Hesa Fredrik

Swedish

A Hesa Frerik.

The sound of Hesa Fredrik during a test in March 2017.

Etymology

Compound of Hesa (“Hoarse”) +‎ Fredrik (“Fredrik”). Allegedly coined by Dagens Nyheter columnist Oscar Fredrik Rydqvist in 1931.

Noun

Hesa Fredrik c

1. type of outdoor sirens used to broadcast a VMA (“Important Announcement to the Public”); broadcasting system used to invoke the attention and alert the public in situations of immediate danger (e.g. toxic smoke, poisonous water supply, forest fire, war, etc.)

   Synonyms: VMA, flyglarm, mistlur