kyckling
/ˈɕʏkˌlɪŋ/
The English word chicken is translated into Swedish as kyckling. Wiktionary also lists höna.
Meaning: bird (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| kyckling | /ˈɕʏkˌlɪŋ/ (Sweden) /ˈtɕʏkˌlɪŋ/ (Finland) |
| höna | /²høːna/ |
In Swedish, the term used depends on whether you are discussing the species or the meat or if you are referring specifically to a female bird.
Which one should you use?
kyckling is the general word used when referring to chicken as a species or as food. In contrast, höna is used specifically to refer to a hen.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of kyckling is kycklingar, while the plural of höna is hönor.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɕʏkˌlɪŋ/
Did you know?
- The word höna is derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to sing', reflecting the vocal nature of the bird.
- In some Swedish idioms, the phrase som en höna is used to describe someone who is fussing or fluttering nervously.
- While kyckling is the standard word for the meat, the word fågel (bird) is often used in recipes or menus to refer to poultry in general.
Examples in context
- Det här smakar typ som kyckling.This kind of tastes like chicken.This sentence is useful for describing how something tastes using kyckling.Tatoeba #4168019 by richke, translation #4016718 by CK
- Vad kom först: ägget eller hönan?What came first: the egg or the chicken?This sentence uses the classic riddle format with höna.Tatoeba #11189336 by Pineapple, translation #6089435 by AsaeP
- Tack, Mike. Jag tycker inte om kyckling.Thanks, Mike. I don't like chicken.This sentence is useful for expressing a dislike for kyckling.Tatoeba #8735505 by MateBoy, translation #32976 by AlanF_US
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A farm visit where Emma and Karl see a small animal.
- EmmaTitta, en liten kyckling!Look, a little chicken!
- KarlJa, den är jättesöt.Yes, it is very cute.
- EmmaTror du att kycklingen kommer att växa snabbt?Do you think the chicken will grow fast?
- KarlJag hoppas det, Emma.I hope so, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken” translations and entries kyckling, höna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries höna, kyckling, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
