We’ve all been there. You’re trying to describe a specific feeling or moment, but English just doesn’t seem to have the right word. Other languages often fill these gaps with beautiful, untranslatable terms. While German gives us Schadenfreude and Japanese Komorebi (sunlight filtering through leaves), Swedish is a treasure trove of uniquely precise words for everyday life.

Here are seven Swedish words we desperately need to borrow.

1. Fika (Fee-ka)
   More than just a coffee break, fika is a sacred cultural institution. It’s the ritual of pausing to share coffee, a pastry (like a kanelbulle), and conversation. It’s about connection, not just caffeine.
2. Lagom (Lar-gohm)
   The Goldilocks principle of the Swedish soul, lagom means not too much, not too little, but “just the right amount.” It’s the philosophy of balance and moderation in all things.
3. Mysig (Mee-sig)
   Move over, “cozy.” Mysig is cozy with vibes. It’s the feeling of candlelight, a warm blanket, good friends, and a feeling of contentment. A rainy day indoors can be profoundly mysig.
4. Resfeber (Rays-fay-ber)
   That jittery mix of excitement and anxiety right before a journey. It’s the “travel fever” that has you checking your passport for the tenth time, your heart buzzing with anticipation.
5. Gökotta (Yur-kot-ta)
   A word so poetic it deserves a holiday. Gökotta is the act of waking up early specifically to go outside and hear the first birds sing at dawn. It’s a celebration of a quiet, beautiful morning.
6. Orka (Or-ka)
   A verb for modern exhaustion. Orka means to have the energy or strength to do something. The sigh of “Jag orkar inte” (“I can’t orka”) perfectly captures the feeling of being too tired to even think about a task.
7. Smultronställe (Smul-tron-stel-leh)
   Literally “wild strawberry place,” this is your personal secret spot. A place, either physical or mental, that is uniquely dear to you, where you find peace and happiness away from the world.

This Swedish talent for pinpointing a feeling isn’t unique, of course. Languages are like cultural toolkits, each equipping its speakers with words for what they value most. The German “Waldeinsamkeit” captures the profound, solitary feeling of being alone in the forest, while the Welsh “Hiraeth” describes a deep, nostalgic longing for a home you can’t return to. These words remind us that every culture has its own emotional landscape.

Even our personal struggles are given poetic names elsewhere. In Arabic, you might sigh “Ya’ani” when searching for the right word—a versatile term akin to “it means” or “like,” filling the space where English leaves us fumbling. The Inuit “Iktsuarpok” describes the restless anticipation of waiting for someone, that feeling that makes you keep checking the window. It’s the cousin of Sweden’s “Resfeber,” but for connection rather than travel.

Isn’t it fascinating how a single word can hold an entire philosophy? Which one will you start using today?

Swedish Translation Services in Sweden