Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| vacker | /ˈvak.kɛr/ |
| fin | /fiːn/ |
| snygg | /snʏɡː/ |
In Swedish, the choice of word for 'pretty' depends on what you are describing and the level of intensity you wish to convey. When describing women and children as pleasant or attractive, you can use vacker, fin or snygg. While vacker is often used in a more poetic sense, fin is a very versatile word that can describe both people and inanimate objects, such as a house or a doll.
Which one should you use?
The terms differ in intensity and nuance. vacker is the most intense and formal option, carrying a meaning closer to 'beautiful' than 'pretty'. In contrast, fin is a more casual and versatile way to say 'pretty' or 'nice'. While the adjective snygg means 'good-looking', the related noun snygging is a playful slang term used among friends to mean 'hottie'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All three adjectives follow similar rules for comparison by taking the suffix -are. For vacker, the comparative form is vackrare. For fin, it is finare. And for snygg, it is snyggare. Additionally, if you wish to use 'pretty' as an adverb meaning 'somewhat', you should use rätt or ganska.
How do you pronounce it?
The word vacker is pronounced /ˈvak.kɛr/ and has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word vacker shares its roots with the English word 'wakeful'. It originally meant 'watchful' or 'brave' in Old Norse.
- The word fin can sometimes be used ironically in Swedish to describe something that is overly posh or pretentious.
Examples in context
- Hon har en fin docka.She has a pretty doll.This sentence shows the use of fin to describe a doll.Tatoeba #929925 by Tximist, translation #316621 by CK
- På håll ser den fin ut.From a distance it looks pretty.This sentence demonstrates how fin can describe how something looks from a distance.Tatoeba #3121243 by herrsilen, translation #10601339 by Pineapple
- Du är så ung och vacker.You're so young and pretty.This sentence uses vacker to describe someone as young and pretty.Tatoeba #11485324 by Pineapple, translation #5737512 by CM
- Den här kostymen är väldigt vacker.This suit is very pretty.
- Hon är en vacker kvinna.She is a beautiful woman.
- Din nya frisyr är verkligen fin.Your new hairstyle is truly pretty.
- Det här huset är riktigt fint.This house is really beautiful.
- Du ser mycket snygg ut ikväll.You look very pretty tonight.
- De har alltid varit ett snyggt par.They have always been a good-looking couple.
- Hon är verkligen en snygging.She is really a hottie.
- Den här bilen är en riktig snygging.This car is a real beauty.
- Det här klippet är riktigt fint.This clip is really pretty.
- Din nya klänning är riktigt tjusig.Your new dress is really pretty.
- Hon har en riktigt tjusig inredning i sitt hem.She has a very stylish home décor.
- Igår såg du verkligen vacker ut i den blåa klänningen.Yesterday, you looked really pretty in the blue dress.
- Kaninen är så söt och liten, riktigt fin!The bunny is so cute and small, really pretty!
- Det nya konstverket är helt enkelt vackert.The new artwork is simply beautiful.
- Titta på den där katten, vilken snygging!Look at that cat, what a hottie!
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Oscar gives Linnea a compliment on her dress.
- LinneaTack! Gillar du min klänning?Thanks! Do you like my dress?
- OscarJa, du ser väldigt vacker ut i den.Yes, you look very pretty in it.
- LinneaVad snäll du är, Oscar.How kind of you, Oscar.
- OscarDet är sant.It is true.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty” translations and entries vacker, fin, snygg, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fin, snygg, vacker, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
