Svitjod

Approximate areas of interest of the Swedes and Geats in present-day Sweden

Svitjod is a Norse name for Sweden (Sviþjóð in Old Norse). The name originated from "Svear," which referred to the dominant inhabitants of the region. Other names for Sweden include "Svealand" and "Götaland," which denote more specific regional and cultural areas of the country—Svealand representing the central region and Götaland the southern region. These are referred to as "landsdelar" in Swedish. Outside of Sweden, "Svitjod" was the most common term for the country. Although the name fell out of use within Sweden, some variations of the name used abroad, such as "Sweden," have persisted.

Interestingly, there may have been a smaller state with the same name, Svitjod, centered around the region of Uppland in Sweden.

See also

• Swedes (Svear)
• Geats (Götar)
• Viking age Sweden