fan (faan)
What does fan (faan) mean? fan (faan) is a Swedish moderate that translates to “damn / fuck” in English.
Literal Translation
the devil
Meaning & Usage
"damn / fuck"
The devil. The most common and versatile Swedish swear word.
Examples in the Wild
Vad fan gör du? (What the fuck / devil are you doing?)
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around religious or conservative communities
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Used exactly like 'fuck' or 'damn' to express frustration, but is considered very mild today. Frequently heard on daytime television.
More in Swedish 🇸🇪
View all →shuno (shoo-no)
“dude / guy / fucker”
Ortenspråk slang for a male.
hora (hoo-ra)
“whore”
Prostitute. A very severe slur.
guzz (gooz)
“chick / ho / girl”
Modern Ortenspråk slang for a girl.
fitta (fit-ta)
“cunt”
Female genitalia. One of the absolute strongest and most taboo native Swedish swear words.
gubbe (goob-beh)
“geezer / old fart”
An older man.
håll käften (hole chef-ten)
“shut the fuck up”
A highly aggressive way to tell someone to stop talking.
rövhål (ruv-hole)
“asshole”
The anus. Used to call someone a terrible person.
järnspikar (yairn-spee-kar)
“goodness gracious / holy smokes”
An extremely old euphemism/minced oath.