Scandinavian
/ˌskændɪˈneɪviən/noun
Relating to Scandinavia or to the peoples and languages of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Did you know?The name ultimately comes from Latinized forms like *Scadinavia/Scadinauia*, probably referring to a hazardous island or region, and the modern word spread through scholarly and geographic writing long before it became a cultural identity.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skeh₂-
“to cut, split”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skadaną
“to injure, harm”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*skadwaz
“shadow, darkness”
1st Century
Latin
Scadinavia / Scadinauia
“A northern island or region in the far north”
Old English
English
Scandinafie / Scandinavia
“A name for the northern region of Europe”
18th Century
English
Scandinavian
“Pertaining to Scandinavia or its inhabitants”