How to Say “Have a Good Time” in Swedish

ha det så kul
/hɑː dɛː soː kʉːl/word by word
In Swedish, "have a good time" is expressed as ha det så kul.
ha det så kul is an idiomatic phrase used to wish someone enjoyment during an activity or an event. While an English speaker might be tempted to use a literal translation like ha en bra tid, that sounds unnatural in Swedish. ha det så kul is the proper way to express this sentiment.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase ha det så kul literally translates to "have it so fun".

Which one should you use?

Depending on the specific feeling you want to convey, you may choose different forms. Use ha det så kul to mean "have so much fun". If you want to wish someone a pleasant time that is more relaxed or polite rather than "fun", use ha det så trevligt. For a very casual, colloquial way to say "have it good", you can use Ha det gött!

How do you pronounce it?

/hɑː dɛː soː kʉːl/

What mistakes should you avoid?

Avoid saying ha en bra tid to mean "have a good time", as this sounds unnatural to Swedish speakers. Instead, use the idiomatic ha det så kul.

When do people say it?

When someone wishes you a good time using these phrases, a common and polite way to respond is tack, detsamma, which means "thanks, same to you".

Did you know?

  • While kul means 'fun' in this phrase, the Swedish word kula can also mean 'bullet'.
  • In Sweden, the word gött used in ha det gött is especially common in the west coast region of Gothenburg.
  • The word kul in ha det så kul is a relatively modern addition to the language, with its first recorded appearances dating back only to 1911.

Examples in context

  • Ha det så kul på festen!
    Have a good time at the party!
  • Jag hoppas att ni ska ha det så kul.
    I hope that you all will have a good time.
  • Ha det så kul på konserten ikväll!
    Have a good time at the concert tonight!

Example conversation

Erik is leaving for a weekend trip to a theme park.

  1. Alice

    Ska du åka till nöjesparken nu?
    Are you going to the amusement park now?
  2. Erik

    Ja, jag åker om en timme.
    Yes, I am leaving in an hour.
  3. Alice

    Ha det så kul där!
    Have a good time there!
  4. Erik

    Tack så mycket, Alice!
    Thank you so much, Alice!

Sources

  • IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ha, det, så, kul) and can differ in connected speech.
  • Word origins: Wiktionary entries det, ha, kul, så, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Amanda Joanne
Amanda JoanneHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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