Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Lapplander

Lapplander

9.9
A person from northern Scandinavia who belongs to the Sami people and traditionally herds reindeer
  • noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : lapón
  • Many Lapplanders now prefer to be called Sami, reflecting their own language and identity.

Examples

  • Historically, a Lapplander would travel great distances with their reindeer herds.

  • Many Lapplanders continue to practice traditional reindeer herding.

  • The Lapplander people have a rich tradition of storytelling and music.

  • The Lapplander community is rich in culture.

  • Many Lapplanders are known for their traditional lifestyle of herding reindeer across the snowy landscapes of Scandinavia.

  • The identity of a Lapplander is closely tied to their ancient customs and connection to nature.

  • In modern times, many Laplanders participate in cultural festivals that celebrate their Sami heritage.

Synonyms

Sami
vsLapplander
8.2

A person from the native people of northern Scandinavia and parts of Russia who often herd reindeer

is an older term now replaced by the modern ethnic name
Saami
vsLapplander
9.6

A person from the native people of northern Scandinavia and Russia who often herds reindeer

is an older regional label often superseded by the ethnic name
Saame
vsLapplander
9.9

A person from the Sami people who herds reindeer in northern Scandinavia

is the historical term now commonly replaced by the ethnic name

Surface Forms

Lapplander singular
Lapplanders plural

Morphology

Lapplander = Lapland (transparent) = Lapland + er

Formed from the place name 'Lapland' with the productive English agent/inhabitant suffix '-er', giving the expected meaning 'a person from Lapland'.

Etymology

Lapplander comes from the place name Lapland plus the ending -er, which means 'a person from', so it originally meant 'a person from Lapland', the far north of Scandinavia. Today many people prefer the name Sami, and the word refers to the native reindeer-herding people of that region.