älskling
/²ɛlːsklɪŋ/
The Swedish word for "babe" is älskling.
älskling is used as a term of endearment for an attractive person.
Meaning: attractive person (noun)
Which one should you use?
The term Sötnos can also be used to mean "cutie" or "sweetie".
How do you pronounce it?
/²ɛlːsklɪŋ/
Did you know?
- If you want to call someone 'sweetie' or 'cutie' instead, Swedes often use sötnos, which literally translates to 'sweet nose'.
- The suffix -ling in älskling is used in Swedish to create a noun from a verb, but it can also be used to create derogatory terms for people.
- While älskling is a common term of endearment, using it with a stranger to mean 'babe' would be perceived as much more intimate or even slightly creepy compared to the casual use of 'babe' in English.
Examples in context
- Hej älskling, hur har din dag varit?Hi babe, how has your day been?
- Självklart, älskling! Jag ser fram emot det.Of course, babe! I'm looking forward to it.
Example conversation
Emma and Oscar are relaxing at home.
- EmmaVad vill du äta ikväll, älskling?What do you want to eat tonight, babe?
- OscarJag är inte så hungrig än.I'm not that hungry yet.
- EmmaVi kan beställa pizza om du vill.We can order pizza if you want.
- OscarDet låter perfekt, Emma.That sounds perfect, Emma.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry älskling, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
