Snålkuk in Jokkmokk - Sweden's funniest place name

- It happens that visitors shrug when they see the name on the map, but we pronounce it stingily and not as you do in Swedish, so then it will not be as funny, says Gun Mannberg, who runs Årrenjarka Fjällby in Kvikkjokk.

Snålkuk is a small mountain slope at Kassavare hiking trail which so far is not excellent with any sign - but maybe it will change now that the name has been shortened to the country's funniest place name.

- So far, there has been no place for mountain hikers to usually ask for, says Gun Mannberg.

A completely different meaning

Traditionally, 

has  sometimes been interpreted as forming the Swede 

 in the older meaning tip.

It is more probable, however, that the name is formed from the Lule Sami 

, 'rock outcrop that forms a steep rock wall, writes Språktidningen.

- Place names often retain meanings that have fallen into oblivion and also reflect contacts between different languages ​​that are no longer obvious. 

 was not deadly when the mountain got its name.

But for those who interpret the name without knowledge of history, it becomes dreary.

That is why place names are also an important part of our cultural heritage, says in a press release Anders Svensson, who is the editor-in-chief of Språktidningen.

The Swede came to the area late

Olle Kejonen, doctoral student in Sami languages ​​at Uppsala University, is convinced that 

has Sami origins:

- The name 

has nothing to do with the Swedish words 

 or 

.

It is a Lule Sámi name, which is pronounced completely differently than the Swedish word 

, The resemblance is only found in writing.

A similar name is also found in Gällivare municipality, but there it is written 

, because it uses an adapted North Sami spelling.

The Swedish language has come to this area late, and as a rule it can be assumed that all names in the area are of Sami origin.