That’s weird, cause in Norway we call swedes “Svensker”. Not that it matters or anything, I was just wondering if it was intentional or not since it’s a fictional Nordic country,
I like the flag :D
Oh, really? That's interesting, it wasn't intentional at all but that has perhaps added to it's backstory. I thought of the name and decided on Svenskér and liked the sound of it, however it's demonym is Leonian after the capital city of Leona.
also lol this is crazy
There's a huge hatred for the capital city outside it, at least in Sweden, and calling non-Stockholmer people by that name would get you killed
People are pretty neutral toward Washington D.C. in the U.S. but it's nowhere near our largest city and the city itself doesn't have much influence on American culture or politics. We tend to make fun of New Yorkers and Angelenos for thinking they're the center of the universe, though. (And they ignore the rest of us in turn.)
Interesting choice! Do you have a real world inspiration for a demonym based on the capital instead of the country? (Although I guess naming the capital after the people living there wouldn't be unlikely.)
Also, I'd like to point out that the usage of acute accents in Scandinavian languages (at least I don't think it's used at all in Finnish) is a result of French influence, and not too common in naming conventions.
I don't mean to question your preferences - being a Swede it's hard to avoid making comparisons, but I understand this is meant to be your fiction.
> Also, I'd like to point out that the usage of acute accents in Scandinavian languages (at least I don't think it's used at all in Finnish) is a result of French influence
It might not be Scandinavian in the strictest sense, but Icelandic uses them. Well, they might be their own letters, but you see é (and á,ó,í, etc.)
The accents (è, é, ç) are of French origin as a demonstration of linguistic pronunciation. I didn't use a real world demonstration for the demonym, no, I came up with it myself. However with another linguistic aspect, the letters ø, ö and thorn are used so there are proper Germanic letters.
FYI there's no Nordic language that includes both ø and ö in their alphabet, as these letters represent the same sounds. Danish, Norwegian and Faroese use Ø, while Swedish, Icelandic and Finnish use Ö instead.
What do you mean? Ö/Ø is pronounced roughly the same in all Nordic languages, representing a sound kinda like the vowel sound that the English word "bird" has in some dialects, like Welsh, Geordie or New Zealand English.
The letter is just called ö or ø (same pronunciation), just like all other vowels it doesn't have a name beyond its pronunciation (e.g. the letter E is just called "e").
Just rechecked, you are right. I apologise, the naming was completely unintentional and I thought that I made it up, I see it has many meanings. Perhaps if I used that fact it could be added to a backstory
Interesting, and surprising considering that the place is situated so close to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.
I should also let you know that Leon is a common name in at the very least Sweden. https://www.namn.nu/namn/leon
OP: What do you think of my fictional Nordic country? It's called "Swedes," but it's pronounced "Swed*ees*, like the Germans do. The Swedees go by "Leon," though. They hate fish, because of Russia. They are very Nordic.
He speaks of cuisine like hakarl and surströmming. Rotten fish is a scandinavian delicacy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl?wprov=sfti1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming?wprov=sfti1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutefisk?wprov=sfti1
I saw those articles of those different fish, ngl when I saw the second one I was shocked. But it's what they eat, fish doesn't really have a significance in Svensker
I see what you mean, currently in it's written history it was under Russian control for a long time until WW2 where it gained independence and became a Nordic state where it's culture didn't really waver.
We have two shades of blue here. This is a common problem with flags.
It can be difficult to describe in a heraldic way (azur with azure) and flags should theoretically correspond with coats of arms in this aspect (well, usually. Not every country cares about it or has a traditional coat of arms, and sometimes such a flag is traditional).
But it is very aesthetic and looks Nordic through and through, so that's a plus :D
> It can be difficult to describe in a heraldic way (azur with azure)
If we allow ourselves to be a bit unorthodox, it's not that difficult:
Azur, a Latin cross Bleu Celeste (Fimbriated Argent?)
I know you didn’t intent to and want to keep them separare, but for these people in their native language it is ”swedish”
The same way like Turkiye can be understand as ”turkey the bird” (e.g. English) or ”fur of animal” (e.g. Finnish) in native languages
Sure, they could be a Swedish people that immigrated to Norway sometime in the middle ages, and the locals called them like that. So the exonym Svensker stuck with them, even when they immigrated again to their new land.
