The Many Dialects Of Sweden

It is impossible to determine the exact number of dialects spoken in Sweden, but linguists have categorized them into six distinct regions:

1. Sydsvenska mål: Spoken in the southernmost region, including Skåne, Blekinge, and parts of Halland and Småland, this dialect is known for its prominent "r" sounds. A unique word in this dialect is hutta (meaning "to throw"). [2]
2. Götamål: Found in southwestern Sweden, Götamål shares some similarities with Norwegian and Danish. A notable word in this dialect is rotabagge (similar to the English "rutabaga"). [3]
3. Sveamål: Spoken in the Svealand region, this dialect is known for its silent "t" and sometimes "h" sounds. A distinctive word in Sveamål is åcken (meaning "which"). [4]
4. Gotländska mål: This dialect is native to the islands of Gotland and Fårö. Today, there is also a distinction made between gutamål and gotländska when referring to the dialects spoken on the islands. A specific word to this dialect is bodi (meaning "the store"). [5]
5. Norrländska mål: Spoken throughout Norrland, except for the southernmost and northernmost parts, this dialect encompasses many individual variations. A notable word in Norrländska mål is gitt (meaning "have to" or "must"). [6]
6. Östsvenska mål: Unique among the Swedish dialects, Östsvenska mål is spoken not only in Sweden but also in parts of Finland and Estonia. A distinctive term in this dialect is franskisar (meaning "French fries"). [7]