Whether you're booking a flight to Stockholm, scheduling a fika with friends, or just trying to understand the weather forecast, knowing the days, months, and seasons in Swedish is essential. This guide covers the basic vocabulary for the days of the week (veckodagar), months (månader), and seasons (årstider) in Swedish.

We'll also touch upon important grammar points to help you use this vocabulary correctly in conversation.

Days of the Week (Veckodagar)

The Swedish week generally starts on Monday (måndag).

• måndag - Monday
• tisdag - Tuesday
• onsdag - Wednesday
• torsdag - Thursday
• fredag - Friday
• lördag - Saturday
• söndag - Sunday

Important Notes on Days:

• No Capitalization: Like in English, the days of the week are not capitalized in Swedish unless they start a sentence.
• Gender: Days are common gender (using 'en').
• Habitual Actions ("On Mondays"): Use the preposition på followed by the day with an -ar ending. Example: Jag tränar på måndagar. (I train on Mondays.) Alternatively, use varje (every): Varje måndag.
• Specific Day ("On Tuesday"): Use the preposition på followed by the day name without any special ending. Example: Vi ses på tisdag. (See you on Tuesday.)
• "This coming..." / "Last...": You can specify with nu på... (this coming...) or i...-as (last...; e.g., i måndags - last Monday).

Months of the Year (Månader)

The months are quite similar to English:

• januari - January
• februari - February
• mars - March
• april - April
• maj - May
• juni - June
• juli - July
• augusti - August
• september - September
• oktober - October
• november - November
• december - December

Important Notes on Months:

• No Capitalization: Months are also not capitalized in Swedish.
• Preposition "i": Use the preposition i to mean "in" a specific month. Example: Min födelsedag är i juni. (My birthday is in June.)

The Seasons (Årstider)

• en vår - Spring
• en sommar - Summer
• en höst - Autumn / Fall
• en vinter - Winter

Important Notes on Seasons:

• Gender: All seasons are common gender ('en').
• Preposition "på": Use på followed by the definite form of the season to mean "in the..." season.
  • På våren är det vackert. (In the spring it is beautiful.)
  • Vi åker till stranden på sommaren. (We go to the beach in the summer.)
  • Löven faller på hösten. (The leaves fall in the autumn.)
  • Det är kallt på vintern. (It is cold in the winter.)

Asking and Stating the Date

Asking:

• What day is it today?: Vilken dag är det idag?
• What date is it today?: Vilket datum är det idag?

Stating:

• Today is Monday: Idag är det måndag.
• The date structure usually uses ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) + month. Structure: den + [ordinal number] + [month].
  • It's May 5th: Det är den femte maj. (Literally: It is the fifth May.)
  • It's April 1st: Det är den första april. (Use första for 1st).
  • It's June 2nd: Det är den andra juni. (Use andra for 2nd).
  • It's July 3rd: Det är den tredje juli. (Use tredje for 3rd).
  • (Most other ordinals end in -de or -te, e.g., fjärde (4th), tionde (10th), tjugonde (20th)).

  Note: In casual writing, Swedes often write the date like `5/5` or `5 maj`.

Tips for Learning Swedish Days, Months & Seasons

• Use a Swedish Calendar: Keep a calendar with Swedish days and months visible.
• Practice Ordinal Numbers: Since dates use ordinal numbers (första, andra, tredje...), practice these alongside the regular numbers.
• Say Dates Frequently: Practice saying today's date, upcoming events, or birthdays in Swedish.
• Listen to Weather Forecasts: Swedish weather reports often mention days and relate conditions to seasons.
• Flashcards & Quizzes: Use flashcards for vocabulary and online quizzes for prepositions (`på`/`i`).
• Integrate with Learning: Incorporate this vocabulary into your regular study using resources like our online Swedish courses.

Conclusion

Learning the Swedish names for days, months, and seasons is a fundamental step towards discussing schedules, plans, and the world around you. While the vocabulary might seem straightforward, mastering the correct prepositions (på, i) and date structures requires practice.

By familiarizing yourself with these terms and rules, you'll significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively in everyday Swedish. Lycka till!