10 Common Swedish Abbreviations That You Need to Know!

If you're learning Swedish, you've likely noticed that abbreviations pop up everywhere, from emails and text messages to official documents. Understanding these shortcuts can make navigating Swedish communication much easier. Let's take a closer look at some of the most common Swedish abbreviations and what they stand for.

1. m.m. - med mera 

Similar to "etc." in English, m.m. is used to indicate "and more" or "and so on." You'll often see it in lists or when someone doesn't want to spell out every single item. 

Example: "Vi har frukt, grönsaker, bröd, m.m." (We have fruit, vegetables, bread, etc.)

2. t.ex. - till exempel 

This abbreviation means "for example". It is commonly used in informal writing but can also be used in formal writing. Be sure to include a period after every shortened word, but beware that variations like 'tex.' or 'tex' may appear in the wild.

Example: "Du kan använda den i olika situationer, t.ex. vid möten eller presentationer." (You can use it in different situations, e.g. during meetings or presentations.)

3. bl.a. - bland annat 

Bl.a. translates to "among other things." It's a good way to give examples without listing everything. 

Example: "Vi erbjuder kurser i språk, bl.a. svenska och engelska." (We offer courses in languages, among others Swedish and English.)

4. o.s.v. - och så vidare 

Similar to m.m., o.s.v. means "and so on." However, it's typically used to continue a thought rather than list items. 

Example: "Vi ska diskutera budget, planering, deadlines, o.s.v." (We'll discuss budget, planning, deadlines, and so on.)

5. ca - cirka 

Used to indicate an approximate amount of time, ca is equivalent to "about" or "approximately". 

Example: "Det tar ca 10 minuter att gå dit." (It takes about 10 minutes to walk there.)

6. d.v.s. - det vill säga 

This one means "that is to say" or simply "i.e." It's often used to clarify or restate something in another way. 

Example: "Vi öppnar kl. 09:00, d.v.s. en timme tidigare än vanligt." (We open at 9:00 AM, i.e. one hour earlier than usual.)

7. fr.o.m., t.o.m. – från och med, till och med 

These abbreviations are commonly seen in dates or timelines. Fr.o.m. means "from and including," while t.o.m. means "up to and including." 

Example: "Rean gäller fr.o.m. måndag t.o.m. söndag." (The sale is valid from Monday through Sunday.)

8. OBS! - observera 

Used to draw attention to something important, similar to using "NOTE!" or "NB" in English. 

Example: "OBS! Ändrade öppettider i helgen" (NB! Changed opening hours this weekend)

9. exkl. – exklusive 

This abbreviation means "excluding" and is often used in pricing or lists. 

Example: "Priset är 500 kr exkl. moms." (The price is 500 SEK excluding VAT.)

10. inkl. – inklusive

 On the flip side, inkl. means "including". 

Example: "Hotellet kostar 1 200 kr inkl. frukost." (The hotel costs 1,200 SEK including breakfast.)

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Final Thoughts 

Abbreviations are a big part of everyday Swedish, and learning them can save you time and make you sound more fluent. Start by practicing these common ones, and you'll soon notice how often they appear.

Have you come across other Swedish abbreviations that confused you? Let us know in the comments!