Swedish and German are distinct languages. While they share some similarities due to their Germanic origins, they are not mutually intelligible.
Swedish is a North Germanic language, while German is a West Germanic language. This means they diverged from a common ancestor long ago and developed their own unique grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
However, it's important to note that:
* Some Swedes may learn German as a second language. This is especially common in regions bordering Germany or in certain professions.
* There may be some basic vocabulary overlap. Due to shared history and cultural exchange, some words are similar in both languages.
* Swedish and German speakers can often understand each other to a limited degree. This is because some words and sentence structures are recognizable, but full comprehension requires extensive language learning.