#1 Ordering at a Café｜Swedish Shopping Phrases

Cafés in Sweden offer a simple and calm atmosphere where you can enjoy not only coffee but also popular sweets such as cinnamon rolls.

When placing an order, polite expressions—much like in English—are preferred. Learning commonly used patterns, including “checking options” and “making additional requests,” will help you order smoothly.

In this article, I will explain useful Swedish expressions for ordering at a café, along with example dialogues and relevant grammar points.

Dialogue

A

Hej! Jag skulle vilja beställa en cappuccino.
(Hello! I would like to order a cappuccino.)

B

Självklart. Vill du ha den liten eller stor?
(Of course. Would you like it small or large?)

A

En stor, tack. Och kan jag också få en kanelbulle?
(A large one, please. And may I also have a cinnamon roll?)

B

Absolut. Här eller att ta med?
(Certainly. For here or to go?)

A

Här, tack.
(For here, please.)

B

Perfekt. Det blir 78 kronor totalt.
(Perfect. The total is 78 kronor.)

1. Expressing Your Order

Here is a commonly used phrase when placing an order at a café:

The expression “skulle vilja” is a polite and slightly softened way to make a request. It corresponds closely to the English phrase “I would like to …” and is ideal for beginning your order.

Using skulle vilja gives your request a gentle tone.

In contrast, “Jag vill ha …” (I want …) is acceptable among friends in casual conversation but sounds more direct. In cafés or restaurants, “skulle vilja” is generally more appropriate.

2. Choosing Size or Type

When ordering, you will often be asked about the size of your drink.

“liten” and “stor” mean “small” and “large,” respectively.

Other frequently used questions include:

When responding, simple answers are perfectly natural:

Adding tack (please/thank you) makes your reply sound courteous.

3. Making Additional Requests

Swedish cafés often offer pastries such as kanelbulle (cinnamon roll) and smörgås (sandwiches).

A useful expression for an additional order is:

This phrase is formed from “kan jag få …” (May I have …?) with the addition of också (also).

“Kan jag få … ?” is a polite and versatile request that can be used in various dining settings.

4. For Here or To Go

You will often be asked whether you want to dine in or take your order to go:

To respond:

Adding tack helps maintain a polite tone.

5. Expressions for Paying

Once your order is confirmed, you proceed to payment.

Here, “det blir …” corresponds to “It comes to …,” a standard phrase used when stating the amount due.

Useful expressions for payment include:

Summary