gräddfil

Swedish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡrɛdːˌfiːl/

Etymology 1

gräddfil 1 (left)

Attested since 1952 according to Nationalencyklopedins ordbok. From grädde (“cream”) + fil (“soured milk”).

Noun

gräddfil c

1. Sour cream.

   Glöm inte att köpa gräddfil till sillen.

   "Don't forget to buy sour cream for the herring."

Declension

Declension of gräddfil

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	gräddfil	gräddfils
	definite	gräddfilen	gräddfilens
plural	indefinite	—	—
	definite	—	—

See also

• smetana
• crème fraîche

Etymology 2

gräddfil 2 (left)

Attested since 1983 according to Nationalencyklopedins ordbok. From grädda (“cream (of society)”) + fil (“lane”). Formed by influence of etymology 1.

Noun

gräddfil c

1. (colloquial, ironic) A traffic lane for certain types of vehicles, such as car pooling automobiles, buses and taxi cabs; car pool lane.

   Har man råd att åka taxi får man alltid åka i den förbannade gräddfilen.

   "If you can afford a taxi you can always go in the damned car pool lane."

2. (colloquial, ironic) A collective term for the various methods through which privileged individuals can attain benefits such as housing, schooling, employment, etc.

   Hans föräldrar är höga partipolitiker, så han har fått åka i gräddfilen hela sitt liv.

   "Since his parents are high-ranking party politicians, he's been privileged all his life."

Declension

Declension of gräddfil

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	gräddfil	gräddfils
	definite	gräddfilen	gräddfilens
plural	indefinite	gräddfiler	gräddfilers
	definite	gräddfilerna	gräddfilernas

See also

• bananskal
• räkmacka

Further reading

• gräddfil in Svensk ordbok.