Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
Tomte
English translation:
Gnome
Nov 28, 2002 15:50
21 yrs ago
Swedish term
Noble
"Tomte", or, "Jultomte"
Non-PRO
Swedish to English
Other
Cultures
I was researching the world histories of Christmas, and how different cultures celebrate it. I found these words and was wondering what exactly it means (when translated directing into English)
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | Puck, Gnome |
Klaus Dorn (X)
|
| 5 +3 | below |
Billy McCormac (X)
|
| 4 | bownie |
Serge L
|
Proposed translations
+1
7 mins
Klaus Dorn (X)
Native in English
Klaus Dorn (X)
We love languages!
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: German to English, English to German, Turkish to English, and 3 more.
View
Related KudoZ points
:
22
Selected
Puck, Gnome
A tomte (tomten) usually lives at farms in Sweden. If he's treated with respect, he can be very helpful. Tomten is very proud and sensitive. If you make fun of him or in any other way treat him disrespectfully, he will most certainly punish you. An "accident" can happen to you, the cows will give sour milk or the harvest will fail. In fairly modern times people are supposed to give him a white porridge made of rice on a plate outdoors. Close related to tomten is vätter and huldra, but they usually do not live that close to humans.
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Note added at 2002-11-28 15:59:37 (GMT)
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jul tomte may relate to this variety around Christmas time
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Note added at 2002-11-28 15:59:37 (GMT)
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jul tomte may relate to this variety around Christmas time
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much :)"
11 mins
bownie
tomte = brownie
jul = Christmas
"Svenskt uppslagsord
tomte tomten tomtar subst.
en sagofigur som vakar över en gård; jultomte
Engelsk översättning
brownie; Santa Claus"
Serge L.
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Note added at 2002-11-28 16:10:54 (GMT) Post-grading
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should read \"brownie\" of course...
jul = Christmas
"Svenskt uppslagsord
tomte tomten tomtar subst.
en sagofigur som vakar över en gård; jultomte
Engelsk översättning
brownie; Santa Claus"
Serge L.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-11-28 16:10:54 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
should read \"brownie\" of course...
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Anette Herbert
: Where does brownie come from, do you know?
3 hrs
|
|
I know :o) It happens to be a diminutive of "brown", as they were believed to be little brown men see: http://www.geocities.com/etymonline/b5etym.htm At the university, I wrote a long paper about gnomes in mediaeval literature
|
+3
1 hr
below
Jultomte=Santa Claus/Father Christmas
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Anette Herbert
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Karin Viberg (X)
: Tomte = Santa, jultomte = Santa Claus
14 hrs
|
| agree |
EKM
: Yes, in this context it probably has nothing to do with the little grey-clad pixie types...
15 hrs
|
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