Best Podcasts for Learning Swedish: 12 Shows That Actually Work

By Laura Baxendale, Editor-in-Chief at PodRanker.com

I'll admit it — I have a soft spot for language-learning podcasts. There's something satisfying about plugging in your earbuds on a morning walk and coming back 30 minutes later knowing how to order coffee in a new language. And Swedish, with its melodic rhythm and surprisingly logical grammar, is one of the most rewarding languages to learn through audio.

Whether you're planning a move to Stockholm, fell in love with Swedish TV dramas, or just want to correctly pronounce "köttbullar" (it's closer to "shut-boo-lar" — seriously), these are the best podcasts for learning Swedish right now.

I've organized them by level so you can jump in wherever you are.

For Complete Beginners (A1)

1. SwedishPod101

The most comprehensive beginner resource in podcast form. SwedishPod101 offers structured lessons that start from absolute zero — the alphabet, basic greetings, numbers — and gradually build up. Each episode pairs native Swedish speakers with English explanations, and the pacing is gentle enough that you won't feel overwhelmed.

Best feature: The lesson notes and vocabulary lists that come with each episode. Print them out and review while you listen.

Tip: The free tier gives you enough to get started, but the premium subscription unlocks full transcripts, flashcards, and grammar breakdowns that genuinely accelerate learning.

2. Say It in Swedish

Run by Joakim, a Swedish teacher who clearly loves helping beginners. Say It in Swedish focuses on practical, everyday phrases — ordering food, asking for directions, making small talk. The episodes are short (10–15 minutes), which makes them perfect for daily practice. He also has a growing community on Discord where learners help each other, which is a nice bonus.

Best feature: Joakim speaks slowly and clearly, repeating key phrases multiple times. Great for shadowing practice. His episode on Swedish word stress (episode 52) was the one that finally made Swedish rhythm click for me.

3. Coffee Break Swedish

From the team behind the popular Coffee Break language series. Teacher Hanna walks student Mark through Swedish in relaxed, fika-style lessons. What I love is that Mark is a genuine learner — he makes mistakes, asks questions, and you learn alongside him. Cultural correspondent Emma pops in regularly with context about Swedish customs that make the language stick.

Best feature: The conversational format means you pick up natural Swedish phrasing, not just textbook sentences. The lesson on Swedish small talk etiquette in the first season is essential listening.

For Elementary Learners (A2)

4. Lätt svenska med Oskar

This is the podcast I recommend most for the A2 level. Oskar speaks entirely in Swedish — but at a pace and vocabulary level designed for learners. He talks about everyday topics (his neighbourhood, Swedish holidays, what he had for lunch) in simple, clear Swedish. It feels like hanging out with a patient Swedish friend. He publishes frequently, so you get daily practice material.

Best feature: Transcripts available on Patreon, plus a Discord community for extra practice. Start with any episode — there's no fixed order.

Link: lattsvenskamedoskar.com

5. Learn Swedish with Katrin

Katrin's approach is refreshingly modern — no stiff grammar drills, no outdated textbook examples. She teaches Swedish as Swedes actually speak it, with plenty of slang and contemporary expressions. Her episode on Swedish filler words ("liksom," "typ," "asså") is the kind of thing you'll never learn in a classroom but hear constantly on the street in Stockholm.

Best feature: Feels like getting Swedish tips from a cool friend rather than sitting in a lecture. Transcripts and exercises on Patreon.

6. Simple Swedish Podcast

The host speaks in a natural way but slower and with simpler vocabulary than native-speed content. This is ideal if you're past the "hej, jag heter..." stage but native podcasts still sound like a wall of sound. Topics are varied — some episodes are about Swedish culture, others about daily life — and there's no fixed order, so jump in anywhere.

Best feature: The natural speech patterns. Unlike lesson-format podcasts, you're hearing real Swedish sentences, just at a manageable pace. Great bridge to native content.

For Intermediate Learners (B1–B2)

7. Klartext (Sveriges Radio)

Here's where it gets exciting. Klartext is a real Swedish news program, produced by Sveriges Radio, that delivers current events in "lättläst" (easy-to-read) Swedish. The reporters speak clearly and at a moderate pace, and the vocabulary is simplified compared to regular news broadcasts. This is the bridge to consuming real Swedish media.

The mental shift from "learning material" to "actual Swedish content made for Swedish people" is huge for your confidence. I remember the first time I followed an entire Klartext segment without pausing — it felt like leveling up.

Best feature: It's actual Swedish content for Swedish people — not a language course.

Free to listen: sverigesradio.se/klartext

8. Radio Sweden på lätt svenska

Another gem from Sveriges Radio. Radio Sweden på lätt svenska covers Swedish and international news in simplified Swedish. Episodes are short (about 10 minutes) and published daily, making it easy to build a consistent listening habit. I use it as a morning news briefing — in Swedish.

