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Glite Dictionary
Swedishness

Swedishness

1 8.2
The common qualities and ways of life of people from Sweden
  • noun
  • /ˈswidɪʃnəs/
: suequidad
  • The festival celebrated the unique Swedishness of traditional music and dance.

Examples

  • At the turn of the previous century, regional folk culture—or more frequently, the appropriation of this culture, usually by artists and intellectuals from middle-class backgrounds—also became a significant component in the creation of a collective sense of Swedishness.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Identifying the essence of Swedishness with a pastoral idyll often implies nostalgia and a regressive attitude toward much that characterizes the modern world.

    Academic text (1998)

  • I also enjoyed the sheer Swedishness of it all, whatever that means.

    Blog text (27)

  • Her love for the outdoors reflects the Swedishness that values nature and sustainability.

  • Many visitors to Sweden are drawn to the Swedishness of the local cuisine and its emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Surface Forms

Swedishness singular
Swedishnesses plural

Morphology

Swedishness = Swedish (transparent) = Swedish + ness

Formed from the adjective 'Swedish' with the productive nominal suffix '-ness', yielding the quality or state of being Swedish.

Etymology

Swedishness comes from Swedish, which comes from the country name Sweden, plus the ending -ness, which means 'state' or 'quality'. Like kindness or happiness, Swedishness means the qualities, habits, or culture of people from Sweden, so it is used to talk about what being Swedish is like.