/ˈtɔmˌte/
UrsprungAttested since 1790 according to Svenska Akademiens ordbok. An elliptic form of tomtebisse or tomtegubbe with the same meaning. Derived from tomt (“site; lot; garden”). The association between the mythological creature and Santa Claus had its origins in the 19th century (first attestation is from 1864) and was firmly established in the middle of the 20th century. Cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk tomte.
- common-gendera small human-like creature in Nordic folklore that lives on farmsteads and watches over their inhabitants; a brownie, a gnome.
“Om tomten inte får en klick smör i sin julgröt kan han bli arg och göra stor skada.” — If the house gnome doesn’t get a dab of butter in his Christmas porridge, he might get angry and do great harm.
“Månen vandrar sin tysta ban' [bana – not a common shortening otherwise], snön lyser vit på fur och gran. Snön lyser vit på taken. Endast tomten är vaken.” — The moon wanders its silent course, the snow shines white on pine and spruce. The snow shines white on the roofs. Only the tomte is awake. [from the poem Tomten by Viktor Rydberg]
- common-genderSanta Claus
“Moster Agneta klädde ut sig till tomte och delade ut klappar till barnen.” — Aunt Agneta dressed up as Santa and handed out presents to the children.
- colloquial, common-gender, especiallya person that diligently tends to practical matters
“Din man är en riktig hustomte när han snickrar på möbler.” — Your husband is a real busy bee when he does woodworking on furniture.
- common-gendera person dressed as a tomte (or tomtenisse), often a boy participating in a Swedish Saint Lucy's Day procession (luciatåg)
Formertomte(indefinite, nominative, singular) · tomtes(genitive, indefinite, singular) · tomten(definite, nominative, singular) · tomtens(definite, genitive, singular) · tomtar(indefinite, nominative, plural) · tomtars(genitive, indefinite, plural) · tomtarna(definite, nominative, plural) · tomtarnas(definite, genitive, plural)