söt
/søːt/
The English word 'cute' can be translated into Swedish using several forms, primarily söt. Wiktionary also lists fin.
Meaning: attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way (adj)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| söt | /søːt/ |
| fin | /fiːn/ |
söt is used to describe someone or something that is attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way. Beyond physical attractiveness, it is also used to describe a person's personality as being 'sweet'.
Which one should you use?
While söt implies a sense of being 'sweet' or 'adorable', the form fin is a more general term used to mean 'nice', 'pretty' or 'fine'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on the noun it describes. Use söt for common gender (en-words), sött for neuter gender (ett-words) and söta for plural nouns or definite singular nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/søːt/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful when using the neuter form sött, as this is also the Swedish word for 'sweet' in terms of taste, such as the sweetness of sugar.
Did you know?
- While fin can mean 'cute' or 'pretty', it can also be used to describe someone who is 'posh' or 'upper-class'.
- The word fin entered the Swedish language from French, where it originally meant 'fine' or 'refined'.
- While English speakers use 'cute' for many things, using söt to describe an adult man can sometimes sound patronizing, as if you are calling him 'adorable' like a child.
Examples in context
- Han är så söt.He's so cute.This sentence shows how to use söt to describe a male person.Tatoeba #1996658 by herrsilen, translation #1339062 by CM
- Du är väldigt söt.You're very cute.This sentence shows how to use söt to describe a person directly.Tatoeba #3712292 by herrsilen, translation #2648581 by CK
- Hon vet att hon är söt.She knows that she is cute.This sentence shows how to use söt to describe a female person.Tatoeba #8399926 by morbrorper, translation #9305607 by Lillith
- Den lilla kattungen är så söt!The little kitten is so cute!
- Hon bar den mest bedårande klänningen på festen.She wore the most adorable dress at the party.
- Dina barn är verkligen gulliga!Your children are truly cute!
- Kom hit, lilla sötnos!Come here, little cutie!
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alice shows Lucas a picture of her new puppy.
- AliceTitta på min nya hund!Look at my new dog!
- LucasMen åh, den är ju så söt!Oh wow, it is so cute!
- AliceVisst är den? Den är så liten.Right? It is so small.
- LucasJa, verkligen söt.Yes, really cute.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cute” translations and entries söt, fin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fin, söt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
