | barrelmaker |
| tvillingar | twins |
| tvinsot | withering from multiple causes |
| två | two |
| två hundra(de) | two hundred (two-hundredth) |
| tyfus | typhoid |
| tysk | German |
| Tyskland | Germany |
| tärande sjukdom | pneumonia, consumption |
| undantag | support after giving up an estate |
| undantagsman kvinna | person receiving support after giving his estate to another |
| under | under |
| underskrift | signature |
| undertecknad | the undersigned |
| ung | young |
| ungkarl | bachelor |
| uppgavs | stated, given, declared |
| uppgiftsnummer | information number |
| ut | out |
| utan | without |
| utanför | outside |
| utdrag | extract |
| utesluten | excommunicated |
| utflyttning | moving out |
| utflyttningsbetyg | moving out certificates |
| utflyttningslängd | moving out register |
| utländsk | foreign |
| utsot | diarrhea |
| utvandrare | emigrant |
| utvandring | emigration |
| vad | what |
| vagnmakare | cartwright |
| vaktmästare | caretaker |
| vallon | Walloon, for more see: Vallons in Sweden |
| vandel | conduct, habits, way of life |
| vapen | coat of arms, weapon |
| var | each, everyone |
| var | was, where |
| vara | to be |
| varför | why |
| vattenkoppor | chicken pox |
| vattusot, vattensot | edema, dropsy |
| vecka | week |
| vem | who |
| venerisk sjukdom | venereal disease |
| verk | factory, mill |
| vid | at, on, close to, by |
| vigd, vigda, vigde | married |
| vigsel | marriage ceremony |
| vigselbok | marriage book |
| vigsellängd | marriage record |
| vilja | to want, will |
| vilken, vilket, vilka | who, which, that |
| vinter | winter |
| vittne | witness |
| volym | volume |
| våda | accident |
| vådeligen | violently (usually an accidental death) |
| vår | our, spring |
| välboren | of noble birth |
| välfrejdad (abbrev. v.fr.) | of good reputation |
| vänster | left |
| värk | ache, dull pain |
| värnplikt | military service |
| väster (västra) | west (western) |
| vävare | weaver |
| yngling | young man, boy |
| yrke | profession, occupation |
| å | at, on, to |
| å | river |
| åbo | tenant farmer with conditional, inherited lease |
| åkomma | ailment |
| ålder | age |
| ålderdom | old age |
| ålderdomskrämpor | old age ailments |
| åldersdomssvaghet | old age weakness or feebleness |
| år | year |
| århundrade | century |
| årlig | annual, yearly |
| årtionde | decade |
| åt | to |
| återvänd | returned |
| åtta | eight |
| åttio(nde) | eighty (eightieth) |
| åttonde | eighth |
| äga | own |
| ägare | owner |
| ägor | land, property |
| äkta | legitimate |
| äktenskap | marriage |
| äldre | older, elder |
| äldste | oldest, eldest, elder |
| ämbete | office |
| änka | widow |
| änkeman, änkling | widower |
| ännu | yet, still |
| är | are, is, am |
| ärlig | honest |
| ätt | family |
| ö | island |
| öde | vacant, fate |
| öga | eye |
| öra | ear |
| öster (östra) | east (eastern) |
| över | over |
| överlevande | survivor(s) |
| övre | upper |
Language Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Swedish is spoken in Sweden and parts of Finland. The Swedish language was used in official records of Finland until the end of the 1800s.
Variant Forms of Words[edit | edit source]
In Swedish, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries— married are examples of words in English with variant forms. The endings of a word in a document may differ from those in this list. Also, vowels sometimes have diacritical marks indicating a variant spelling of a Swedish word (for example the conjugation of a verb.) Note the following examples:
|
man |
man the man men the men |
yrke |
profession the profession professions the professions |
Alphabetical Order[edit | edit source]
Swedish has three additional letters not found in the English alphabet: Å (å), Ä (ä), and Ö (ö). Alphabetically, these letters come after Z. The letter Å (å) was always used in Swedish as a letter of its own (unlike the Aa in Danish and Norwegian). Before 2006 the letter W was considered a variation of V and not a letter. Swedish dictionaries, indexes, the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog, and this word list use the following alphabetical order (after 2006):
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, Å, Ä, Ö
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling rules were not standardized in earlier centuries. The following spelling variations are common.
|
b used for p |
q used for k |
Examples:
|
kvinna seen as qvinna |
skov seen as schov |
Key Words[edit | edit source]
To find and use specific types of Swedish records, you will need to know some key words in Swedish. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and the Swedish words with the same or similar meanings.
For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Swedish words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined,and other words used in Swedish records to indicate marriage.
|
English military |
Swedish man, make |
Numbers[edit | edit source]
Translations for numbers are found on the English to Swedish Numbers in Word Form Wiki page.
Additional Resources[edit | edit source]
This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Swedish-English dictionary. Several Swedish-English dictionaries are available at the FamilySearch Library. These are in the Scandinavian collection. Their call numbers begin with 439.7321.
The following dictionaries are also available:
- Widegren, Gustaf, Svenskt och engelskt lexicon, efter kongl. Secreteraren Sahlstedts Svenska ordbok, Stockholm 1788, available through 1788 Swedish English Dictionary
- Wahrman, Sven Niclas. Svenskt och Tyskt - Franskt - Engelskt Hand-lexicon, Örebro 1814, available through the Swedish Historical Dictionary Database, SHDD
- Ernolv, Carl. Svensk-Engelsk Ordbok [Swedish-English Dictionary]. Stockholm: Svenska Bokförlaget Norstedts, 1947. (FS Library film 1,124,531 item 12).
- Björkman, C.G. Svensk-Englesk Ordbok [Swedish- English Dictionary]. Stockholm: P.A. Norstedt, 1889. (FS Library film 1,224,734). Swedish spelling was reformed in 1906. Since this dictionary was written in 1889, it shows words as they were spelled before 1906.
- For death records: See a list of causes of death in the Demographic Database of Southern Sweden (DDSS).
- For various online Swedish-related dictionaries, see Projekt Runeberg.
Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under SWEDISH LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES or in the Place Search under SWEDEN - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES - DICTIONARIES.