troll

troll (indefinite nominative singular)
trolls (genitive indefinite singular)
trollet (definite nominative singular)
trollets (definite genitive singular)
troll (indefinite nominative plural)
trolls (genitive indefinite plural)
trollen (definite nominative plural)
trollens (definite genitive plural)

From Old Norse trǫll, from Proto-Germanic *truzlą, from Proto-Indo-European *dreh₂-.

När trollmor har lagt sina elva små troll, och bundit fast dom i svansen, då sjunger hon sakta för [de] elva små trollen, de vackraste ord hon känner: ho aj aj aj aj buff, ho aj aj aj aj buff, ho aj aj aj aj buff, buff, ho aj aj aj aj buff.

1943, Margit Holmberg, “Trollmors vaggsång [Mother troll's lullaby]”:

When mother troll has put her eleven little trolls to bed, and tied them up by their tails [tail], then she slowly sings to the eleven little trolls, the most beautiful words she knows: ho ay ay ay ay buff, ho ay ay ay ay buff, ho ay ay ay ay buff, buff, ho ay ay ay ay buff.


orm

orm (indefinite nominative singular)
orms (genitive indefinite singular)
ormen (definite nominative singular)
ormens (definite genitive singular)
ormar (indefinite nominative plural)
ormars (genitive indefinite plural)
ormarna (definite nominative plural)
ormarnas (definite genitive plural)

From Old Swedish ormber (“snake, vermin, ringworm”), from Old Norse ormr, from Proto-Germanic *wurmiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥mis, *wrmo- (“serpent, scorpion, maggot, worm”), maybe from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to turn”). Akin to English worm, wyrm. Doublet of vurm.

der

(folklore) a mythical worm living in a human body parts, teeth or bones, causing various kinds of sickness

(folklore) any mythical dragon-like creature


gloso

gloso (indefinite nominative singular)
glosos (genitive indefinite singular)
gloson (definite nominative singular)
glosons (definite genitive singular)
glosor (indefinite nominative plural)
glosors (genitive indefinite plural)
glosorna (definite nominative plural)
glosornas (definite genitive plural)

Compound of glo (“stare”) + so (“sow”). According to SAOB attested since 1863.

Den tredje gången möter man »gloson», och elden står om munnen på henne. Gloson rusar mellan benen på vandraren, men han får inte vara rädd.

1917, Elias Grip, “Trolldom och häxeri [Witchcraft and sorcery]”, in Några bidrag till kännedom om svenskt allmogeliv [Some contributions to the knowledge of Swedish peasant life], page 138:

The third time one encounters "the gloso", and fire blazes about her mouth. The gloso rushes between the traveller’s legs, but he must not be afraid.

Föreställningen om den hedniske Gloson såsom ett vitt svin har enl. Hylten-Cavallius sannolikt givet upphov till den i Västmanland gängse tron, att det är olyckligt att ha vita svin, utan höra de, som påläggas vara svarta eller fläckiga (W. & W. 1: Tillägg s. 59). Jfr, not 45.

1925, Paul Heurgren, “Förklaring av i föregående kapitel angivna noter [Explanation of notes mentioned in the previous chapter]”, in Husdjuren i nordisk folktro [Domestic animals in nordic folklore], page 407:

The notion of the heathen Gloso as a white boar has, according to Hylten-Cavallius, likely given rise to the belief prevalent in Västmanland that it is ill-fated to keep white swine but that they ought to be black or spotted (W. & W. 1: Appendix, p. 59). Cf. note 45.

Hos alla europeiska folk har nämligen särskilt jultiden med sina långa och mörka nätter ansetts som en spöktid, då dödingar och alla slags andeväsen äro ute och färdas såsom bland andra Jerusalems skomakare och gloson för att inte tala om Odens vilda akt (se sid. 580).

1937, Louise Hagberg, “Alla själars dag [All souls' day]”, in När döden gästar. [When death visits], page 653:

Among all European peoples, Christmastide, with its long and dark nights, has particularly been regarded as a time of hauntings when the dead and all manner of spirits roam abroad, such as, among others, the Wandering Jew and the gloso, not to mention Odin’s Wild Hunt (see p. 580).

