15 Swedish words for getting married

With the UK, and probably the USA, in a Royal wedding frenzy at the moment, it made me think about Swedish words for getting married. In English, we have for example ‘tie the knot’, ‘take the leap’ and ‘get hitched’, so I did some research. And I found the following formal, and less formal expressions for getting wed.

1. gifta sig – to get married
2. ingå äktenskap – to enter into marriage
3. äkta – to wed
4. ingå giftermål – to enter into marriage
5. Gå träda i brudstol – ‘step onto the bridal chair’ (tradition from the 1600’s)
6. Ingå förmälning – enter into marriage
7. Gå brud – ‘go bride’
8. Vigas – get married
9. Föra till altaret – lead to the alter
10. Knyta hymens band – tie the wedding band
11. Bygga hjonelag – ‘build a marriage’
12. Slå sina påsar ihop – ‘join your bags’
13. Förena sina öden – unite your destinies
14. Gänga sig – get married
15. Stadga sig – settle down

Interestingly, the most used word for married in Swedish is the same as the word for poison – ‘gift’!