How to Say "Nod" in Swedish - How To Say Guide

nicka

To nod in Swedish is nicka.

The verb nicka means to incline the head up and down.

Meaning: incline the head up and down (verb)

Which one should you use?

While nicka refers to the movement of the head, the noun nick refers to the actual instance of a nod.

The infinitive form is nicka. The present tense is nickar, which means nods or is nodding. The past tense is nickade.

In Sweden, a slight nicka upward is often used as an informal, non-verbal greeting among friends, functioning more like a 'hello' than an agreement.
The Swedish verb nicka shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'bow', suggesting that historically, a simple nod was viewed as a miniature version of a formal bow.
While nicka is the word for nodding, Swedes may use the phrase vicka på huvudet to describe a more rhythmic or uncertain head movement.

Hon nickade till svar.
She answered with a nod.
This sentence shows how to use nicka to describe answering with a nod.
Tatoeba #4337802 by richke, translation #310546 by CK
Nicka om du håller med.
Nod if you agree.
This sentence shows how to use nicka to request a nod of agreement.
Tatoeba #11057274 by SilasNordgren, translation #9265368 by CK
Nicka om du förstår mig.
Nod if you understand me.
This sentence shows how to use nicka to request a nod of understanding.
Tatoeba #12209483 by morbrorper, translation #12209395 by CK
Han nickade tydligt för att visa sitt samtycke
He nodded clearly to show his agreement
När jag frågade om vi kunde ses senare nickade hon med huvudet
When I asked if we could meet later, she nodded
Han nickade glatt när han hörde de goda nyheterna
He nodded happily when he heard the good news

Karl and Emma are discussing a plan in a quiet library.

Sources

Wiktionary, “nod” translations and entries nicka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries nicka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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