25-03-2025
Swedish word of the day: våffla
The Swedish word
våffla
has existed in written Swedish since at least 1642. It's related to the Dutch word
wafel,
which in turn comes from the German word
Wabe
, meaning honeycomb.
Honeycombs and waffles both have similar patterns (
Wabe
comes from a term meaning "to weave" in Middle High German) which is presumably how the sweet treat got its name.
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Swedish waffles are usually thin and crispy, cooked in a waffle iron (
våffeljärn
) which makes five or six heart-shaped waffles at once. Unlike Belgian-style waffles, they don't usually contain eggs or yeast.
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Standard waffle toppings are cream and jam or fresh berries, while savoury toppings like sour cream, red onion and fish roe are also popular. The word
våffla
is also used to refer to the type of ice cream cones made of wafers, which have a similar chequered texture.
If you're wondering why they're served on March 25th, the answer is simple. March 25th is the Christian holiday of Annunciation, known in Swedish as
Vårfrudagen
, Our Lady's Day, which sounds suspiciously like the Swedish for Waffle Day,
Våffeldagen
.
Example sentences:
Ska vi äta våfflor till kvällsmat? Det är Våffeldagen idag ju.
Should we have waffles for dinner? It's Waffle Day today, after all.
Vill du ha strut eller våffla?
Do you want a normal ice cream cone or a waffle cone?
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