(folklore, Southern) An (often) white pig or boar with red sparking glowing eyes, large snout and fiery tusks, occasionally with a sharp serrated back and a tendency to run twixt the legs and cleave their victim.


näck

Inherited from Old Swedish neker, näkker. Ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *neygʷ- (“wash”, verb). First attested in 1430.
Cognate with Old English nicor, Danish nøk, nøkke, Old Danish jucker, Norwegian nykk, Icelandic nykr, and Dutch nikker.

der+

Han kastade näck.

(folklore) dropping a larger stone into water without a splash, so as to make a muffled sound and thereby scare away the Neck


Näcken

From Old Norse nykr, from Proto-Germanic *nikwiz-, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *nigʷ-.

(folklore) Nix; a water creature in human form who, among other things, lures people to drown in his river by his wonderful violin playing


nisse

nisse (indefinite nominative singular)
nisses (genitive indefinite singular)
nissen (definite nominative singular)
nissens (definite genitive singular)
nissar (indefinite nominative plural)
nissars (genitive indefinite plural)
nissarna (definite nominative plural)
nissarnas (definite genitive plural)

From Nisse, pet form of the male given name Nils. Compare Danish nisse.


tomte

tomte (indefinite nominative singular)
tomtes (genitive indefinite singular)
tomten (definite nominative singular)
tomtens (definite genitive singular)
tomtar (indefinite nominative plural)
tomtars (genitive indefinite plural)
tomtarna (definite nominative plural)
tomtarnas (definite genitive plural)

Attested since 1790 according to Svenska Akademiens ordbok. An elliptic form of tomtebisse or tomtegubbe with the same meaning. Derived from tomt (“site; lot; garden”). The association between the mythological creature and Santa Claus had its origins in the 19th century (first attestation is from 1864) and was firmly established in the middle of the 20th century. Cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk tomte.

Om tomten inte får en klick smör i sin julgröt kan han bli arg och göra stor skada.

If the house gnome doesn’t get a dab of butter in his Christmas porridge, he might get angry and do great harm.

Månen vandrar sin tysta ban' [bana – not a common shortening otherwise], snön lyser vit på fur och gran. Snön lyser vit på taken. Endast tomten är vaken.

The moon wanders its silent course, the snow shines white on pine and spruce. The snow shines white on the roofs. Only the tomte is awake. [from the poem Tomten by Viktor Rydberg]

(folklore) A small human-like creature in Nordic folklore that lives on farmsteads and watches over their inhabitants; a brownie, a gnome.


kark

kark (indefinite nominative singular)
karks (genitive indefinite singular)
karken (definite nominative singular)
karkens (definite genitive singular)
karkar (indefinite nominative plural)
karkars (genitive indefinite plural)
karkarna (definite nominative plural)
karkarnas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) a trollbälte made of sinews of a dead person


rötmånad

rötmånad (indefinite nominative singular)
rötmånads (genitive indefinite singular)
rötmånaden (definite nominative singular)
rötmånadens (definite genitive singular)
rötmånader (indefinite nominative plural)
rötmånaders (genitive indefinite plural)
rötmånaderna (definite nominative plural)
rötmånadernas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) dog days; July 22–24 to August 22–24, when food is likely to rot and other strange things may happen


sjöjungfru

sjöjungfru (indefinite nominative singular)
sjöjungfrus (genitive indefinite singular)
sjöjungfrun (definite nominative singular)
sjöjungfruns (definite genitive singular)
sjöjungfrur (indefinite nominative plural)
sjöjungfrurs (genitive indefinite plural)
sjöjungfrurna (definite nominative plural)
sjöjungfrurnas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore, mythology) mermaid (mythological woman with a fish's tail)


jungfrukälla

jungfrukälla (indefinite nominative singular)
jungfrukällas (genitive indefinite singular)
jungfrukällan (definite nominative singular)
jungfrukällans (definite genitive singular)
jungfrukällor (indefinite nominative plural)
jungfrukällors (genitive indefinite plural)
jungfrukällorna (definite nominative plural)
jungfrukällornas (definite genitive plural)
Jungfrukälla (alternative)

