lingon
/²lɪŋɔn/neuter
The Swedish word for lingonberry is lingon.
lingon refers to the lingonberry. In Sweden, lingonberries are most commonly encountered in the form of lingonsylt (lingonberry jam), which is a staple accompaniment to meatballs. The term lingonris refers to the small, woody branches or sprigs of the lingonberry plant.
Meaning: berry (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form lingon is a neuter noun. The definite plural form is lingonen.
How do you pronounce it?
/²lɪŋɔn/
Did you know?
- Despite being a staple in Sweden, the lingon is actually a member of the heath family, making it a close relative of the rhododendron.
- The name lingon is etymologically linked to the word for heather, ljung, suggesting that early speakers grouped these small, woody-stemmed plants together.
- The plant's leaves are used in some traditional Swedish folk remedies, long before lingon became a commercial staple of the breakfast table.
Examples in context
- Kan jag få en portion köttbullar med lingon, tack?Can I have a serving of meatballs with lingonberries, please?
- Jag älskar att äta köttbullar med rårörda lingon.I love eating meatballs with crushed lingonberries.
- Ett litet lingon växer i skogen.A little lingonberry grows in the forest.
- Jag plockade ett moget lingon.I picked a ripe lingonberry.
Example conversation
Erik and Linnea are preparing a meal together.
- ErikLinnea, har vi några lingon till köttbullarna?Linnea, do we have any lingonberries for the meatballs?
- LinneaJa, jag köpte en burk igår.Yes, I bought a jar yesterday.
- ErikTack, ställ dem på bordet.Thanks, put them on the table.
- LinneaSjälvklart, här är de!Of course, here they are!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lingonberry” translations and entries lingon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lingon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
