scandinavian
scandinavian Lexical Profile
• adjective
Relating to Scandinavia, its peoples, languages, or cultural traditions (encompassing Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and often extended to Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands).
"The living room was decorated in a minimalist Scandinavian style featuring light oak furniture and neutral textiles."
• noun
A native or inhabitant of Scandinavia, or a person of Scandinavian descent.
"Many Scandinavians moved to the American Midwest during the nineteenth century."
The branch of the Germanic language family comprising the North Germanic languages spoken in Scandinavia, including Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faroese.
"Linguists study Old Norse as the historical ancestor of modern continental Scandinavian."
Word Nuance & Usage
Strictly speaking, 'Scandinavian' refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, whereas 'Nordic' is a broader geopolitical term that also encompasses Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland.
• Rhymes for scandinavian
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Late Latin 'Scandinavia', from Latin 'Scadinavia' (recorded by Pliny the Elder), likely from a Proto-Germanic compound '*Skaðin-awjō' meaning 'island of Scandia'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.