Scandinavian
/'skændi'neivjən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Relating to Scandinavia, its peoples, or its cultures: Describing anything originating from or connected to the geographical region of Scandinavia (typically Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and sometimes including Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands), or its inhabitants.
Noun:
- A native or inhabitant of Scandinavia: A person from any of the Scandinavian countries.
- The North Germanic languages: The family of languages spoken primarily in Scandinavia and Iceland, descended from Old Norse. This includes Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faroese.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- The Scandinavian design is known for its simplicity and functionality.
- We studied ancient Scandinavian mythology.
Noun (Person):
- She is a Scandinavian who moved to Canada.
- The Scandinavians have a high standard of living.
Noun (Language Family):
- English has borrowed many words from Scandinavian.
- Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian are all Scandinavian languages.
Advanced Usage
- The term Scandinavian is often used interchangeably with Nordic, though "Nordic" can have a broader geographical and political meaning, sometimes including Finland and Iceland, which are not linguistically Scandinavian.
- In historical linguistics, Scandinavian or North Germanic refers to the common ancestor (Proto-Norse) and the modern descendants of the Germanic languages spoken by the Vikings.
Variants and Related Words
- Scandinavia (n): The region of Northern Europe comprising Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
- Scandinavianism (n): A political and cultural movement advocating closer cooperation or unity among the Scandinavian countries.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Norse, Nordic
- Noun (Person): Norseman (historical), Nordic person
- Noun (Language): North Germanic
Related Phrases
- Scandinavian Peninsula: The large peninsula in Northern Europe occupied by Norway and Sweden.
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): A major airline jointly owned by Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Adjective
- of or relating to Scandinavia or its peoples or cultures
- Norse sagas
- Norse nomads
Noun
- the northern family of Germanic languages that are spoken in Scandinavia and Iceland
- an inhabitant of Scandinavia