köttbulle
/ˈɕœtːˌbɵlɛ/common gender
The English phrase "meatball" is köttbulle in Swedish.
köttbulle refers to a ball of minced or ground meat.
Meaning: ball of minced or ground meat (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of kött (meat) and bulle (bun or ball).
How does it change in a sentence?
köttbulle is a common-gender noun. The plural is köttbullar, while the definite plural is köttbullarna. To indicate possession for the definite singular, use köttbullens.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɕœtːˌbɵlɛ/
Did you know?
- If you order 'köttbullar' in Sweden, you are likely to receive them with lingonberry jam, a sweet and tart accompaniment that many English speakers find unexpected for a savory meat dish.
- While English speakers use 'meatball' for any meat sphere, a Swedish speaker might use bulle to describe something sweet, like a cinnamon 'bulle', making the word 'köttbulle' sound more like a 'meat bun' to a literal mind.
- While köttbullar are iconic worldwide via IKEA, in Sweden they are a staple of the julbord (Christmas buffet) and are not just a casual dinner food.
Examples in context
- Hemlagade köttbullar är en klassisk svensk rätt.Homemade meatballs are a classic Swedish dish.
- Jag skulle vilja beställa en tallrik med köttbullar.I would like to order a plate of meatballs.
- Mamma gör de bästa köttbullorna i hela Skåne!Mom makes the best meatballs in all of Skåne!
- En köttbulle är god.A meatball is delicious.
- Jag vill ha en köttbulle till.I want one more meatball.
- Ska vi dela på en köttbulle?Shall we share a meatball?
Example conversation
Oscar and Maja are eating dinner together.
- OscarMaja, vill du ha en köttbulle?Maja, do you want a meatball?
- MajaJa tack, jag tar gärna en.Yes please, I would love one.
- OscarHär är din sista köttbulle.Here is your last meatball.
- MajaTack Oscar, det var jättegott!Thanks Oscar, it was delicious!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meatball” translations and entries köttbulle, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
