välkommen hem
/²vɛːlˌkɔmːɛn hɛm/word by word
The English phrase "welcome home" is translated into Swedish as välkommen hem.
This phrase is used to greet someone who has returned to their own residence. While hem can refer to the concept of home or the direction of home, the full phrase välkommen hem specifically implies that the person has arrived at their own residence.
Meaning: welcome home (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of välkommen (welcome) and hem (home).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form välkommen hem is used when addressing one person, regardless of their gender. If you are welcoming more than one person home, the adjective changes to the plural form välkomna.
How do you pronounce it?
/²vɛːlˌkɔmːɛn hɛm/
Did you know?
- The word hem descends from the Old Norse heimr, which originally referred not just to a house but to the entire world or universe.
- Swedish has a specific concept called hemtrevnad, which describes the cozy, welcoming feeling of a home that makes someone feel välkommen hem.
- The prefix väl- in välkommen functions similarly to 'well' in English, literally meaning 'well-come'.
Examples in context
- Välkommen hem, älskling!Welcome home, darling!
- Välkommen hem, nu kan du vila.Welcome home, now you can rest.
Example conversation
Linnea arrives at the front door after a long trip.
- OscarHej Linnea, välkommen hem!Hi Linnea, welcome home!
- LinneaTack så mycket, Oscar!Thank you so much, Oscar!
- OscarHur var resan?How was the trip?
- LinneaDen var bra, men jag är trött.It was good, but I am tired.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “welcome home” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (välkommen, hem) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hem, välkommen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
