Bra betyg
Good grades
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Bra betyg means 'good grades' and is the standard way to describe academic success in Swedish schools and universities.
- Means: Achieving high marks or positive evaluations in an academic setting.
- Used in: School reports, job applications, and family conversations about education.
- Don't confuse: 'Betyg' with 'poäng' (points/credits) or 'resultat' (general results).
Explanation at your level:
Meaning
Success in academic evaluation.
Cultural Background
The Swedish grading scale goes from A to F. A is the highest, and E is the lowest passing grade. F is a fail. Getting 'bra betyg' usually means getting A, B, or C. In Sweden, your 'betyg' from high school or university are often required even for entry-level jobs. Employers value formal education highly. Due to 'Jantelagen', Swedes might downplay their 'bra betyg'. If someone says 'Det gick okej', they might actually have received top marks. Swedish newspapers often use a 1-5 scale (sometimes represented by 'getingar' or 'plus') to give 'betyg' to movies and restaurants.
Use 'få' for receiving
Always use the verb 'få' (to get/receive) when talking about the grades you earned.
Plural is the same
Remember that 'ett betyg' and 'många betyg' look exactly the same. Don't add an 's' or 'er'!
Meaning
Success in academic evaluation.
Use 'få' for receiving
Always use the verb 'få' (to get/receive) when talking about the grades you earned.
Plural is the same
Remember that 'ett betyg' and 'många betyg' look exactly the same. Don't add an 's' or 'er'!
Modesty matters
If you have 'bra betyg', it's often more 'Swedish' to be humble about it.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to say 'I got good grades'.
Jag fick bra ______.
'Betyg' is the correct word for academic grades.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct option:
'Betyg' is an 'ett' word and the plural is the same as the singular.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hur gick provet? B: Det gick jättebra! Jag tror jag får ______.
If the test went 'jättebra' (really well), you expect 'bra betyg'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Where would you most likely hear 'bra betyg'?
'Bra betyg' is primarily used in educational contexts.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Where to find 'Bra Betyg'
Education
- • Grundskola
- • Gymnasium
- • Universitet
Reviews
- • Filmer
- • Böcker
- • Restauranger
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'goda betyg' is slightly more formal and very common in written Swedish.
An 'E' is the lowest passing grade. Anything from E to A is considered a 'godkänt betyg'.
Yes, though university students often talk more about 'poäng' (credits), the marks they receive are still called 'betyg'.
You can say 'toppbetyg' or 'bara A:n'.
It can mean a review or rating for a movie, book, or restaurant.
It is 'ett betyg'. It is a neuter noun.
Jag pluggar för att få bra betyg.
It's the phenomenon where grades are perceived to be getting higher without a corresponding increase in knowledge.
Not directly, but you can say someone 'fick bra betyg' for how they handled a task.
'Dåliga betyg' (bad grades) or 'underkänt' (failed).
Related Phrases
Toppbetyg
specialized formTop grades (straight As)
Goda vitsord
similarGood testimonials/references
Underkänd
contrastFailed
Betygshets
builds onGrade-related stress
Where to Use It
Parent-Teacher Meeting
Teacher: Din son har fått väldigt bra betyg den här terminen.
Parent: Vad roligt att höra! Han har pluggat mycket.
Job Interview
Interviewer: Jag ser att du har bra betyg i ekonomi.
Applicant: Ja, jag är väldigt intresserad av ämnet.
Chatting with Friends
Friend A: Hur gick provet?
Friend B: Jättebra! Jag tror jag får ett bra betyg.
Movie Review
Person A: Ska vi se den nya filmen?
Person B: Ja, den har fått bra betyg i alla tidningar.
Grandparents' Visit
Grandma: Har du fått dina betyg än?
Student: Ja, jag fick bra betyg i nästan allt!
Social Media Post
User: Äntligen sommarlov och bra betyg i bagaget! ☀️
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Bra' (Swedish for good) 'Betyg' (Grade) as a 'Bright Badge' of honor you wear for your hard work.
Visual Association
Imagine a student holding a test paper with a large, golden 'A' on it. The paper is glowing because it is a 'bra' (bright/good) 'betyg'.
Rhyme
Plugga och gno, få bra betyg i ro. (Study and toil, get good grades in peace.)
Story
Björn studied every night in the library. When the results came out, he saw his name at the top of the list. He called his mother and shouted, 'Jag fick bra betyg!' Now he can finally go to the university of his dreams.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to write a short email to a fictional Swedish teacher asking what you need to do to get 'bra betyg' in their class.
In Other Languages
Buenas notas
Spanish uses 'notas' which also means 'notes', while Swedish 'betyg' is specific to evaluation.
Bonnes notes
French 'notes' is feminine plural, requiring 'bonnes'.
Gute Noten
German uses 'Noten' (plural), while Swedish 'betyg' is an indeclinable plural.
良い成績 (Yoi seiseki)
Japanese often focuses on 'results' (成績) rather than individual 'marks'.
درجات جيدة (Darajat jayyida)
The word 'darajat' is also used for temperature, similar to the English 'degrees'.
好成绩 (Hǎo chéngjī)
It is more holistic than just 'grades'.
좋은 성적 (Joeun seongjeok)
Korean culture places extreme emphasis on 'seongjeok' for social status.
Boas notas
The verb 'tirar' is the most common way to say 'get' grades in Portugal/Brazil.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'poäng' for grades.
Use 'poäng' for points on a test or university credits (ECTS). Use 'betyg' for the final letter grade.
Direct translation from English 'grades'.
Use 'grader' only for temperature or geometry.
FAQ (10)
Yes, 'goda betyg' is slightly more formal and very common in written Swedish.
An 'E' is the lowest passing grade. Anything from E to A is considered a 'godkänt betyg'.
Yes, though university students often talk more about 'poäng' (credits), the marks they receive are still called 'betyg'.
You can say 'toppbetyg' or 'bara A:n'.
It can mean a review or rating for a movie, book, or restaurant.
It is 'ett betyg'. It is a neuter noun.
Jag pluggar för att få bra betyg.
It's the phenomenon where grades are perceived to be getting higher without a corresponding increase in knowledge.
Not directly, but you can say someone 'fick bra betyg' for how they handled a task.
'Dåliga betyg' (bad grades) or 'underkänt' (failed).
