Amerikat

Swedish

Etymology

Compound of Amerika (“United States of America”) +‎ -t (“the”), literally the pleonasm "The America". Used since the 19th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈmeːrɪkat/

Proper noun

Amerikat n (genitive Amerikats)

1. (colloquial, now humorous) the United States of America

   Synonyms: Amerikas förenta stater, Förenta staterna, USA, Staterna, (sometimes proscribed) Amerika

   Hälsningar från Amerikat!

   Greetings from America!

Usage notes

• This form of the name is associated with less educated, typically rural speakers from the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th. It is not in general usage today, except when deliberately creating a rustic tone or imitating the speech of Swedish settlers to North America.