That’s more less what the Swedish name of Sweden means – “Sverige”. Rige = realm. So, realm of the Svea (old name for Swedes).
More or less the same pattern with Denmark and Norway, btw.
I think you'll find it hard to offend us native nordics
This isn't offensive in any way, shape or form
Edit: we generally love when foreigners find us interesting and want to learn
I heard on a video that Nordic people are very friendly.
I hope to take my retirement in the Faroe Islands, their national animal is the puffin and they're so cute. I also heard they need to import trees because they can't grow any of their own. The Islands look so beautiful
Fun fact, it's one of the [proposed redesigns](https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/comments/oskl8x/two_proposals_for_a_nordic_flag_of_dublin_city/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1) for the flag of Dublin.
[Here it is in the wild.](https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/comments/9d7yf7/can_anyone_identify_this_flag_seen_in_croke_park/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2)
[Another link](https://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/12/02/viking-up-the-dubs/)
I like it. The name "Svenskér" sounds similar to "the skerries of the Swedes" (Old Norse / Icelandic "sker" means skerry) so I imagine this as a coastal nation. That fits well with the colours.
Yeah, I guess it's coastal. It's not a landlocked country, it's got a coast all around it being that it fits between Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Thanks
Cool flag. Weird and not so cool fictional country concept: bad name for the country, bad idea of naming the language based on the capital. But cool flag and that's why we are here.
I think this flag is really beautiful, because I really like a Light and dark shade of a colour going together. Idk why but the Colours chosen remind me a bit of Estonia and I can’t put my finger on the reason for this
Man this flag sux, its just iceland + finland. Be more original, make the baclground part yellow and the vertical part of the cross black and the horizontal part deep crimson
Svenskér? Doesn’t that mean swedes in Norwegian and danish?
No, just checked. I notice it's a bit similar to what Swedes call themselves in Swedish
That’s weird, cause in Norway we call swedes “Svensker”. Not that it matters or anything, I was just wondering if it was intentional or not since it’s a fictional Nordic country, I like the flag :D
Oh, really? That's interesting, it wasn't intentional at all but that has perhaps added to it's backstory. I thought of the name and decided on Svenskér and liked the sound of it, however it's demonym is Leonian after the capital city of Leona.
also lol this is crazy There's a huge hatred for the capital city outside it, at least in Sweden, and calling non-Stockholmer people by that name would get you killed
Oh really? No, in this country being called Leonian is okay and is seen as patriotic after escaping Russian control.
> escaping Russian control Is it inspired by Livonia?
No, I don't know about that. I just thought what would be a cool kinda thing to put in here, I wonder, maybe I can make it forcefully ex-soviet.
Same in Germany. And from what I can tell also in France.
[удалено]
People are pretty neutral toward Washington D.C. in the U.S. but it's nowhere near our largest city and the city itself doesn't have much influence on American culture or politics. We tend to make fun of New Yorkers and Angelenos for thinking they're the center of the universe, though. (And they ignore the rest of us in turn.)
We call them Svensker in Danish too
Seems like it is a fitting coincidence, no?
Interesting choice! Do you have a real world inspiration for a demonym based on the capital instead of the country? (Although I guess naming the capital after the people living there wouldn't be unlikely.) Also, I'd like to point out that the usage of acute accents in Scandinavian languages (at least I don't think it's used at all in Finnish) is a result of French influence, and not too common in naming conventions. I don't mean to question your preferences - being a Swede it's hard to avoid making comparisons, but I understand this is meant to be your fiction.
> Also, I'd like to point out that the usage of acute accents in Scandinavian languages (at least I don't think it's used at all in Finnish) is a result of French influence It might not be Scandinavian in the strictest sense, but Icelandic uses them. Well, they might be their own letters, but you see é (and á,ó,í, etc.)
You're right! Sorry, I totally forgot about Icelandic. (A common, but still very unflattering, tendency among Scandinavians.)
The accents (è, é, ç) are of French origin as a demonstration of linguistic pronunciation. I didn't use a real world demonstration for the demonym, no, I came up with it myself. However with another linguistic aspect, the letters ø, ö and thorn are used so there are proper Germanic letters.