/ˈjʉŋfrʉːˌɕɛlˌa/

jungfru (“virgin, maiden”) + källa (“spring, source”); according to a folk story three men once attacked three sisters in the forest, but rather than letting the men have their way with them, the sisters committed suicide by banging their heads against birch trees, and three springs arose from their blood. The story is associated with several locations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Faroe Islands. There are local variations to the story.

compound

Egendomsherren på Engagården hette fordomdags Truls, och hans maka Signe. De hade sex barn, tre af hvart kön. Sönerne blefvo i ungdomen spådde, att de skulle misshandla sina systrar. För att hindra detta, förde fadren dem långt upp åt landet. Sedan de blifvit vuxna, komma de till hemorten, utan att veta att de der voro födde. Händelsevis mötte de i skogen trenne flickor som skulle gå till ottesången i Norrhveddinge kyrka, och visste ej att de voro deras systrar. De våldtogo flickorna och slogo dem ihjel. På stället der detta hände, uppsprungo Jungfrukällorna.

1875, Christoffer Eichhorn, “Äldre svenska folkvisor [Older Swedish folk songs]”, in Svenska fornminnesföreningens tidskrift [Journal of the Swedish Society of Ancient Monuments], volume 2, Stockholm: P.A. Nordstedt & Söner, page 78:

Long time ago, the owner of Engagården was Truls and his wife was Signe. They had six children, three of each sex. When the sons were young it was forecast that they would violate their sisters. In order to prevent this, the father sent them far away to another part of the country. When they had grown up, they came to their homestead, without knowing that they were born there. They met in the forest three girls who were on their way to Christmas Eve's morning service at the church of Norrhveddinge, and did not know that they were their sisters. They raped the girls and killed them. On the site where this happened sprang up the Virgin Springs.

(folklore) A spring, usually one of a group of three, which is believed to have come into existence due to a tragic death of a maiden.


påskkärring

påskkärring (indefinite nominative singular)
påskkärrings (genitive indefinite singular)
påskkärringen (definite nominative singular)
påskkärringens (definite genitive singular)
påskkärringar (indefinite nominative plural)
påskkärringars (genitive indefinite plural)
påskkärringarna (definite nominative plural)
påskkärringarnas (definite genitive plural)
påskkäring (alternative)
påskakärring (alternative)
påskakäring (alternative)

/²pɔskˌɕɛrɪŋ/

Compound of påsk (“Easter”) + kärring (“hag”).

(Easter, folklore) a witch who flies to the island of Blåkulla on a broomstick during Easter


ättestupa

ättestupa (indefinite nominative singular)
ättestupas (genitive indefinite singular)
ättestupan (definite nominative singular)
ättestupans (definite genitive singular)
ättestupor (indefinite nominative plural)
ättestupors (genitive indefinite plural)
ättestuporna (definite nominative plural)
ättestupornas (definite genitive plural)
ättestörta (alternative)
ättestapul (alternative)

Compound of ätt (“kin, clan”) + stupa (“precipice”). Possibly folk etymology of Old Norse Ætternisstapi (“The Dynasty Precipice”), a fictional cliffside in Gautreks saga, similar to one mentioned by Pliny the Elder and other ancient authors, and common in many legends worldwide. First time used in 1664 as a translation for Ætternisstapi.

bor

Coordinate term: ätteklubba

Det är betydligt högt och på ena sidan lodrätt som en ättestupa.

1829, Otto Sebastian von Unge, Vandring genom Dalarne, jemte Författarens Resa söderut:

It is significantly high and on one side vertical like a precipice.