Best feature: Daily publishing means fresh content every day. The episode on the 2025 Swedish election results was a great test of political vocabulary.

9. Swedish Learning Accelerator

A phrase-heavy podcast that throws thousands of Swedish sentences at you with English translations. It's not fancy — no host banter, no cultural segments — but it's brutally effective for building comprehension speed. Think of it as interval training for your Swedish ear. Best paired with other resources rather than used alone.

Best feature: Pure volume of input. If you listen during commutes or house chores, you're getting passive exposure that adds up fast.

For Advanced Learners (B2–C1)

10. P3 Dokumentär

Ready for the deep end? P3 Dokumentär is one of Sweden's most popular documentary podcasts, produced by Sveriges Radio. These are full-speed, native-level Swedish documentaries covering true crime, social issues, historical events, and more. If you can follow these, you're functionally fluent.

Their two-part episode on the Estonia ferry disaster (Estoniakatastrofen) is both devastating and brilliantly produced — I'd recommend it as a benchmark. If you understand 80%+ of that episode, your Swedish is in great shape.

Best feature: World-class production quality. These are genuinely excellent podcasts regardless of the language-learning angle.

11. Creepypodden

A horror and mystery podcast in Swedish that's perfect for advanced learners who want to stay entertained while practicing. The hosts speak naturally and quickly, with plenty of slang and colloquial expressions. It's like being invited to a Swedish dinner party where the conversation turns to ghost stories.

Their episodes on Swedish urban legends ("Hötorgsmannen" and the ghost of Bäckahästen) are particularly great for picking up regional vocabulary and informal storytelling patterns.

Best feature: You'll pick up informal Swedish, humor, and cultural references that textbooks never teach.

12. Filip & Fredrik

One of Sweden's most iconic podcast duos. Filip & Fredrik discuss pop culture, current events, and whatever else crosses their minds, at full native speed with all the slang, interruptions, and inside jokes you'd expect. Fair warning: they've had several format changes and hiatuses over the years, so the back catalogue is uneven. But when they're on, they're the final boss of Swedish listening comprehension.

Best feature: If you can understand and laugh at the right moments, congratulations — your Swedish is excellent.

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Tips for Learning Swedish with Podcasts

Here's what I've found actually works:

1. Listen Actively First, Then Passively

Don't just have Swedish podcasts playing in the background while you scroll Instagram. For your first listen, focus completely — pause, rewind, look up words. Then replay the same episode passively during chores or commuting. Repetition is where fluency lives.

2. Shadow the Speakers

Repeat what the host says, matching their rhythm and intonation. This is especially powerful for Swedish, where the melody (called "prosody") carries meaning. You can recognize a native Swedish speaker by their sing-song rhythm — shadowing helps you internalize it. Katrin's podcast is particularly good for this.

3. Use Transcripts When Available

Read along as you listen. This connects the written and spoken forms of words, reinforcing both skills simultaneously. Lätt svenska med Oskar and Learn Swedish with Katrin both offer transcripts, and tools like Podsqueeze can generate transcripts for any podcast episode that doesn't provide them.

4. Set a Daily Minimum

Even 10 minutes a day beats 2 hours once a week. Consistency rewires your brain for Swedish processing. The short-format shows on this list (Say It in Swedish, Radio Sweden) are perfect for daily micro-sessions.

5. Combine with Other Methods

Podcasts are incredible for listening comprehension and pronunciation, but they're not a complete solution. Pair them with a structured course (like Duolingo or Babbel for vocabulary), conversation practice (iTalki for tutors), and reading (Swedish news sites or children's books to start).

Why Swedish?

If you're on the fence:

• It's one of the easiest languages for English speakers. Shared Germanic roots mean you'll recognize more words than you expect.
• Swedes speak incredible English — which is both a blessing and a curse. You'll never be stranded, but you'll have to be proactive about actually practicing Swedish in Sweden.
• Access to Scandinavian culture. Swedish film, music, literature, and design are globally influential, and experiencing them in the original language is different.
• Career opportunities. Sweden's tech scene (Spotify, Klarna, King) is booming, and while English is the office language at most companies, Swedish gives you a real edge socially and professionally.

Final Thoughts

Learning Swedish through podcasts works because it mimics how we naturally acquire language — through listening, context, and repetition. Start at your level, be consistent, and don't be afraid to graduate to harder content before you feel "ready." A little discomfort is where growth happens.

Lycka till — good luck! And if you discover a great Swedish-learning podcast I've missed, let me know. This list is always evolving.

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Laura Baxendale is the Editor-in-Chief of PodRanker.com. She's currently on episode 47 of P3 Dokumentär and is proud to report she understands approximately 85% of it.