god dag
/ɡuːd dɑː(ɡ)/word by word
The Swedish phrase for "good day" is god dag.
god dag is a greeting used between sunrise and sunset.
Meaning: greeting between sunrise and sunset (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective god (good) and the noun dag (day).
Which one should you use?
While god dag is used as a greeting during the day, god kväll is used for "good evening".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
god dag is a formal greeting. It is more formal than the common greeting hej, which is a versatile way to say "hello" or "good day" in casual settings. An even more colloquial and informal way to greet someone is to use tjena.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase god dag is in the singular indefinite form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡuːd dɑː(ɡ)/
Did you know?
- Swedish uses god for 'good' in greetings, but uses bra for 'good' when describing the quality of an object or a performance.
- The word god shares a distant ancestral root with the English word 'gather' because both come from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to join' or 'to unite'.
- While god dag is a polite greeting, using it with a close friend might actually feel strangely distant or even sarcastic due to its formal tone.
Examples in context
- God dag.Good day.This example shows how to use the form god dag as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #778582 by marloncori, translation #1844755 by wwkudu
- Goddag, Herr JohnsonGood day, Mr. Johnson
- God dag, hur har ni det idag?Good day, how are you today?
- Goddag Fru SvenssonGood day, Mrs. Svensson
- God dag, vad kan jag hjälpa dig med?Good day, how can I help you?
- Jag önskar dig en god dag.I wish you a good day.
Example conversation
Oscar and Alice meet on the street during the afternoon.
- OscarGod dag, Alice!Good day, Alice!
- AliceHej Oscar, hur mår du?Hi Oscar, how are you?
- OscarJag mår bra, tack.I am doing well, thanks.
- AliceVad bra att höra.That is good to hear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good day” translations and entries god dag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (god, dag) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dag, god, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
