Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| god natt | /ɡuːd natː/ /ɡʊnatː/ (colloquial) |
|
| go'natt | informal | |
| natti | familiar | |
| natti natti | familiar |
god natt is the traditional way to say good night in Swedish. You may also use the phrase Ha en god natt to mean "have a good night", or the informal expression Sov gott to mean "sleep well".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase god natt is composed of the adjective god (good) and the noun natt (night).
Which one should you use?
While god natt is the standard form, go'natt is a colloquial contraction used in casual speech. For more affectionate or cute contexts, such as when speaking to children, you can use the familiar forms natti or the reduplicated natti natti.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
god natt is the standard and traditional form. go'natt is an informal contraction for casual speech. The forms natti and natti natti are familiar and often used affectionately with close friends, family or children.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡuːd natː/
When do people say it?
In Swedish culture, it is common to hug or kiss close friends or family members on the cheek when saying good night.
Did you know?
- While natti natti is used for children, Swedish adults often use the term natti as a playful or flirtatious way to say goodbye to a partner.
- Swedes sometimes use the phrase sov så gott as a more emphatic version of sov gott, adding a small word that functions like 'sleep as well as possible'.
- The adjective god shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'good', both originating from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰedʰ-.
Examples in context
- Jag sa god natt.I said good night.This sentence is useful for practicing the form god natt.Tatoeba #4357634 by richke, translation #2405824 by CK
- God natt!Good night!Tatoeba #3742599 by herrsilen, translation #426950 by Pun_intended
- God natt.Good night.Tatoeba #9024108 by morbrorper, translation #2362724 by NotApplicable
- Sov gott, Anders! Hörs imorgon.Sleep well, Anders! Talk to you tomorrow.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alice and Oscar are leaving a dinner party.
- AliceTack för en trevlig kväll, god natt.Thanks for a lovely evening, good night.
- OscarDet var så mycket tack, god natt.You are very welcome, good night.
- AliceVi ses imorgon!See you tomorrow!
- OscarJa, god natt, Alice.Yes, good night, Alice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good night” translations and entries god natt, natti, natti natti, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries god, natt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
