Signification
Cleaning garments.
Contexte culturel
The 'Tvättstuga' is a cornerstone of Swedish social life. It has strict rules about cleaning the lint filter and mopping the floor. Failure to follow these leads to 'Den arga lappen' (The Angry Note). Similar to Sweden, Finland has communal laundry rooms in apartment blocks, but the 'angry note' culture is slightly less famous than in Sweden. In contrast to Sweden's communal basements, many Americans have laundry machines inside their apartments or use public 'Laundromats' (tvättomat), which are rare in Sweden. In countries like Italy or Greece, it is much more common to see clothes hanging out of windows or on balconies, whereas in Swedish cities, this is often discouraged or restricted to the 'torkrum' (drying room).
Drop the 'kläder'
In casual conversation, if it's obvious you're talking about laundry, you can just say 'Jag ska tvätta.'
The Lint Filter
If you use a communal dryer in Sweden, ALWAYS clean the 'luddfilter' (lint filter). It is the #1 cause of neighborhood feuds.
Signification
Cleaning garments.
Drop the 'kläder'
In casual conversation, if it's obvious you're talking about laundry, you can just say 'Jag ska tvätta.'
The Lint Filter
If you use a communal dryer in Sweden, ALWAYS clean the 'luddfilter' (lint filter). It is the #1 cause of neighborhood feuds.
Booking Apps
Many modern Swedish apartments use an app called 'Aptus' to book time to tvätta kläder. Download it if your landlord provides it!
The 'Arg Lapp'
If you see a note on a washing machine, read it! It's a great way to learn informal, angry Swedish vocabulary.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'tvätta'.
Igår ______ jag kläder hela kvällen.
The word 'igår' (yesterday) indicates the past tense.
Which sentence is naturally correct Swedish?
What do you say when you are doing laundry?
'Tvätta kläder' is the standard collocation. 'Gör tvätt' is an English-ism, and 'diskar' is for dishes.
Match the Swedish phrase with its English meaning.
Laundry Vocabulary Match
These are the four main steps of the laundry process in Sweden.
Complete the dialogue in the laundry room.
A: Hej! Är det din tur att ______? B: Ja, jag har bokat maskinen nu.
In a laundry room with a machine, you 'tvätta kläder'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
What can you 'tvätta'?
Tvätta
- • Kläder
- • Bilen
- • Händerna
- • Håret
Diska
- • Tallrikar
- • Glas
- • Bestick
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIgår ______ jag kläder hela kvällen.
The word 'igår' (yesterday) indicates the past tense.
What do you say when you are doing laundry?
'Tvätta kläder' is the standard collocation. 'Gör tvätt' is an English-ism, and 'diskar' is for dishes.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the four main steps of the laundry process in Sweden.
A: Hej! Är det din tur att ______? B: Ja, jag har bokat maskinen nu.
In a laundry room with a machine, you 'tvätta kläder'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsNo, it sounds like a direct translation from English. Use 'tvätta kläder' or 'fixa tvätten'.
It is a communal laundry room found in the basement or a separate building of Swedish apartment complexes.
You say 'Jag har en tvättid.'
Yes, 'kläder' is always plural. To refer to one item, use 'ett plagg'.
'Tvätta' is for clothes and the body; 'diska' is only for dishes.
It is called 'sköljmedel'.
Yes, Sunday is the most popular day to 'tvätta kläder' in Sweden.
You say 'endast kemtvätt'.
It means 'to wash whites' (white clothes).
Yes, 'tvätta bilen' is the correct phrase for washing the car.
'Stryka' means to iron the clothes after they are washed.
It is called a 'tvättkorg'.
Expressions liées
Hänga tvätt
builds onTo hang laundry to dry
Vika kläder
builds onTo fold clothes
Smutstvätt
similarDirty laundry
Tvättid
specialized formLaundry time/slot
Kemtvätt
contrastDry cleaning
