<P> Swedish evolved from Old Norse around the 14th and 15th century, and historically, the Swedish dialects were generally much more different than today . Since the 20th century Standard Swedish prevails throughout the country . The Scandinavian languages constitute a dialectal continuum and some of the traditional Swedish dialects could equally be described as Danish (Scanian) or Norwegian (Jamtlandic). </P> <P> Finnish was the majority language of Sweden's eastern parts, though it was used almost exclusively as a spoken language . These areas were also home of a significant Swedish - speaking minority . Finnish became a minority language in the west as well since many Finnish speakers migrated there (mostly for economic reasons). </P> <P> Estonian was the language of the majority in Swedish Estonia but the province, like Finland hosted a Swedish - speaking minority and also a more significant minority of Germans . </P> <P> In medieval Sweden, the Low German language had a very important role as a commercial language and the lingua franca of the Hanseatic league . As such, the Low German language influenced Swedish and other languages in the region considerably . In medieval Stockholm, half of the population were Low German speakers . Low German was also the language spoken in the 17th - century Swedish territories in northern Germany i.e. Swedish Pomerania, Bremen - Verden, Wismar and Wildeshausen (as well as the rest of northern Germany) and by the German minority in Estonia and Swedish Livonia . Livonia was also inhabited by Latvians, Estonians and Livonians . </P>

What are the main languages spoken in sweden