Swedish Wanderlust

Hej! Or, as DuoLingo cheerfully reminds me every day, Hej hej! (Yes, double the “hej,” double the fun—Swedes love their greetings.)

When I first started learning Swedish, I was excited to dive into a language that seemed so charmingly melodic. Thanks to DuoLingo, I’ve added 600 new Swedish words to my vocabulary! From naming fruits to discussing bears reading newspapers (Björnen läser tidningen, because why not?). But as much as DuoLingo has been a fantastic tool for vocabulary, fluency is a mountain best climbed with some real-world immersion… and maybe a little help from my Swedish husband.

Why DuoLingo Works for Me

Let’s start with the positives: DuoLingo has been an absolute game-changer for building vocabulary. It’s like a friendly language coach that nudges me to practice daily, keeping me motivated with streaks and bite-sized lessons. I genuinely feel smarter each time I correctly translate phrases like Jag dricker kaffe (I drink coffee) or Hunden är glad (The dog is happy).

I’ve also discovered some delightful quirks of Swedish through the app:

• Swedes Have a Sense of Humor: DuoLingo introduces phrases like “The moose is vegetarian” (Älgen är vegetarian) or “You are a turtle” (Du är en sköldpadda). While I don’t expect to use these phrases daily, they make learning fun… and isn’t that half the battle?

• Vowels with Personality: Swedish loves its vowels. Å, Ä, and Ö are like long-lost cousins of the English alphabet, and learning to pronounce them feels like mastering a secret code.

• Building Confidence: There’s something magical about recognizing words in Swedish signs or menus and realizing, “Hey, I know that!” Even if my pronunciation is still a work in progress, DuoLingo has given me the tools to read and understand more than I ever thought possible.

Fluency Requires a New Level

Here’s the thing, though: as great as DuoLingo is, there’s only so much you can learn from an app. While I can now confidently name months, colors, and a surprisingly large number of animals, fluency means putting all these words into real conversations… and that’s where immersion comes in.

When I’m finally in Sweden, surrounded by native speakers and immersed in the language, I know my skills will take a leap. DuoLingo has prepared me to recognize words and structure sentences, but fluency will come from actually speaking with people… making mistakes, stumbling through conversations, and hearing the language in its natural habitat.

My Husband: The Ultimate Language Coach

Luckily, I have a secret weapon: my Swedish husband. While I’ve been practicing on DuoLingo, he’s been quietly laughing (in the nicest way possible) at my attempts to roll R’s and perfect my ö.

• Me: Jag älskar dig! (I love you!)

• Him: (smiling) That’s perfect!

• Me: Do you think I’m ready to have a full conversation with your family?

• Him: Maybe start with “hej.”

I’m hopeful that when I’m in Sweden, he’ll take over as my language tutor. There’s nothing quite like learning from someone who can gently correct you while also encouraging you to keep trying. Plus, who better to explain the finer points of Swedish culture, like why “fart” just means “speed”? (Yes, I laughed. Yes, I’ll probably keep laughing.)

What’s Next?

While I may not be fluent (yet!), I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. DuoLingo has given me the tools to get started, and I know that with immersion, conversations, and a bit of patience, I’ll get there.

So, here’s to the next chapter in my Swedish adventure. When I finally step off the plane and stammer Hej! Jag heter…, I’m confident my husband will be there to guide me the rest of the way. Until then, I’ll keep practicing my vocabulary, dreaming of fika, and reminding myself that even vegetarian moose have a place in my language journey.

Lycka till! (Wish me luck!)