Scandinavian

American  

[skan-duh-ney-vee-uhn] / ˌskæn dəˈneɪ vi ən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their languages.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia.

2. the group of languages composed of Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Old Norse, Swedish, and the language of the Faeroe Islands; North Germanic. Scand, Scand.

scandinavian British  

/ ˌskændɪˈneɪvɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their languages

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia

2. Also: Norse.  the northern group of Germanic languages, consisting of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faeroese

Other Word Forms

• anti-Scandinavian adjective
• non-Scandinavian adjective
• pro-Scandinavian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Scandinavian

First recorded in 1775–85; Scandinavi(a) + -an

Example Sentences

The Scandinavian country make their return to the World Cup this summer after a 28-year absence.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Apparently, I like “a warm Scandinavian aesthetic” and I’m sensitive to tone, with a preference for “restrained language over hype.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

In 1997, however, the concept found immediate success in Sweden with “Expedition Robinson,” leading to expansion in more Scandinavian countries.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The Scandinavian country has only two gas fields above the Arctic Circle, Snohvit and Aasta Hansteen.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Downtown Reykjavik, a charming city of almost 120,000 people, has the atmosphere of a typical Scandinavian village, although it’s somewhat larger.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady