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
	Uncountable
	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	gräddfil	gräddfilen	—	—
Genitive	gräddfils	gräddfilens	—	—

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
	Singular		Plural
	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	gräddfil	gräddfilen	gräddfiler	gräddfilerna
Genitive	gräddfils	gräddfilens	gräddfilers	gräddfilernas

See also

• bananskal
• räkmacka

Further reading

• gräddfil in Svensk ordbok.