Swedish word of the day: påsk

The Swedish word for Easter, påsk, may well be recognisable to you if you speak another European language. Unlike in English, but like other Swedish words for festivals, months, and weekdays, it isn't capitalised. 

It's a relative of French Pâques, Italian Pasqua, Spanish Pascua, Romanian Paşti, Dutch Pasen and Russian Pascha (Paskha/Пасха), to name a few.

These words all date back to the Greek word Πάσχα (Pascha), which is linked to the Hebrew word Pesach meaning "to pass over". The word pascha was adopted by Latin as the name of the Christian holiday, which became páskar in Old Norse.

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Although the English name Easter has a different origin (from Ēostre, the name of a goddess linked with springtime), you will still find relatives of påsk in English dialects, including Pace in Scotland and northeastern England, and Pask in Cornish.

So now that you know where the word comes from, how to use it? 

Happy Easter is glad påsk, and you will also find it in lots of festive compound words: påskhelgen (the Easter weekend), påsklov (Easter holiday/break), påskägg (Easter egg), påskgodis (Easter sweets), påskhare (Easter bunny) and påskmust (a fizzy drink in Sweden sold around Easter and spring time).

This year, Easter Saturday, which is the main day of celebrations in Sweden, falls on March 30th.

Examples

Firar du påsk?

Do you celebrate Easter?

Påskharen delar ut påskägg under påsken

The Easter bunny gives out Easter eggs at Easter

Villa, Volvo, Vovve: The Local’s Word Guide to Swedish Life, written by The Local’s journalists, is available to order. Head to lysforlag.com/vvv to read more about it. It is also possible to buy your copy from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Bokus or Adlibris.