der
Schwede
🇸🇪 What does "der Schwede" mean?
Der Schwede refers to a male person who comes from Sweden or holds Swedish citizenship.
- Meaning 1: Male inhabitant of Sweden.
⚠️ Attention: The female form is die Schwedin (the female Swede).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Schwede
The noun "der Schwede" belongs to the N-declension (also called weak declension). This means it adds the ending "-n" in all cases except the nominative singular.
Declension of "der Schwede"
| Case | Article | Noun | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Schwede | the Swede |
| Genitive | des | Schweden | of the Swede |
| Dative | dem | Schweden | to/for the Swede |
| Accusative | den | Schweden | the Swede |
| Case | Article | Noun | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Schweden | the Swedes |
| Genitive | der | Schweden | of the Swedes |
| Dative | den | Schweden | to/for the Swedes |
| Accusative | die | Schweden | the Swedes |
Example Sentences 📝
- Im Urlaub habe ich einen netten Schweden kennengelernt.
(On vacation, I met a nice Swede.) - Die Kultur der Schweden ist faszinierend.
(The culture of the Swedes is fascinating.) - Ich habe dem Schweden den Weg zum Bahnhof gezeigt.
(I showed the Swede the way to the train station.) - Kennst du den Schweden, der dort drüben steht?
(Do you know the Swede standing over there?) - Viele Schweden sprechen sehr gut Englisch.
(Many Swedes speak English very well.)
🗣️ How to use "Schwede"
"Der Schwede" is used specifically to refer to a male person from Sweden. It is the standard and most common term.
- Context: Everyday language, news reports, official documents.
- Distinction: The adjective "schwedisch" (Swedish) refers to things or characteristics from Sweden (e.g., schwedisches Design - Swedish design, schwedische Möbel - Swedish furniture).
- Generalization: Sometimes "die Schweden" (plural) is used gender-neutrally for the population of Sweden, but for individuals, a distinction is made between "der Schwede" (male) and "die Schwedin" (female).
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Schwede"
Article Mnemonic: Think of a typical male name starting with 'D' like 'Derek'. Derek, der SchweDE. It's a masculine noun, so it's *der*.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone *sweating* (sounds like *Schwede*) because they just assembled complicated IKEA furniture. IKEA is from Sweden, so *der Schwede* is a man from Sweden.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- Bürger Schwedens (male citizen of Sweden)
- Mann aus Schweden (man from Sweden)
- Colloquially sometimes: Skandinavier (Scandinavian - less precise, as it can also mean Norwegians, Danes, etc.)
Related terms:
😂 A little Joke
Warum nehmen Schweden immer eine Leiter mit zum Einkaufen?
Damit sie die hohen Preise erreichen können! 😄
(Why do Swedes always take a ladder with them when shopping? - So they can reach the high prices!)
✒️ Poem about a Swede
Ein Schwede, groß und blond zumeist,
Aus einem Land, das Wikingergeist
Noch manchmal in den Sagen ehrt,
Wo Elch und Fjord sind lieb und wert.
Mit Knäckebrot und Köttbullar,
Ist seine Herkunft sonnenklar.
(A Swede, often tall and blond,
From a land where Viking spirit's bond
Is sometimes honored still in lore,
Where moose and fjord are loved and more.
With crispbread crisp and meatballs round,
His origin is clearly found.)
❓ Riddle
Ich komm aus dem Land von Pippi und Elch,
Bin männlich und spreche 'nen nordischen Kelch.
Stockholm ist die Hauptstadt, das weiß jedes Kind,
Wer bin ich, geschwind?
(I come from the land of Pippi and moose,
I'm male and speak a Nordic tongue, loose.
Stockholm is the capital, every child knows its name,
Who am I, what's my game?)
Solution: Der Schwede (The Swede)
ℹ️ Other Information
- Etymology: The word "Schwede" derives from Old High German "Swed" or Old Norse "Svíar", the name of an ancient Germanic tribe that settled in the region of modern-day Sweden.
- Cultural Notes: Sweden (Schweden) is known for its design (IKEA), pop music (ABBA, Roxette), and social welfare system.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Schwede?
The word "Schwede" for a male person from Sweden is masculine. The correct article is der: der Schwede. It follows the N-declension pattern.