(folklore) a high steep inland cliff from which the elderly in Nordic antiquity were said to have thrown themselves, or been thrown, to their deaths in order not to be a burden to their relatives


hamnlöpare

hamnlöpare (indefinite nominative singular)
hamnlöpares (genitive indefinite singular)
hamnlöparen (definite nominative singular)
hamnlöparens (definite genitive singular)
hamnlöpare (indefinite nominative plural)
hamnlöpares (genitive indefinite plural)
hamnlöparna (definite nominative plural)
hamnlöparnas (definite genitive plural)

Compound of hamn (“gestalt, shape”) + löpare (“runner; traveller”). Attested since 1697. Compare Norwegian Nynorsk hamløypar and Icelandic hamhleypa.

compound

En dag kom en Örn, och lade sig öfwer dem med utslagna wingar. Alla Sudnackar och Hamnlöpare ropade at Inge, som förde en Örn i sitt Wapn, skulle blifwa en Herre öfwer Bjarmerna, och deras Land […]

1742–1743, Jacob Henrik Mörk, Adalriks Och Giöthildas Äfwentyr. Förra Delen, page 138:

One day an Eagle came and lay over them with its wings outstretched. All Deceivers and Shapeshifters shouted that Inge, who carried an Eagle in their Weapon, would become a Lord over the Bjarms, and their Land […]

(archaic, folklore) a shapeshifter, someone or something who travels in the shape of another (usually a human who can change his/her shape into a wolf or bear by will)


ränsel

ränsel (indefinite nominative singular)
ränsels (genitive indefinite singular)
ränseln (definite nominative singular)
ränselns (definite genitive singular)
ränslar (indefinite nominative plural)
ränslars (genitive indefinite plural)
ränslarna (definite nominative plural)
ränslarnas (definite genitive plural)
rensel (alternative)

(folklore) pain, which is moving from place to place in the body (or in a part of the body)


vittra

vittra (indefinite nominative singular)
vittras (genitive indefinite singular)
vittran (definite nominative singular)
vittrans (definite genitive singular)
vittror (indefinite nominative plural)
vittrors (genitive indefinite plural)
vittrorna (definite nominative plural)
vittrornas (definite genitive plural)
viter (alternative)
vitra (alternative)

»Mitt slägte är ej okändt för dina anförvandter, alla känna de oss, men de hafva gifvit oss olika namn. Bergnymfer, skogsjungfrur, sjöfrun, vitra äro bland andra de namn, under hvilka du hört mina anhöriga omtalas. Jag är en vitra och mitt namn är Dorinda.»

1887, Per August Lindholm, Från sagoverlden [From the fairy world], Stockholm: Oscar L. Lamm, pages 155–156:

"My race is not unknown to your kinsfolk; they all know us, but they have given us different names. Mountain nymphs, wood maidens, the sea lady, vitra are among others the names under which you have heard my kind spoken of. I am a vitra and my name is Dorinda."

En morgon, då flickan satt och mjölkade, kom en vittra och sade till henne, att hon mjölkade så tidigt, att kräken deras, gårdsfolkets och vittrornas, slogos och stångades.

1926, Erik Modin, Sagoväsenden i ångermanländsk folktro [Fairy Beings in Ångermanland Folklore], Örnsköldsvik: Ågrens boktryckeri, page 62:

One morning, as the girl sat and milked, a vittra came and said to her that she milked so early that the cattle, theirs, the farm-folk’s and the vittras’, fell to fighting and butting.

(folklore) a mythological, underground-dwelling creature from Scandinavian folklore


oknytt

oknytt (indefinite nominative singular)
oknytts (genitive indefinite singular)
oknyttet (definite nominative singular)
oknyttets (definite genitive singular)

