When you move to Sweden from another country, you’ll hear the same reassurance over and over: “Don’t worry, everyone speaks English.” And it’s true that most Swedes speak excellent English, but it’s not really for your benefit. Mainly, it’s the simplest way they can communicate with you and it lets them practice their English.
Ironically, it’s also exactly what makes learning Swedish as an adult in Sweden so difficult.
Many expats arrive assuming immersion will do the heavy lifting. Live in Sweden long enough, and the language will just sink in, right? But, in reality, Sweden is one of the hardest places in the world to force immersion, especially if you live in a major city and work in English.
Is Swedish difficult for English speakers?
On paper, Swedish should be relatively easy for people who speak English. t’s a Germanic language with familiar vocabulary, straightforward grammar and no complex case system. You don’t have to memorize verb conjugations, and the sentence structure often mirrors English.
But the challenge isn’t grammar, it’s usage. Swedish pronunciation relies heavily on pitch and vowel length, which takes time for adult learners to hear and reproduce. Word order can feel unintuitive in longer sentences.
However, even if you get to the point of understanding others, Swedes are notoriously bad at understanding outsiders speaking Swedish. The joke (which is true) is that they can’t even understand other Swedes from different regions! So of course they will stare blankly when a foreigner tries to speak. One time I simply asked the bus driver if he was going to the town I live in. I was pronouncing it perfectly! But after nine or so tries, a fellow passenger had to tell him what I was saying.
Still, none of this is insurmountable. The biggest obstacle isn’t even the language or pronunciation; it’s access to practice.
The English switch problem
Even if you study diligently, you’ll likely hit the same wall most expats do; the moment you try to speak Swedish in real life, the other person switches to English.
Other than not understanding you, Swedes also value efficiency and politeness. If they hear you struggling, switching to English feels helpful to both of you. Many are also uncomfortable being put in the role of “language teacher” during casual interactions.
Unfortunately, this has consequences. When every grocery store interaction, meeting, or casual conversation defaults to English, your Swedish stalls. You can’t move forward in learning the language because no one will practice with you. Over time, this can feel demoralizing. Some expats give up entirely, convincing themselves Swedish isn’t necessary. Others feel guilty for not integrating properly, even though the environment makes it nearly impossible.
If you move to Spain or France, you will learn the language rather quickly because most people don’t speak English. You will be immersed. This is just not possible in Sweden, unless you don’t speak English! Non-English speakers are forced to learn Swedish much faster.
SFI: Helpful, free, and often frustrating
SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) is the free language program offered by municipalities. It’s a valuable resource, especially for absolute beginners. It provides structure, introduces grammar, and helps you build basic vocabulary. It’s also a social space, which can be a lifeline when you’re new to the country.
But SFI has real limitations.
Classes include students with different backgrounds and goals. They are often taught with very little English, because not all the students speak English, which makes it difficult and confusing. The pace can be too fast for casual learners or too slow for really determined learners. And teaching quality seems to vary significantly depending on the municipality and school.
I was lucky to have a small beginner’s class that was taught mostly in English. I loved the teacher, and the six weeks gave me a good introduction to Swedish. But after that, we went to the regular class where English stopped and we were thrown into a rotating lesson plan. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was no longer a good use of my time.
For many, SFI works best as a foundation, not a full solution. It teaches you about Swedish more than it teaches you to use it.
What actually helps
Learning Swedish in Sweden requires intentional friction. You often need to ask directly: “Kan vi prata svenska?” You have to tolerate slower conversations, awkward pauses, and misunderstandings.
Progress comes from repeated discomfort, not passive exposure.
Certain environments help more than others. Sports clubs, volunteering, parent groups, and activities with older Swedes tend to stick to Swedish. Rural areas and smaller towns offer fewer opportunities to default to English. Consuming Swedish media— TV, podcasts, audiobooks — can help tune your ear to the rhythm of the language.
Most importantly, managing expectations matters. Swedish fluency can take a long time, especially as an adult. Living in Sweden doesn’t guarantee language acquisition; only intentional and motivated practice does.
Do you really need Swedish?
The honest answer: it depends.
You can survive (and even thrive) in Sweden without Swedish, particularly if your workplace is international and the language is English. But if you don’t have a job at one of these few companies, it’s very, very difficult to get hired with English alone. Yes, that means that people are happy to speak English with you so that they can practice and don’t have to work to understand you. But then they won’t hire you if you don’t speak Swedish.
Learning the language changes your experience. It opens professional and social doors, deepens relationships, and reduces (well, slightly) the sense of living on the outside of society.
Sweden is a difficult place to learn the native language, especially when it is required to do so much– work, volunteer, even many hobbies. The tools are there and the people are kind, but the safety net of English is always waiting.
Breaking through takes patience, humility, and a willingness to keep speaking; even when everyone answers back in English.
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Read more about Sweden here in Dispatches’ archives.
Jess Bretin
Jess Bretin is a communications and content specialist, and an American living in Gothenburg, Sweden. While in the states, she spent 2 years on the road living in a van and visited every state. She then married a Frenchman, so she has spent alot of time in France. Jess is also a singer/songwriter in a rock band and loves to cook and stand-up paddle board.
See her posts here:
• Walk like a Swede, talk like a Swede: How to make friends in Sweden
• Chistmas in Sweden: Tradition, light and togetherness
• The cost of living in Sweden 2025: What's actually going on.
