Language/Swedish/Culture/Making-Small-Talk-in-Swedish

Making Small Talk in Swedish

Making small talk as Kerstin and Hanna are doing in this lesson's dialogue can be tricky, regardless of the culture or language you do it in. Therefore, we will talk about some subjects that can be suitable to talk about when engaging in small talk with Swedish people. As in many other cultures, making small talk by talking about the weather is perfectly fine in Sweden. Here, you can comment on the current weather or say something about yesterday's weather or what the weather is going to be like in the near future. Even if you want to be on your best behavior when you meet new people, it's perfectly acceptable to complain a bit about the weather.

Another topic that is usually safe for small talk is to ask about what someone does for a living and get them to talk a bit about that. Swedes are pretty casual, but that doesn't mean that you should bring up very personal issues or problems when you engage in small talk. If you feel unsure of what is suitable to talk about, you can always stick to topics similar to ones the person you're talking to is bringing up. Basic things like education, family, hobbies, and work are usually safe subjects.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Swedish Culture: Traditional Dishes and Dining Customs., Personal Hygiene, How Do Swedish Students Celebrate Graduation & Sweden History.

Other Lessons

• Åland History
• What is Sweden's Favorite Candy
• Romance in Sweden
• Personality Traits
• Fika
• What Swedes do in their Spare Time
• Gossip
• Stress for Swedish Youth
• Personal Hygiene
• Commenting on Appearance in Sweden
• Telling Swedes What you Really Think
• Exercise Habits in Sweden
• Homework Help
• How Do Swedish Students Celebrate Graduation