Ways to say it
| Swedish | IPA |
|---|---|
| bra gjort | |
| bra jobbat | |
| bra | /brɑː/ |
These expressions are used as exclamations of praise. You can use bra gjort to mean "well done", bra jobbat to mean "good job" or simply bra to mean "good" or "well done" in casual settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bra gjort literally means "good done".
Which one should you use?
While bra gjort is a direct way to say "well done", speakers often use bra jobbat (literally "well worked") when they specifically want to praise someone's effort or work performance. The single word bra can also serve as a short, casual exclamation meaning "well done". For an even stronger compliment, you can use jättebra jobbat, which translates to "great job".
Related words
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use bra gjort to describe meat that is well-cooked. If you are ordering a steak, use the culinary term välstekt.
Did you know?
- The prefix jätte in jättebra literally means 'giant'. When you say jättebra jobbat, you are technically calling the job 'giantly good'.
- The word bra shares a surprising ancestry with the English word 'brave' and the Italian word 'bravo'. It stems from the same root that originally described someone as 'brave' or 'valiant' in the 17th century.
- While bra gjort is common, Swedes often use the word grattis (congratulations) in situations where an English speaker would simply say 'well done'.
Examples in context
- Bra jobbat, allihopa.Well done, everybody.This example shows how to use bra jobbat to address a group.Tatoeba #10948982 by Pineapple, translation #8556175 by CK
- Bra jobbat, gubbar.Well done, guys.Tatoeba #1992135 by Siljan, translation #2000268 by CK
- Bra gjort, Magnus! Du vann första platsen i löptävlingen.Well done, Magnus! You won first place in the running competition.
- Du är grym, Linda! Din insats på dansscenen imponerade på oss alla.You're awesome, Linda! Your performance on the dance floor impressed us all.
- Bra gjort med presenten!Well done with the gift!
Example conversation
Emma is praising Karl for fixing a broken shelf.
- EmmaTitta, hyllan sitter fast nu.Look, the shelf is attached now.
- KarlJa, det tog lite tid.Yes, it took a little time.
- EmmaBra gjort, Karl!Well done, Karl!
- KarlTack så mycket, Emma.Thank you very much, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “well done” translations and entries bra, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