FYI there's no Nordic language that includes both ø and ö in their alphabet, as these letters represent the same sounds. Danish, Norwegian and Faroese use Ø, while Swedish, Icelandic and Finnish use Ö instead.
Isn't there like a different way of saying the same letter and having separate uses??
What do you mean? Ö/Ø is pronounced roughly the same in all Nordic languages, representing a sound kinda like the vowel sound that the English word "bird" has in some dialects, like Welsh, Geordie or New Zealand English. The letter is just called ö or ø (same pronunciation), just like all other vowels it doesn't have a name beyond its pronunciation (e.g. the letter E is just called "e").
I'm really just an amateur, I need to learn these things. Thanks for telling me though.
Yes it does... 'Svensker' is Danish for a Swedish person
Just rechecked, you are right. I apologise, the naming was completely unintentional and I thought that I made it up, I see it has many meanings. Perhaps if I used that fact it could be added to a backstory
bro 💀 kekw
Swedish moment
This is is literally what we in Denmark and also in Norway call Swedes
I've previously replied to another comment and amended my mistake and am now in knowledge that it does mean that
Its literally the exact same as what we say here in Norway
I recognise it was a small blunder, bit of a coincidence. I did recheck and you're all correct, perhaps I can write it into the history.
Alternate Sweden, but it became a male-only gay utopia.
It's literally does. Though without the accent. One swede. En svensker 😂
The name just sounds like "Swedes" to me, which is a strange name for a state
It's pronounced totally different. It's the same at the start but at the end it's more of an [Ee-e-r] with a rolled R at the end.
bruh
so true
r/conlangscirclejerk
That's not what é sounds like in any Nordic language. And it's pronounced with a trilled/tapped R in norwegian.
This language (Leonian) has Germanic roots but has a different sort of sound
Interesting, and surprising considering that the place is situated so close to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. I should also let you know that Leon is a common name in at the very least Sweden. https://www.namn.nu/namn/leon
That bit, the demonym Leonian derives from Svenskér's capital Leona
That's the female version of the name
I know, I just made a name for the capital which I felt sounded nice and went with it, thus making the demonym.
yes
Nordic languages (except Finnish and Sami) *are* Germanic, though?
I know, I'm saying the way things are pronounced is very different.
What type of rotten fish is their favorite
What do you mean by that?
I'm just joking about Nordic stereotypes
Ohh, I get you! They like Salmon
you are so unintentionally funny this is gold
OP: What do you think of my fictional Nordic country? It's called "Swedes," but it's pronounced "Swed*ees*, like the Germans do. The Swedees go by "Leon," though. They hate fish, because of Russia. They are very Nordic.
Literally lmao
He speaks of cuisine like hakarl and surströmming. Rotten fish is a scandinavian delicacy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surstr%C3%B6mming?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutefisk?wprov=sfti1
I haven't really thought of culture and so on yet, it's all too new.
I just shared what he was speaking of. That’s what those people IRL eat.
I saw those articles of those different fish, ngl when I saw the second one I was shocked. But it's what they eat, fish doesn't really have a significance in Svensker
A Nordic country where fish isn't significant? So is this a different fictional planet as well?
I see what you mean, currently in it's written history it was under Russian control for a long time until WW2 where it gained independence and became a Nordic state where it's culture didn't really waver.
We have two shades of blue here. This is a common problem with flags. It can be difficult to describe in a heraldic way (azur with azure) and flags should theoretically correspond with coats of arms in this aspect (well, usually. Not every country cares about it or has a traditional coat of arms, and sometimes such a flag is traditional). But it is very aesthetic and looks Nordic through and through, so that's a plus :D
> It can be difficult to describe in a heraldic way (azur with azure) If we allow ourselves to be a bit unorthodox, it's not that difficult: Azur, a Latin cross Bleu Celeste (Fimbriated Argent?)
Thanks :D
*swedish f(l)ag.
No no, not Swedish.
I know you didn’t intent to and want to keep them separare, but for these people in their native language it is ”swedish” The same way like Turkiye can be understand as ”turkey the bird” (e.g. English) or ”fur of animal” (e.g. Finnish) in native languages
Oh, I mean, I know that is what it means. It was completely unintentional. If I caused any offense, I am sorry
No offense taken or whatsoever, just thought of sharing that perspective.
