flickvän
common gender
The English phrase 'girlfriend' is translated into Swedish as flickvän. If unsure, use flickvän. Wiktionary also lists tjej and kärasta.
Meaning: a female partner in a romantic relationship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| flickvän | common gender | |
| tjej | /ɕɛj/ | colloquial, common gender |
| kärasta | common gender |
The term is used to describe a female partner in a romantic relationship. Its masculine counterpart is pojkvän.
What does it mean word for word?
The word flickvän is a compound of flicka, meaning girl and vän, meaning friend.
Which one should you use?
While flickvän is the standard term, tjej (which literally means girl) is often used colloquially to mean girlfriend, specifically in the phrase min tjej.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tjej is considered colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of flickvän is flickvänner, and the definite singular form (meaning 'the girlfriend') is flickvännen.
Did you know?
- Unlike in English, where 'girlfriend' can sometimes refer to a platonic female friend, flickvän almost exclusively implies a romantic relationship.
- The colloquial term tjej has roots in the Romani language, specifically from the word ćhaj which means 'girl'.
- The word kärasta comes from the root kär, meaning 'dear' or 'beloved', making it a more emotional term than the descriptive flickvän.
Examples in context
- Du är min flickvän.You're my girlfriend.This sentence is useful for saying 'You're my girlfriend.' using flickvän.Tatoeba #9007397 by morbrorper, translation #2218212 by CK
- Jag har en flickvän.I have a girlfriend.This sentence is useful for saying 'I have a girlfriend.' using flickvän.Tatoeba #1969745 by herrsilen, translation #1969242 by CK
- Hon är min flickvän.She is my girlfriend.This sentence is useful for saying 'She is my girlfriend.' using flickvän.Tatoeba #2078958 by herrsilen, translation #312168 by CK
- Johan presenterade sin flickvän för sina föräldrar.Johan introduced his girlfriend to his parents.
- Johan träffar en fantastisk tjej just nu.Johan is dating an amazing girl right now.
- 33 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas introduces Maja to a friend.
- LucasDet här är min flickvän, Maja.This is my girlfriend, Maja.
- MajaTrevligt att träffas!Nice to meet you!
- LucasHon är min flickvän sedan ett år.She has been my girlfriend for a year.
- MajaVad fint, grattis till er!How lovely, congratulations to you both!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girlfriend” translations and entries flickvän, tjej, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries flickvän, tjej, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
