Fika is a social institution in Sweden; it means having a coffee with one’s colleagues, friends, date, or family. The word has quite ambiguous connotations and can mean everything from taking a break from work or other activities to a date. This practice of taking a break for a coffee with some biscuits, cookies or similar (or even a small meal sometimes) is central to Swedish life. Swedes are actually among the heaviest consumers of coffee in the world.Although the word may in itself imply “taking a break from work”, this is often emphasied using the word fikapaus. The shorter word fika may equally well mean having coffe with a friend at a café or konditori.

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