False friendEverydaySwedish

Bord

Meaning: Actually means 'table'. Ett bord för två = a table for two.

Looks like: Board

Origin: From Old Norse borð, 'plank, table' — the same root as English 'board', which also once meant a table, as 'room and board' still remembers.

More false friends — Everyday

  • Stol Actually means 'chair' — any chair, backrest included. A stool is en pall.
  • Time Actually means 'hour'. En halv time = half an hour. Time in the general sense is tid.
  • Sky Actually means 'cloud'. The sky overhead is himmelen.
  • Familiya (Фамилия) (Familiya) Actually means 'surname'. A family is семья (semya).
  • Aktualny (Актуальный) (Aktualnyy) Actually means 'topical' or 'currently relevant'. For actual (real), say настоящий (nasto…
  • Artist (Артист) (Artist) Actually means 'performer' — an actor, singer or circus artiste. A painter is художник (k…

More Swedish false friends

  • Rar Actually means 'sweet' or 'kind'. En rar person is a lovely person. (In Norwegian, rar me…
  • Grind Actually means 'gate' — the garden or field kind. To grind is mala.
  • Fart Actually means 'speed' or 'momentum'. Full fart = full speed ahead.
  • Bra Actually means 'good'. Det är bra = That's good.
  • Glass Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas.
  • Semester Actually means 'holiday' or 'vacation'. A school semester is en termin.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Fika A ritual pause in the day — coffee, something sweet, good company — that is more about co…
  • Orka To have the energy or will for something. Jag orkar inte carries the whole of 'I can't fa…
  • Hinna To manage something inside the time available — not speed, but fitting the act in before…

Browse all untranslatable words →

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