The phrases, from easiest to hardest
| Phrase | Meaning | About |
|---|---|---|
| grundläggande kunskaper i svenska | Basic knowledge of Swedish | A2–B1 |
| kunna kommunicera på svenska | Be able to communicate in Swedish | B1 |
| god förståelse för svenska | Good understanding of Swedish | B1 |
| sfi | SFI, Swedish for immigrants | B1 |
| grundläggande svenska från grundskola | Swedish at compulsory-school level | B1 |
| talar svenska | Speaks Swedish | B1–B2 |
| svenska eller engelska | Swedish or English | B1–B2 |
| svenska som andraspråk | Swedish as a second language (SVA), upper-secondary level | B1–B2 |
| goda kunskaper i svenska | Good knowledge of Swedish | B2 |
| god svenska i tal och skrift | Good Swedish, spoken and written | B2 |
| svenska i tal och skrift | Swedish, spoken and written | B2 |
| motsvarande nivå b2 | Equivalent to CEFR level B2 | B2 |
| goda språkkunskaper | Good language skills | B2 |
| behärskar svenska | Has a good command of Swedish | B2–C1 |
| god förmåga att uttrycka dig i tal och skrift | Good ability to express yourself in speech and writing | B2–C1 |
| svenska och engelska | Swedish and English | B2–C1 |
| svenska 3 | Swedish 3 / Swedish as a second language 3 | B2–C1 |
| mycket goda kunskaper i svenska | Very good knowledge of Swedish | C1 |
| flytande svenska | Fluent Swedish | C1 |
| obehindrat | Without difficulty, effortlessly | C1 |
| motsvarande nivå c1 | Equivalent to CEFR level C1 | C1 |
| utmärkta kunskaper i svenska | Excellent knowledge of Swedish | C1–C2 |
| svenska som modersmål | Swedish as your native language | C2 |
Wording checked against current ads on Platsbanken, Arbetsförmedlingen’s job board, in October 2026. If a job asks for a test result, see TISUS, Swedex and other tests for work. To practise the interview itself, read the Swedish job interview guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does goda kunskaper i svenska mean?
Good knowledge of Swedish. In practice it usually means you can take part in meetings, phone calls and emails in Swedish without help, roughly B2. Many employers will interview you in Swedish to check.
What is the difference between i tal and i skrift?
I tal means spoken, i skrift means written. I tal och skrift means both, and it is the most common wording. A job that only says i tal usually needs good spoken Swedish but little writing.
Does meriterande mean I need it?
No. Meriterande means it counts in your favour, a plus. Ett krav or ett måste means it is required. Apply even if you lack the meriterande items.
Are these levels official?
No. Employers do not use a shared scale. The levels are our reading of common practice, based on how the phrases are used in real ads, to give you a starting point. Where an ad names a level (for example C1) or a test, that is what counts.