Latest / Learn Swedish with Fexingo / Swedish for Buying a Rug - Fexingo
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Swedish with Fexingo. I am Lucas, and this is Luna. Luna: Hi everyone. It is episode two fifty six. We are back at the store again. Lucas: We are. Last week we were at the hardware store looking for tools. This week, we are looking for something softer. Something that makes a floor feel like a home. Luna: A rug. Yes. I have been looking for a new rug for my living room. The floor feels so cold without one. Lucas: It does. And buying a rug in Swedish is very specific. You cannot just point and hope. Let us start with the most important phrase. When you walk into the shop, what do you want? Luna: I want a rug. How do I say 'I would like to have a rug'? Lucas: Listen carefully. Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. Luna: Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. Lucas: Perfect. Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. That means 'I would like to have a rug.' Notice the word 'matta'. It is feminine. So we use 'en'. Luna: En matta. Got it. So if I see a beautiful blue rug, I say: Jag skulle vilja ha en matta? Lucas: Exactly. Or more specifically, Jag skulle vilja ha den där mattan. But starting simple is best. Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. Luna: Okay. I say it to the shop assistant. They bring me a sample. It looks nice on the table. But then I touch it. Lucas: Right. In Sweden, quality matters. Especially for rugs. You need to check the thickness. If it feels too thin, you need to ask about it. Luna: How do I ask 'How thick is this one'? Lucas: Here it is. Hur tjock är den här? Luna: Hur tjock är den här? Lucas: Good. Hur tjock är den här? 'Tjock' means thick. 'Den här' means this one. So, Hur tjock är den här? Luna: Hur tjock är den här? Okay. But what if the answer is... not good? What if it feels flimsy? Lucas: Then you tell them. Den känns lite för tunn. Luna: Den känns lite för tunn. Lucas: Yes. Den känns lite för tunn. 'It feels a bit too thin.' 'Känns' is from 'to feel'. 'Tunn' is thin. Be careful with the double 'n' at the end. Luna: Den känns lite för tunn. Oh, that sounds polite but firm. I like it. Lucas: It is. You are not being rude; you are being precise. A thin rug wears out fast. Now, suppose they say they only have this thin one in beige. But you wanted green. Luna: Oh no. Then I need to ask for another color. How do I say that? Lucas: Listen. Har ni den i en annan färg? Luna: Har ni den i en annan färg? Lucas: Excellent. Har ni den i en annan färg? 'Do you have it in another color?' 'Annan' means other or another. Luna: Har ni den i en annan färg? So if they bring me the green one, and I love it, and it is thick enough... Lucas: Then you buy it. This is the moment. The final phrase. Jag tar den här, tack. Luna: Jag tar den här, tack. Lucas: Jag tar den här, tack. 'I will take this one, thank you.' Simple. Direct. Very common in Swedish shops. Luna: Jag tar den här, tack. It feels so satisfying to say that. Like a deal is done. Lucas: It is. Before we dive deeper into the details, I want to mention something about the show. Fexingo runs on support from listeners like you. If these lessons have been helping you make actual progress with Swedish, a small contribution really keeps the episodes coming ad-free. You can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every bit helps keep the production going. Luna: Yeah. It really does help. Thanks for supporting the show. Lucas: Now, let us put these together. Imagine the scenario. You walk in. You want a rug. Luna: Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. Lucas: They show you a beige rug. It looks flat. You ask about the thickness. Luna: Hur tjock är den här? Lucas: The assistant says it is standard. You touch it. It is paper-thin. Luna: Den känns lite för tunn. Lucas: They apologize. They check the back room. They come back with a thick green rug. Luna: Har ni den i en annan färg? No wait, they already brought it. Oh, I mean, I asked earlier: Har ni den i en annan färg? Lucas: Right. You asked for the color first. Now you have the thick green one. It is perfect. Luna: Jag tar den här, tack. Lucas: Perfect transaction. Let us repeat the full set slowly. First, the request. Luna: Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. Lucas: Second, the question about thickness. Luna: Hur tjock är den här? Lucas: Third, the complaint about quality. Luna: Den känns lite för tunn. Lucas: Fourth, asking for variety. Luna: Har ni den i en annan färg? Lucas: And fifth, closing the deal. Luna: Jag tar den här, tack. Lucas: Let us try one more time, mixing them up. Start with the thickness. Luna: Hur tjock är den här? Lucas: Now tell them it is bad. Luna: Den känns lite för tunn. Lucas: Now ask for a change. Luna: Har ni den i en annan färg? Lucas: Finally, buy the right one. Luna: Jag tar den här, tack. Lucas: You are getting the rhythm. One last check on the vocabulary. 'Matta' is rug. 'Tjock' is thick. 'Tunn' is thin. 'Färg' is color. Luna: Matta. Tjock. Tunn. Färg. I remember them now. Lucas: Good. These phrases will serve you well when you are decorating your Swedish home. Or even just talking about home decor. Luna: I think I need to go buy a rug now. Just to practice. Lucas: Go ahead. Jag skulle vilja ha en matta. See you next time. Luna: See you later. Jag tar den här, tack.