Swedish False Friends

A curated set of 10 false friends in Swedish — literal translations, real meanings, and where each one comes from.

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• Fart — Actually means 'speed' or 'momentum'. Full fart = full speed ahead. Literally: fart.
• Bra — Actually means 'good'. Det är bra = That's good. Literally: bra (undergarment).
• Glass — Actually means 'ice cream'. En glass = an ice cream. For a glass (vessel), say ett glas. Literally: glass (drinking vessel).
• Semester — Actually means 'holiday' or 'vacation'. A school semester is en termin. Literally: semester (school term).
• Barn — Actually means 'child'. A barn is en lada. Literally: barn (the building).
• Sex — Actually means 'six'. Klockan sex = six o'clock. Literally: sex.
• Bord — Actually means 'table'. Ett bord för två = a table for two. Literally: board.
• Rar — Actually means 'sweet' or 'kind'. En rar person is a lovely person. (In Norwegian, rar means 'strange' — another Nordic pair that split.) Literally: rare.
• Grind — Actually means 'gate' — the garden or field kind. To grind is mala. Literally: grind.
• Stol — Actually means 'chair' — any chair, backrest included. A stool is en pall. Literally: stool.

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