Zoetermeer

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as soetermere. Compound of the hydronym Zoete and Middle Dutch mere (“lake, pool”) (modern meer). The first element was gradually reinterpreted to zoet (“potable, sweet”). Compare Zoeterwoude and Zwieten.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌzu.tərˈmeːr/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Zoe‧ter‧meer

Proper noun

Zoetermeer n

1. A city and municipality of South Holland, Netherlands without city rights

   Synonyms: Sweet Lake City (jocular nickname), Soetelanden (Carnival nickname)

   Meronym: Roeleveen

Derived terms

• Zoetermeerder
• Zoetermeers

References

• van Berkel, Gerard, Samplonius, Kees (2018) “zoetermeer”, in Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard‎^[1] (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN