Swedish refers to anything related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe known for its forests, lakes, and long winter nights in the far north where the sun barely rises.

When we say someone is Swedish, we mean they're from Sweden or have Swedish heritage. The Swedish language belongs to the North Germanic language family, related to Norwegian and Danish. If you've ever assembled furniture from IKEA or eaten meatballs at one of their stores, you've encountered Swedish design and food. Sweden has given the world many innovations, from the zipper to Spotify, and cultural exports like the children's book character Pippi Longstocking.

Swedish culture includes something called lagom, which roughly means “just the right amount” or “not too much, not too little.” This idea shows up in Swedish design, which tends to be simple, functional, and beautiful without being flashy. Many Swedish people also enjoy spending time in nature: even in cities, you'll find parks and green spaces where people can connect with the outdoors.

In cooking, Swedish meatballs are probably the most famous dish internationally, typically served with lingonberry sauce and potatoes. Swedish people also enjoy fika, a daily coffee break with pastries, which is less about the food and more about taking time to relax and talk with others.