(regional, folklore, uncountable, collectively) small, supernatural beings (väsen)


trefaldighetskälla

trefaldighetskälla (indefinite nominative singular)
trefaldighetskällas (genitive indefinite singular)
trefaldighetskällan (definite nominative singular)
trefaldighetskällans (definite genitive singular)
trefaldighetskällor (indefinite nominative plural)
trefaldighetskällors (genitive indefinite plural)
trefaldighetskällorna (definite nominative plural)
trefaldighetskällornas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) a special kind of wellhead or a small creek usually running from south to north, having water which can be used in folk medicine, usually after some sort of sacrifice to it


lyktgubbe

lyktgubbe (indefinite nominative singular)
lyktgubbes (genitive indefinite singular)
lyktgubben (definite nominative singular)
lyktgubbens (definite genitive singular)
lyktgubbar (indefinite nominative plural)
lyktgubbars (genitive indefinite plural)
lyktgubbarna (definite nominative plural)
lyktgubbarnas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) a will o' the wisp, a jack o'lantern ((attributed to a) supernatural being carrying a lantern)


ätteklubba

ätteklubba (indefinite nominative singular)
ätteklubbas (genitive indefinite singular)
ätteklubban (definite nominative singular)
ätteklubbans (definite genitive singular)
ätteklubbor (indefinite nominative plural)
ätteklubbors (genitive indefinite plural)
ätteklubborna (definite nominative plural)
ätteklubbornas (definite genitive plural)

ätt (“clan, family”) + klubba (“club”). Compare to Norwegian Bokmål ætteklubbe

(folklore) a club said to be used for mandatory practice of geronticide some places in Scandinavia until the 19th century


Nougård

Adapted borrowing from Older Russian Новгородъ (Novgorod) with a Swedish ending gård

(folklore) the capital of the Snake King's kingdom (in the ballad of Solfager)


bäckahästen

From bäck (“brook”) + -a- + häst (“horse”) + -en (definite), "the brook horse."

af

(folklore) a supernatural being in the form of a horse, often said to lure children to jump on its back and then drown them by going into the water, able to extend its back to accommodate more children; (as a somewhat similar creature) the kelpie


bjära

bjära (indefinite nominative singular)
bjäras (genitive indefinite singular)
bjäran (definite nominative singular)
bjärans (definite genitive singular)
bjäror (indefinite nominative plural)
bjärors (genitive indefinite plural)
bjärorna (definite nominative plural)
bjärornas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) A creature generally in the shape of a hare or a cat, used to steal milk from cows.


rännflen

rännflen (indefinite nominative singular)
rännflens (genitive indefinite singular)
rännflenen (definite nominative singular)
rännflenens (definite genitive singular)
rännflenar (indefinite nominative plural)
rännflenars (genitive indefinite plural)
rännflenarna (definite nominative plural)
rännflenarnas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore, usually in the singular) pain, which is moving from place to place in the body (or in a part of the body)


smöjning

smöjning (indefinite nominative singular)
smöjnings (genitive indefinite singular)
smöjningen (definite nominative singular)
smöjningens (definite genitive singular)
smöjningar (indefinite nominative plural)
smöjningars (genitive indefinite plural)
smöjningarna (definite nominative plural)
smöjningarnas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) treading of a sick child through a hole (usually a hole in a tree), in order to get rid of the sickness (similar to the tradition in Somerset, England)


vattsten

vattsten (indefinite nominative singular)
vattstens (genitive indefinite singular)
vattstenen (definite nominative singular)
vattstenens (definite genitive singular)
vattstenar (indefinite nominative plural)
vattstenars (genitive indefinite plural)
vattstenarna (definite nominative plural)
vattstenarnas (definite genitive plural)
vattusten (alternative)

(folklore) a big stone with a hollow always filled with water (even during drought periods); the water is used in folk medicine (not to be confused with Norwegian Nynorsk torevatn)


trollbälte

trollbälte (indefinite nominative singular)
trollbältes (genitive indefinite singular)
trollbältet (definite nominative singular)
trollbältets (definite genitive singular)
trollbälten (indefinite nominative plural)
trollbältens (genitive indefinite plural)
trollbältena (definite nominative plural)
trollbältenas (definite genitive plural)

(folklore) a belt used by wizard for transforming into a wolf or bear, made of skin of a dead person


offerkast

offerkast (indefinite nominative singular)
offerkasts (genitive indefinite singular)
offerkastet (definite nominative singular)
offerkastets (definite genitive singular)
offerkast (indefinite nominative plural)
offerkasts (genitive indefinite plural)
offerkasten (definite nominative plural)
offerkastens (definite genitive plural)

offer + kast. Compare Norwegian Nynorsk kast with the same meaning.

