Swedish Numbers 1 to 100
Swedish numbers are wonderfully logical. Unlike Danish with its complex base-20 system, Swedish counts in tens just like English. The numbers share clear Germanic roots, making them recognizable to English speakers. From ordering två kaffe to reading Swedish price tags, this guide takes you from ett to hundra with pronunciation for every step.
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Numbers 1 to 10
These are the foundation. Notice how many resemble their English cousins — the shared Germanic heritage makes these easier than you might expect.
The number sju (seven) is notoriously hard for non-Swedes to pronounce. It starts with a “hw” or “sh” sound followed by a rounded “oo.” Swedes consider it a fun pronunciation test for foreigners. Don’t worry — even a rough attempt will be understood.
Numbers 11 to 20
The teens follow a clear pattern: the unit comes first, followed by -ton (from tio, ten). Eleven and twelve are slightly irregular, but the rest are predictable.
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The Tens: 30 to 100
Swedish tens are formed by adding -tio (ten) to the base digit, with some minor spelling adjustments. Compound numbers put the tens first, just like English: tjugoen (twenty-one), trettiofem (thirty-five).
Compound numbers are straightforward: just combine the tens and the units. 42 is fyrtiotvå, 67 is sextiosju, and 99 is nittionio. No reversal, no surprises.
In everyday spoken Swedish, the tens are often shortened. Trettio becomes "tretti," fyrtio becomes "förti," and so on. This casual pronunciation is perfectly normal and what you will hear most often.
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are essential for dates, addresses, and rankings. The first three are irregular; from fourth onward, they follow a regular pattern.
Useful Number Phrases
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Swedish numbers similar to English?
Yes, many Swedish numbers share Germanic roots with English. En/one, två/two, tre/three, fyra/four all have recognizable connections. Swedish numbers are simpler than Danish (which uses a base-20 counting system) and follow a straightforward pattern.
How do Swedes say compound numbers like 25?
Swedish puts the tens first, like English: tjugofem (twenty-five). This is the opposite of German and Dutch, which reverse the digits. Swedish compound numbers are formed by simply combining the tens word with the unit: tjugo + fem = tjugofem.
What is the difference between en and ett with numbers?
Swedish has two genders: en-words (common) and ett-words (neuter). The number one changes accordingly: en bok (one book) vs ett hus (one house). All other numbers stay the same regardless of gender.
How do you say years in Swedish?
Years are typically read as full numbers. 2024 is tvåtusentjugofyra (two-thousand-twenty-four). Older years can be split: 1995 as nittonhundranittiofem (nineteen-hundred-ninety-five).
What are ordinal numbers used for in Swedish?
Ordinal numbers are used for dates (den tredje mars = the third of March), floor numbers, rankings, and order. The first few ordinals are irregular (första, andra, tredje), but from fourth onward they follow a regular pattern with the endings -de or -te.