Learn Hardcore Swedish: Skulle ni vilja vänta här, tack? - Would you polite like to wait here, please?

Skulle is the conditional of ska and is used to soften a request, much like English would. Skulle ni vilja… sounds tentative and polite: Would you be willing to…?/Would you like to…? Without skulle, the request is more direct.

What does ni mean here—plural you or polite singular?

By default, ni is plural you. It can also be used as a polite singular in some contexts (especially customer service), but in Sweden that can sound old-fashioned, distant, or even awkward to some. In Finland-Swedish, polite singular ni is more widely accepted.

Should I capitalize Ni for politeness?

Modern usage generally keeps it lowercase: ni. Some writers capitalize Ni in letters or very formal correspondence to mark polite singular, but many style guides advise sticking to lowercase and avoiding polite ni altogether unless your context calls for it.

Is the word order special because it’s a yes/no question?

Yes. In Swedish yes/no questions, the finite verb comes first: Skulle (finite verb) + ni (subject) + vilja (infinitive/modal complement) + the rest. That inversion signals a question, similar to English Would you…?

Why is there no att before vänta?

After modal verbs like vilja, kunna, ska, Swedish drops the infinitive marker att. So it’s vilja vänta, not vilja att vänta.

What’s the difference between vilja and kunna here?

Skulle ni vilja… targets willingness: Would you be willing to…?/Would you like to…?
Skulle ni kunna… targets ability/possibility: Would you be able to…?/Could you…?
In everyday requests, Skulle ni/du kunna… is very common and perfectly polite.

Is Vill ni vänta här? wrong?

It’s not wrong, just more direct: Do you want to wait here? It can sound like a genuine question about preference rather than a polite request. Skulle ni vilja… softens it.

What does tack at the end do? Is it like “please”?

Tack literally means thanks, but in requests it functions like a polite please/thank you in advance. Adding tack softens the tone. You can omit it, but the sentence will feel a bit more bare.

Why is there a comma before tack? Can I drop it?

The comma sets off tack as an interjection. It’s common and recommended, but you’ll also see it without a comma in casual writing. With or without, the meaning is the same.

Should it be här or hit?

Use här for location (wait here, i.e., in this place). Hit means to here and is used with movement toward the speaker. Since waiting is static, vänta här is correct.

When do I use vänta vs vänta på?

vänta [place]: waiting in/at a location (e.g., vänta här).
vänta på [någon/något]: wait for someone/something (e.g., vänta på bussen, vänta på dig).

How would I say this informally to one person?

Common options:

Skulle du kunna vänta här, tack? (very polite)
Kan du vänta här (en stund), tack? (polite, straightforward)
More direct/imperative: Vänta här, tack. (tone of voice matters)

Are there safer alternatives if I’m unsure about using singular ni?

Yes—avoid addressing pronouns altogether:

Skulle det gå bra att vänta här en stund, tack? (Would it be okay to wait here for a moment, please?)
Kan man vänta här en stund, tack? (impersonal man) These sound polite without the du/ni choice.

Any pronunciation tips?

skulle: hard sk, not the “sj” sound (roughly SKUL-le)
ni: like “nee”
vilja: roughly VIL-ya (the l is heard; the j is like English y)
vänta: VEN-ta (short e, double n sound)
tack: tak (short a, double k sound)
Primary stress is on the first syllable of each content word.