Sweden was originally a plural form of Swede and is a so-called "back-formation", from Old English Sweoðeod, which meant "people of the Swedes" (Old Norse Svíþjóð, Latin Suetidi). This word is derived from Sweon/Sweonas (Old Norse Sviar, Latin Suiones). As the name for the country itself, Sweden is borrowed from Dutch Zweden, which is probably the dative case of Zwede. It appeared in Scots during the 17th century in forms such as Swethin and Swadne. Before this, Sweden was called Swedeland, and in Old English it was called Sweoland (see Svealand) or Sweorice (Old Norse Sviariki, which is the origin of the modern Swedish name for the country, Sverige).

There are two theories for the Swedish name for Sweden, Sverige. The general opinion is that it is a phonological alteration of Svearike-> Sverike->Sverige, according to the same law as taka-> taga and baka->bagare (this alteration has continued and the name is nowadays pronounced [sverjə]). There is, however, an alternative hypothesis, first proposed by Ivar Modéer , and later popularized by the Swedish author Jan Guillou that the form is a loan from the Danish form of Sverike (Sverige).

See also

• Swedish language
• Sweden
• List of country name etymologies