kela
To cuddle in Swedish is to say kela, gosa or vänslas.
Meaning: intransitive: embrace, lie together snugly (verb)
Ways to say it
| Swedish |
|---|
| kela |
| gosa |
| vänslas |
You can use these terms to describe embracing someone or lying together snugly. The related noun kram refers to an affectionate embrace.
Which one should you use?
Use kela when you are cuddling or caressing a child or a pet. Use gosa to describe a cozy, snuggly kind of cuddling which is common between both romantic partners and children. Use mysa to describe snuggling or enjoying a cozy moment between romantic partners or close friends.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun kram (hug) follows standard Swedish noun declension, where kramar is the plural form meaning hugs or embraces.
Did you know?
- The concept of mysa is so central to Swedish culture that it extends beyond cuddling to describe an entire lifestyle of coziness, including lighting candles and drinking cocoa.
- The verb vänslas is derived from the word for 'friend' vän, suggesting a history where 'cuddling' was viewed as a form of friendly intimacy.
- In Swedish, you can use the noun kram to express affection in digital spaces, where writing 'kram!' or 'kramar' acts as a shorthand for a virtual hug.
Examples in context
- Jag längtar verkligen efter att få krama om dig när jag kommer hem!I really look forward to cuddling you when I come home!
- Barnen gillar att kela.The children like to cuddle.
- Sitt här och kela med mig.Sit here and cuddle with me.
Example conversation
A couple is relaxing on a sofa at home.
- MajaSka vi kela en stund?Shall we cuddle for a while?
- OscarJa, det låter mysigt.Yes, that sounds cozy.
- MajaDu är så varm, Oscar.You are so warm, Oscar.
- OscarDet är skönt att kela med dig.It is nice to cuddle with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cuddle” translations and entries kela, gosa, vänslas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
