ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sweden

n. uncountable
A1 Beginner US //ˈswidən// swe·den

n. a large country in Northern Europe known for its cold winters, forests, and modern cities. It is located between Norway and Finland.

n. a sovereign state in Northern Europe, situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the European Union.


SIMPLE

Sweden is famous for its beautiful forests and lakes.

CONTEXTUAL

Many people travel to northern Sweden in the winter to see the Northern Lights.

COMPLEX

As a leading proponent of the Nordic model, Sweden maintains a comprehensive welfare state alongside a highly competitive, export-oriented economy.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Scots Swethin, Swadne (also Swaden), from Middle Dutch Sweden, dative of Swede. Originally used to refer to the people before the late 1600s, later displaced native Old English Swēoland (literally “Swede land”), Swēoþēod (literally “Swede nation”), and Swēorīċe (literally “Swede kingdom”) to refer to the country.

Usage

Proper noun; typically used without an article unless followed by a defining phrase.

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