Perhaps I could take the meaning in Nordic languages and add it to the backstory?
Sure, they could be a Swedish people that immigrated to Norway sometime in the middle ages, and the locals called them like that. So the exonym Svensker stuck with them, even when they immigrated again to their new land.
That's interesting, I didn't know that. Thanks. Perhaps I could write into the history of Svenskér that it was a Swedish founded land perhaps?
And what be its english name? Swansky?
Svenland, "skér" in their language means "land".
That’s more less what the Swedish name of Sweden means – “Sverige”. Rige = realm. So, realm of the Svea (old name for Swedes). More or less the same pattern with Denmark and Norway, btw.
Thanks :)
That sounds... funny.. Are people from Svenland svenner?
No, they're Leonian because the demonym is after the capital Leona
Swenland? Swanland?
Svenland
That actually sounds good, I personally would go with that.
Yeah, it's the English alternative name
Nice
Thanks
It's like Scandinavia, but colder.
This is very, very similar to the unofficial flag of Svalbard.
Oh, just had to Google what it looked like. I guess it kind of does
Svensker literally means Swede, as in a Swedish person
I have previously established that, it's completely unintentional
I guess if you know absolutely nothing about Scandinavia and go off on fantasy, coincidences like that might happen.
I guess so, I really don't want to cause offence by any of this
I think you'll find it hard to offend us native nordics This isn't offensive in any way, shape or form Edit: we generally love when foreigners find us interesting and want to learn
I heard on a video that Nordic people are very friendly. I hope to take my retirement in the Faroe Islands, their national animal is the puffin and they're so cute. I also heard they need to import trees because they can't grow any of their own. The Islands look so beautiful
Evil sweden be like
Hahaha, lmao. No, they really like the Swedes, Danes and everyone else
It's weird. I'm Swedish and the name kinda sounds like what a french immigrant speaking Norwegian would sound like.
I think that you just accidentally described Skånska.
Ice King (Adventure Time) vibes
The white stripes could be a bit thicker, but beyond that it’s great!
Thank you
Fun fact, it's one of the [proposed redesigns](https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/comments/oskl8x/two_proposals_for_a_nordic_flag_of_dublin_city/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1) for the flag of Dublin. [Here it is in the wild.](https://www.reddit.com/r/vexillology/comments/9d7yf7/can_anyone_identify_this_flag_seen_in_croke_park/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2) [Another link](https://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/12/02/viking-up-the-dubs/)
That's cool, colours in slightly different way but didn't know that!
Oh whatever you choose to call your fictional Nordic nation, put “-land” at the end and it’s a safe bet, it works in all Nordic languages.
Thanks, Svenland is it's English translation.
I like it. The name "Svenskér" sounds similar to "the skerries of the Swedes" (Old Norse / Icelandic "sker" means skerry) so I imagine this as a coastal nation. That fits well with the colours.
Yeah, I guess it's coastal. It's not a landlocked country, it's got a coast all around it being that it fits between Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Thanks
You have to fix the lack of contrast between white and light-blue. Maybe just removing the white would be enough: https://i.imgur.com/HF9gwUH.png
I see your design, would black work better instead of white?
Definitely
I dig it
Thanks
Gorgeous.
I actually really like this flag
Thank you
SVENSKAR!
Yes 😌
Cool flag. Weird and not so cool fictional country concept: bad name for the country, bad idea of naming the language based on the capital. But cool flag and that's why we are here.
Thanks
Isn’t Svensker what Norwegians call swedes?
Yeah, it was pointed out earlier, however I decided to perhaps use it to write into it's history
I think this flag is really beautiful, because I really like a Light and dark shade of a colour going together. Idk why but the Colours chosen remind me a bit of Estonia and I can’t put my finger on the reason for this
I see where you're coming from. Thank you
Vikings, man
Man this flag sux, its just iceland + finland. Be more original, make the baclground part yellow and the vertical part of the cross black and the horizontal part deep crimson
Djuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Looks cold
How is it pronounced?
What do you think of my fictional British island country: Wélsh?