#2 Shopping at a Supermarket | Swedish Shopping Expressions
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#16 Giving Directions in a Taxi | Swedish Everyday Phrases
Haruno
When you take a taxi, you may need more than just stating your destination. In some situations, you will be required to give turn-by-turn directions, suggest an alternative route, or specify the exact drop-off point.
When giving directions in Swedish, it is important to use clear and concise expressions while maintaining a polite and respectful tone.
In this article, I introduce practical Swedish expressions that you can use when giving directions in a taxi.
Contents
Dialogue
Ursäkta, kan du köra mot centralstationen, tack?
（Excuse me, could you drive toward the central station, please?）
Ja, absolut.
（Yes, of course.）
Men sväng vänster vid nästa korsning, om möjligt.
（If possible, please turn left at the next intersection.）
Okej. Ska vi fortsätta rakt fram efter det?
（Alright. Should we continue straight after that?）
Ja, precis. Och du kan släppa av mig framför hotellet.
（Yes, exactly. And please drop me off in front of the hotel.）
Inga problem. Vi är framme om ett par minuter..
（No problem. We will arrive in a couple of minutes.）
1. Stating the Destination or Direction of Travel
After you get into a taxi, the first step is to tell the driver your destination or the general direction you would like to go.
- Kan du köra mot 〜 ?
(Could you drive toward … ?)
The verb “köra” means “to drive,” and the preposition “mot” means “toward.”
By using this expression, you can politely indicate the direction you want the taxi to head in.
- Kan du köra mot centralstationen?
(Could you drive toward the central station?) - Kan du köra mot centrum?
(Could you drive toward the city center?)
Using “kan du” instead of the imperative form allows you to make your request in a polite and considerate manner.
2. Giving Turn-by-Turn Directions
If you have a preferred route, you can give specific directions. The following three expressions form the basis of direction-giving in Swedish:
- Sväng vänster.
(Turn left.) - Sväng höger.
(Turn right.) - Kör rakt fram.
(Go straight.)
When giving directions, it is important to specify when the driver should turn.
- Sväng vänster vid nästa korsning.
(Turn left at the next intersection.)
The phrase “vid nästa korsning” means “at the next intersection.” By adding this detail, you can help prevent misunderstandings or wrong turns.
3. Confirming the Route with the Driver
When there are multiple possible routes, the taxi driver may confirm the directions with you.
- Ska vi fortsätta rakt fram efter det?
(Should we continue straight after that?)
The structure “Ska vi … ?” is a polite way to ask for confirmation or agreement, similar to “Shall we…?” or “Is it okay if we…?” in English.
Common responses you can use include:
- Ja, precis.
(Yes, exactly.) - Ja, rakt fram går bra.
(Yes, going straight is fine.) - Nej, sväng höger där borta.
(No, please turn right over there.)
4. Specifying the Drop-off Location
In addition to stating your destination, specifying where you would like to get out of the taxi can make the arrival smoother.
- Du kan släppa av mig framför hotellet.
(Please drop me off in front of the hotel.) - Du kan släppa av mig här.
(Please drop me off here.)
The phrasal verb “släppa av” means “to drop someone off” and is commonly used in taxis, buses, and other transport situations.
Common location expressions include:
- framför hotellet (in front of the hotel)
- vid ingången (at the entrance)
- på hörnet (at the corner)
Summary
- Kan du köra mot 〜 ?
→ A polite expression for stating your destination or direction of travel. - Sväng vänster / Kör rakt fram
→ Clear and simple phrases for giving directions. - Ska vi fortsätta rakt fram efter det?
→ An expression used to confirm the next route. - Du kan släppa av mig här.
→ A useful phrase for specifying where you want to get out of the taxi.
