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Questions & Answers about Hej, jag heter Sara.
What does heter mean, and why not use är?
Heter is the present tense of the verb heta, which means “to be called/ named.” So Jag heter Sara literally means “I am called Sara,” which is the most natural way to introduce yourself in Swedish. You can also say Jag är Sara (“I am Sara”), which is fine. Mitt namn är Sara (“My name is Sara”) is grammatical but sounds formal or scripted in everyday speech.
How do you pronounce the words in Hej, jag heter Sara?
- Hej: [hej] (like English “hey”)
- jag: often [jɑː] in casual speech (the final g is usually dropped), or [jɑːg] in careful speech. The j is like English “y.”
- heter: [ˈheːtɛr] (long “eh” in the first syllable; clear final r)
- Sara: [ˈsɑːra] (stress on the first syllable, “sah-rah”) It’s normal for Swedes to use a tapped/trilled r; in southern dialects you may hear a uvular r. Both are fine.
Is jag capitalized like English I?
No. jag (“I”) is only capitalized at the beginning of a sentence or in titles. Swedish does not capitalize the first-person pronoun by default.
Why is there a comma after Hej? Can I write Hej! instead?
Hej is an interjection (a greeting), so it’s commonly set off by a comma before the main clause: Hej, jag heter … You can absolutely write Hej! Jag heter … That’s very common in messages and signage. All three are seen:
- Hej, jag heter Sara.
- Hej! Jag heter Sara.
- In very informal writing, some people omit the comma, but the comma or exclamation mark is standard.
What’s going on with the word order in jag heter? Is there a rule?
Swedish main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb typically sits in the second position. In Jag heter Sara, the subject jag is first and the verb heter is second. If you start with something else, the verb still stays second: I dag heter jag Sara (Today I am called Sara — odd sentence, but shows the rule). Interjections like Hej don’t count as part of the clause, so they don’t affect V2.
Does heter change with the subject (I/you/he etc.)?
No. Swedish verbs don’t conjugate for person or number in the present tense. You say:
- Jag heter
- Du heter
- Han/Hon/Den/Det heter
- Vi heter
- Ni heter
- De heter Past tense is hette (e.g., Jag hette …), and the supine is hetat.
How would I ask someone else’s name?
Use Vad heter du? (“What are you called?”). A natural mini-dialog:
- Hej, jag heter Sara.
- Hej! Vad heter du?
- Jag heter Alex. Trevligt att träffas! You can specify: Vad heter du i förnamn/efternamn? (first/last name).
Is Hej the only common greeting? What about Hallå, Hejsan, Tjena?
- Hej: neutral, works almost everywhere.
- Hej hej: friendly, informal, common when arriving/leaving.
- Hejsan: friendly, slightly softer than Hej.
- Hallå: “hello/hey there,” also used to get attention.
- Tjena/Tja: casual (“hi/hey” among friends).
- More formal: God morgon/dag/kväll (good morning/day/evening).
Is there any difference in meaning between Jag heter Sara and Jag är Sara?
Both can introduce you. Jag heter Sara focuses on your name (default in introductions). Jag är Sara presents your identity and is common when you’re the expected person (e.g., at an appointment: Hej, jag är Sara). For nicknames, use Jag kallas … (“I’m called/people call me …”) if others call you that.
Do I ever need an article with a personal name, like “the Sara”?
No. Proper names in Swedish don’t take articles in this context. You simply say Sara, not “en Sara” or “the Sara,” when stating your name.
Any tips on stress and rhythm?
Primary stress falls on the first syllable of heter and Sara: heː- in he-ter, and SÁ-ra. Jag is often unstressed in the flow: hej | jag HÉ-ter SÁ-ra.
Is spelling Sara vs. Sarah important in Swedish?
Both exist as names. Sara is the common Swedish spelling; Sarah also occurs (often from international contexts). Pronunciation is typically the same in Swedish (final h in Sarah is silent).