(folklore) a heap of stones set nearby a way or forest path because of different reasons. According to the traditional belief, the trespassers must throw stones, coins or sticks onto this heap.


mjölkhare

mjölkhare (indefinite nominative singular)
mjölkhares (genitive indefinite singular)
mjölkharen (definite nominative singular)
mjölkharens (definite genitive singular)
mjölkharar (indefinite nominative plural)
mjölkharars (genitive indefinite plural)
mjölkhararna (definite nominative plural)
mjölkhararnas (definite genitive plural)


trollhare

trollhare (indefinite nominative singular)
trollhares (genitive indefinite singular)
trollharen (definite nominative singular)
trollharens (definite genitive singular)
trollharar (indefinite nominative plural)
trollharars (genitive indefinite plural)
trollhararna (definite nominative plural)
trollhararnas (definite genitive plural)


koddaflaska

koddaflaska (indefinite nominative singular)
koddaflaskas (genitive indefinite singular)
koddaflaskan (definite nominative singular)
koddaflaskans (definite genitive singular)
koddaflaskor (indefinite nominative plural)
koddaflaskors (genitive indefinite plural)
koddaflaskorna (definite nominative plural)
koddaflaskornas (definite genitive plural)

From kodd + flaska. The intermediate -a- is probably of dialectal origin. Literally, “testicle bottle”.

(glassblowing, historical, folklore) A bottle designed to look like a penis; may be used in a ritual after ploughing of a field.


vita bort

head

vita bort (present viter bort, preterite vitte bort, supine vitte bort, imperative vita bort)

viter bort (present)
vitte bort (preterite)
vitte bort (supine)
vita bort (imperative)

(folklore) to eliminate physical danger by using magic, e.g. scare away a wolf by saying a spell


skogsrå

skogsrå (indefinite nominative singular)
skogsrås (genitive indefinite singular)
skogsrået (definite nominative singular)
skogsråets (definite genitive singular)
skogsrån (indefinite nominative plural)
skogsråns (genitive indefinite plural)
skogsråna (definite nominative plural)
skogsrånas (definite genitive plural)
skogsrå (indefinite nominative singular)
skogsrås (genitive indefinite singular)
skogsrån (definite nominative singular)
skogsråns (definite genitive singular)
skogsrår (indefinite nominative plural)
skogsrårs (genitive indefinite plural)
skogsrårna (definite nominative plural)
skogsrårnas (definite genitive plural)


mörksugga

mörksugga (indefinite nominative singular)
mörksuggas (genitive indefinite singular)
mörksuggan (definite nominative singular)
mörksuggans (definite genitive singular)
mörksuggor (indefinite nominative plural)
mörksuggors (genitive indefinite plural)
mörksuggorna (definite nominative plural)
mörksuggornas (definite genitive plural)


hunahär

hunahär (indefinite nominative singular)
hunahärs (genitive indefinite singular)
hunahären (definite nominative singular)
hunahärens (definite genitive singular)
Hunahär (alternative)
hunehär (alternative)
hunehäär (alternative obsolete)

From hun + här. The first part is of uncertain origin, may be inspired of legends about Attila the Hun.

(folklore) a legendary peasant rebel army, which fought against feodals in Southern Sweden and Denmark, and came all the way to Rome; its leader Hund the blacksmith or Hunesmed is said to be killed in battle close to Grimslöv and buried in a tumulus, or, alternatively, buried in Vigerstad cemetery close to Rimforsa.


sätta ner

sätta ner (present sätter ner, preterite satte ner, supine satt ner, imperative sätt ner)

sätter ner (present)
satte ner (preterite)
satt ner (supine)
sätt ner (imperative)
sätta ned (alternative)

(folklore) to curse (e.g. so that a person is getting ill or poor).