Social codes and unwritten rules
A fika can be a way of meeting others. Not all people follow the same habits.
Goal: understand the basics and find the right official help route.
Translated from Swedish. Always rely on the Swedish text and the official source.
Show the original Swedish text
Sociala koder och oskrivna regler
En fika kan vara ett sätt att träffa andra. Alla människor följer inte samma vanor.
- Fika används som substantiv, en fika, och verb, att fika.
- Visit Sweden beskriver fika som en paus där samvaro och samtal ofta är viktiga.
- Fika kan ske hemma, på jobbet eller på kafé, utan en enda bestämd tid eller plats.
- Fråga när och var ni ska träffas.
- Fråga vad som passar gruppen i stället för att gissa.
- Öva frasen: Vill du ta en fika?
Detta beskriver en vana, inte lag eller krav. Köer, skor, punktlighet och personligt avstånd varierar mellan situationer och människor. Visit Sweden är turistinformation, inte juridisk auktoritet.
Good to know
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Fika is used as a noun, en fika (a fika), and as a verb, att fika (to have fika).
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Visit Sweden describes fika as a break where being together and talking are often important.
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Fika can happen at home, at work or in a café, with no single fixed time or place.
Three steps to get started
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Ask when and where you will meet.
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Ask what suits the group instead of guessing.
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Practise the phrase: Vill du ta en fika? (Would you like to have a fika?)
A practical checklist to try. It does not add any legal requirements.
Important distinctions
This describes a habit, not a law or a requirement. Queues, shoes, punctuality and personal space vary between situations and people. Visit Sweden is tourist information, not a legal authority.
Practice question
Show the right answer and explanation
B. Fika is a habit that can look different.
A tradition is not a requirement that every person follows.
This question is practice, not a test. Answers are not saved.
Sources
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Visit Sweden, officiell turistinformation
Fika like a Swede (opens in a new tab)“There are no strict rules to fika”
Checked . Check the source again before you act. Rules and contact routes can change.
In depth
Modules and guides
11 modules in this area. Everyone can read the modules marked Free. The rest are part of Premium.
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Greetings and how people address each other
Why many people in Sweden say "du" and use first names, and when it is different.
Greetings and how people address each other. Why many people in Sweden say "du" and use first names, and when it is different.Habits, not laws
This course is about habits and unwritten rules. They are not laws. People in Sweden are all different. Habits can differ between families, workplaces, ages and parts of the country. If you are not sure, it is always okay to ask.
First names and "du"
In Sweden it is common to use first names and to say "du" (the informal word for "you") to almost everyone. This is often true for doctors, teachers and bosses too. Titles are rarely used in daily life.
This does not mean that a person is rude. It is a normal way to talk, no matter what job the person has.
Some exceptions
In some formal situations, titles are used. For example, in a court or when you speak with a minister or someone in the royal family.
Tip: If you do not know how someone wants to be called, you can ask: "What would you like me to call you?"
If you want to be called something else
You can say how you want to be called. For example, you can say: "My name is Amira. You can call me Amira." If someone says your name wrong, you can kindly tell them how it is pronounced.
Sources
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Fika and social events
What fika [a coffee break] is, what it can look like at work and what an AW [an after-work get-together with colleagues] is.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Fika and social events. What fika [a coffee break] is, what it can look like at work and what an AW [an after-work get-together with colleagues] is.Vad är fika? Locked
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Var och när? Locked
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Fika på jobbet Locked
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Lunch och AW Locked
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Sources
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Time and being on time
Why appointment times are often important, what you do if you are late and why July can be different.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Time and being on time. Why appointment times are often important, what you do if you are late and why July can be different.Tider gäller ofta exakt Locked
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Om du blir försenad Locked
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Bestäm tid tydligt Locked
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Juli är semestermånad Locked
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Sources
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Queues and numbered tickets
How queue tickets work and why many cases are handled digitally.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Queues and numbered tickets. How queue tickets work and why many cases are handled digitally.Ta en nummerlapp Locked
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Vänta på din tur Locked
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Många ärenden görs digitalt Locked
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Sources
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Visiting someone’s home
Shoes, what to bring and how to ask the host when you are unsure.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Visiting someone’s home. Shoes, what to bring and how to ask the host when you are unsure.Ta av skorna Locked
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Ta med något Locked
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Fråga om vanorna Locked
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När du bjuder hem någon Locked
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Sources
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Neighbours and showing care
What the law says about disturbances and what you can do if something disturbs you.
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Neighbours and showing care. What the law says about disturbances and what you can do if something disturbs you.Skälig hänsyn Locked
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Störningar i boendet Locked
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Om något stör dig Locked
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Gemensamma utrymmen Locked
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Sources
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Unwritten rules at work
Flat structure at work, discussions, balance between work and free time and cleaning up after yourself.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Unwritten rules at work. Flat structure at work, discussions, balance between work and free time and cleaning up after yourself.Förtroende och eget ansvar Locked
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Platt organisation Locked
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Balans mellan jobb och fritid Locked
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Vardag på jobbet Locked
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Fackförbund Locked
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Sources
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Religion, celebrations and minorities
Freedom of religion, holidays in the calendar and Sweden's five national minorities.
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Religion, celebrations and minorities. Freedom of religion, holidays in the calendar and Sweden's five national minorities.Religionsfrihet Locked
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Religion i vardagen Locked
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Högtider i kalendern Locked
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Fem nationella minoriteter Locked
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Sources
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Prejudice and discrimination
The difference between a habit and a prejudice, and what the Discrimination Act protects against.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Prejudice and discrimination. The difference between a habit and a prejudice, and what the Discrimination Act protects against.Vana eller fördom? Locked
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Sju diskrimineringsgrunder Locked
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Exempel på vad som kan vara diskriminering Locked
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Var lagen gäller Locked
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Anmäla diskriminering Locked
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Sources
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Lagom and feeling able to ask
What lagom [just the right amount] means and simple phrases for when something is unclear.
This module is only available in Swedish for now.
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Lagom and feeling able to ask. What lagom [just the right amount] means and simple phrases for when something is unclear.Lagom Locked
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Missförstånd händer alla Locked
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Fraser du kan använda Locked
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Sources
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Guide: Your first days at a new workplace
Step by step: before your first day, your first week and when something is unclear.
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Guide: Your first days at a new workplace. Step by step: before your first day, your first week and when something is unclear.Före första dagen Locked
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Första veckan Locked
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När något är oklart Locked
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Sources
General information, not individual legal, medical or financial advice.