This is the best first word to learn! It seems to be a concept similar to having 4 o’clock English Tea-time or perhaps taking the French goûter, but as the Swedes do this at anytime of the day, I believe this version to be the best.
FIKA / fee-Ka / tea-time
FIKA is usually having coffee AND a little snack (which can be sweet or savoury). I have learned that it is very ‘normal’ to put a thin slice of ost /oh-st / cheese on cookies too. I did try it and I survived so maybe it is not so bad.
When asking someone to join you, it is polite to say Vil du? / vill dew / would you like (but it is easier in my head to think … will you like to). Swedes will also just ask Kaffe? / Kaffee? / Coffee? And they will always answer yes as Swedes have one of the highest kaffe consumption levels in the world!
The snack that it typically eaten is tiny! Just a little kanelbulle /can-nelle-bew-lar / cinnamon roll or a homemade cookie.
Kelea Quinn 