jordgubbe
/ˈjuːrdˌɡɵbɛ/common gender
To say strawberry in Swedish, use jordgubbe.
jordgubbe is the everyday word for the fruit. Related words include jordgubbsfärg for strawberry color and jordgubbsfärgad for strawberry colored.
Meaning: accessory fruit (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
jordgubbe is a compound of jord, meaning earth or soil and gubbe, meaning old man or fellow.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
jordgubbe is a common gender noun. The definite form is jordgubben, the strawberry and the plural is jordgubbar. In compounds it becomes jordgubbs-, as in jordgubbssylt for strawberry jam.
How do you pronounce it?
The pack gives /ˈjuːrdˌɡɵbɛ/. The j sounds like the y in yes, and the main stress falls on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- While jordgubbe refers to the garden strawberry, the Swedish language has separate specific names for wild varieties, such as smultron for the woodland strawberry.
- Swedish has a specific tradition of jordgubbstårta, a strawberry cake that is an essential center-piece for Midsummer celebrations.
- The word gubbe in jordgubbe can mean 'old man' in modern Swedish, but in this context it originally referred to a 'little lump'.
Examples in context
- Jag äter min fjärde jordgubbe.I'm eating my fourth strawberry.jordgubbe appears here after fjärde, meaning fourth.Tatoeba #10705927 by Pineapple, translation #8570242 by Objectivesea
- Det här är första gången som jag ser en sådan här stor jordgubbe.This is the first time I've seen such a big strawberry.Here jordgubbe follows stor, meaning big.Tatoeba #3873246 by herrsilen, translation #3873503 by Lindoula
- jordgubbssyltStrawberry jamjordgubbssylt shows the compound form, meaning strawberry jam.
Example conversation
Oscar and Linnea are sharing a dessert in the garden.
- OscarVill du ha en jordgubbe till?Do you want another strawberry?
- LinneaJa tack, den är jättegod!Yes please, it is very delicious!
- OscarJag älskar färska jordgubbar på sommaren.I love fresh strawberries in the summer.
- LinneaDet är verkligen den bästa frukten.It really is the best fruit.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strawberry” translations and entries jordgubbe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jordgubbe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
