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🚙 A military vehicle 🧑‍🦱 A person from Lapland
Laplander

Laplander

9.9
An old word for a person from Lapland in northern Europe now usually called Sami
  • proper noun
  • Slur
translation icon : lapón
  • Many traditional crafts practiced by Laplanders reflect their unique culture and deep connection to the land.

Examples

  • In the winter, a Laplander might guide tourists through the snowy landscapes of northern Europe.

  • A couple of years later, you could have seen a family of Laplanders from Norway who bought a brought a reindeer with them so that your child could have a sleigh ride.

  • Historically, Laplanders relied on reindeer for transportation and food in their harsh and frigid environment.

Synonyms

European
vsLaplander
215 1.0

A person from Europe

is broader and continental rather than specific to a northern regional group
Lapplander
vsLaplander
  • Offensive
9.9

A person from northern Scandinavia who belongs to the Sami people and traditionally herds reindeer

is an older now outdated term for that indigenous people

Compounds

Laplander culture
9.6

The customs, stories, and daily life of the Sámi people in northern Scandinavia and Russia

Surface Forms

Laplander main

Morphology

Laplander = Lapland (transparent) = Lapland + er

Standard demonym formation: 'Lapland' + '-er' denotes a person from Lapland, a meaning directly derived and predictable for learners.

Etymology

Laplander originally meant a person from Lapland, so it simply meant 'someone from Lapland'. Today that use is old-fashioned and people usually use the name 'Sami' for the native people of the region.