 A large number of French words were imported into Sweden around the 18th century . These words have been transcribed to the Swedish spelling system and are therefore pronounced recognizably to a French @-@ speaker . Most of them are distinguished by a " French accent " , characterized by emphasis on the last syllable . For example , nivå ( fr. niveau , " level " ) , fåtölj ( fr. fauteuil , " armchair " ) and affär ( " shop ; affair " ) , etc . Cross @-@ borrowing from other Germanic languages has also been common , at first from Middle Low German , the lingua franca of the Hanseatic league and later from standard German . Some compounds are translations of the elements ( calques ) of German original compounds into Swedish , like bomull from German Baumwolle ( " cotton " , literally tree @-@ wool ) . 
