Swedish Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye and More

Short answer: The most common Swedish greeting is "Hej" (hi), used in almost any situation, formal or informal. For goodbye, "Hej då" works everywhere. Swedish greetings are generally relaxed and informal compared to many other European languages, which makes them a great starting point for beginners.

Saying hello in Swedish

Swedish	English	When to use it
Hej	Hi / Hello	Any time, any situation, the all-purpose greeting
Hejsan	Hi there	Slightly more cheerful, casual version of hej
Tjena	Hey	Very casual, common among friends
God morgon	Good morning	Before noon, slightly more formal
God middag	Good afternoon	Around midday, less common in everyday speech
God kväll	Good evening	In the evening, somewhat formal

In practice, "Hej" covers almost every situation you will encounter, from meeting a shop assistant to greeting a colleague, which makes it the single most useful word to learn first.

Saying goodbye in Swedish

Swedish	English	When to use it
Hej då	Bye	Standard, works in almost any situation
Vi ses	See you	Casual, used with people you expect to see again soon
Ha det bra	Take care / Have it good	Warm, friendly way to end a conversation
God natt	Good night	Used specifically when parting for the night
Vi hörs	Talk soon (literally "we'll hear each other")	Used when ending a phone call or expecting to talk again

Asking how someone is

After greeting someone, it is common to ask how they are doing:

• Hur mår du? - How are you? (asking about wellbeing)
• Hur är läget? - How's it going? (casual, literally "how is the situation")
• Bra, och du? - Good, and you?
• Så där - So-so

Formal vs informal greetings

Compared to many other languages, Swedish culture favors a relatively informal and flat communication style, and this shows in greetings too. There is no strong equivalent to formal titles used with greetings in some other languages, and "du" (you, informal) is used almost universally, even with strangers, officials and in many professional settings. This makes greetings less complicated to learn than in some other European languages, since you rarely need to worry about choosing between formal and informal registers.

Regional and generational variation

You may hear slightly different greetings depending on the region or the speaker's age. "Tjena" and "Tja" are more common among younger speakers and in casual settings, while "God dag" is more old-fashioned and now used rarely, mostly in very formal or ceremonial contexts. As a learner, sticking with "Hej" and "Hej då" will serve you well in almost any situation.

Using greetings in real conversations

Here is a short example exchange combining several greetings:

A: Hej! Hur mår du? (Hi! How are you?)
B: Bra, tack, och du? (Good, thanks, and you?)
A: Bra också. Vi ses imorgon! (Good too. See you tomorrow!)
B: Ja, hej då! (Yes, bye!)

Practicing short exchanges like this out loud, rather than just memorizing isolated words, helps you use greetings naturally and confidently in real situations.

Why greetings matter beyond politeness

Greetings are often the very first thing tested in speaking assessments like the YKI test, since examiners want to see that you can open and close a conversation naturally. They are also your first impression in real-life interactions, whether at work, with neighbors, or during a citizenship interview process. For more useful everyday language beyond greetings, see our list of useful Swedish phrases for beginners.

If you want to build real conversational confidence beyond just greetings, our Total Beginner to YKI course includes speaking practice from your very first lesson.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common way to say hello in Swedish?

"Hej" is by far the most common and versatile greeting, suitable for virtually any situation, formal or informal.

Is there a formal version of "you" in Swedish greetings?

Not in everyday modern use. Swedish largely uses "du" (informal you) even in professional and official contexts, unlike many other European languages.

What do Swedes say instead of "how are you"?

"Hur mår du?" or the more casual "Hur är läget?" are both common ways to ask how someone is doing.

Is "Hej hej" a real greeting?

Yes, repeating "hej" as "hej hej" is a common, friendly variation, often used when parting ways rather than meeting.

Do Swedish greetings change depending on time of day?

There are time-specific greetings like "God morgon" (good morning) and "God kväll" (good evening), but "Hej" works at any time of day as a safe default.