Heading down IKEA’s roots, we discover that the brand was founded by Ingvar Kamprad from Älmhult, a remote area of Sweden. IKEA has been selling high-quality, affordable home furnishing and accessories while celebrating its heritage from the get-go.
Each item is uniquely named in the Swedish language, which can often be tricky to pronounce unless you speak the tongue.
We have listed 33 impossible-to-pronounce funny furniture names and the meaning behind them; if you accept the challenge of reading these names aloud, keep on reading!
33 Impossible To Pronounce & Funny IKEA Furniture Names [+ Meanings!]
![33 Impossible To Pronounce IKEA Furniture Names [+ Meanings!]](https://querysprout.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ikea-1.jpg)
Before We Start
It is essential to understand the contextual values of IKEA’s quirky names, which were appointed to help the founder quickly identify particular items despite his dyslexia. Therefore, each category of furniture was named according to a key:
Beds, wardrobes, and hall furniture are linked to Norwegian place names. Bookcase names replicate professions and Scandinavian boy’s names, while sofas, armchairs, and dining chairs are named after Swedish towns. Similarly, rugs correlate to the names of Danish locations.
1. FRIHETEN
With the pronunciation of “free-heh-thun,” why don’t you give this one a go! The name behind the much-loved charcoal grey corner sofa bed links to a biweekly newspaper published by the Norwegian Communist Party founded in 1941.
2. FJÄDERMOLN
This mind-boggling word is simply a type of cirrus cloud, reflective of the cloud shape this light blue cushion takes after. The vowel Ä is commonly used throughout Swedish spelling; in English, it is often pronounced like the “au sound.”
3. YPPERLIG
To the untrained eye, this word may defy all you have learned about spelling; however, pronunciation is relatively simple; “yee-per-lig.” The collaboration between IKEA and the Danish company HAY is named after the Swedish word for excellent!
4. BJÖRKSNÄS
The BJÖRKSNÄS series is named after a Swedish village; Bjork itself means tree, which fits the natural wooden, Nordic appearance of the furniture line. Swedish vowels such as Ö may seem daunting; however, they are pronounced as “i” or “u” in numerous dialects.
5. ÖRFJÄLL
You may be surprised to learn that the popular vissel blue and white office swivel chair named ÖRFJÄLL is named after a small village located in the Northern region of Sweden.
6. EKET
Versatile EKET cabinets are designed with minimalistic features, suitable for any colored room. The word “Eket” is a singular plural of the uncountable noun “eke”, which originates from old Swedish connotations of ‘oak.’’
7. VIKTIGT
IKEA collaborated with Swedish glass and ceramic designer Ingegerd Råman to craft handmade glassware and naturally woven furniture. “Viktigt” derives from the concept of a person with high status and importance. The word is easier to pronounce than you may first expect; simply silence the G (“Vik-tit”).
8. FRÖJERED
The FRÖJERED fronts are sustainably designed with natural bamboo to introduce a vibrant, modern look to your kitchen. The surfaces are named after another village located within the southern region of Sweden.
9. STENLILLE
As previously mentioned, rugs at IKEA are primarily named after villages in Sweden or Denmark. The STENLILLE, for example, is named after a town located in the Eastern regions of Denmark, formerly recognized as the West Zealand County.
10. BEKVÄM
Now that we understand that “Ä” vowels are spoken as “e” in many dialects, the pronunciation of the BEKVÄM step stool should be a little less challenging. The Interpretation of “Bekväm” correlates to “providing comfort and ease.”
11. EKOLSUND
The EKOLSUND Gunnared light brown-pink recliner has an awe-inspiring name shared with Ekolsund Castle in Uppsala County, Sweden! The first establishment of the castle dates right back to the 14th century!
12. SVÄRTA
If you’re not familiar with the Swedish language, the pronunciation of this word may surprise you; “svä-ta.” The definition refers to the darkening of an object that moderately relates to the silver-colored loft bed frame with a dark reflection.
13. HEMNES
Similar to rugs, IKEA beds are named after areas in Norway. Hemnes, for instance, is a municipality located in Nordland Country, Norway, which sits south and east towards the border of Sweden.
14. BESTÅ
Designed to sustain a modern living, the BESTÅ storage systems aim to deliver a sleek and stylish look, no matter what their function. In translation, BESTÅ relates to endurance and consistency, which positively reflects the nature of these storage pieces’!
15. FNISS
Comically, the FINISS wastebasket translates as giggle! I guess this means poor jokes belong in the garbage! Don’t let the spelling put you off; pronounce the word exactly how it looks.
16. NISSEDAL
The NISSEDAL black framed mirror is a timeless piece for any home, but where does the name originate? Nissedal is a rural municipality in Telemark, Norway, nicknamed after the Telemark River and located just a short distance from Gautefall Alpine Center.
17. EXPEDIT
The EXPEDIT storage units were any vinyl collector’s ultimate dream, with designs featuring up to 16 separate compartments. Like IKEA bookcases, “Expedit” translates to shop assistant or clerk professions!
Unfortunately, the EXPEDIT collection was discontinued in 2014, which leads us to our next item.
18. FJÄLLBO
Although tricky to pronounce, IKEA’s industrially rustic-looking storage and shelving units are named in correlation to good nature and fun! Funnily enough, “Fjällbo” originates from the Norse sneeze!
19. KVARTAL
IKEA’s lights are named after units of measurement, seasons, nautical phrases, or Swedish locations. Pronunciation of KVARTAL seems pretty cool however it simply means “quarterly” in English.
20. ANRIK
The meaning behind the name of IKEA’s sleek looking coffee pot derives from the phrase, “rich in heritage.” Judging by the premium appearance, I think you’ll agree the ANRIK pot lives up to its name!
21. VITTSJÖ
With deep contextual values, “Vittsjö” was the site of the 1612 Battle of Vittsjö, where the Swedish King, Gustavus Adolphus, nearly lost his life. The durable IKEA glass cabinet is named after Vittsjö, which is rich in Swedish heritage. You can find the area situated in Hässleholm Municipality.
22. SOCKERKAKA
This tongue-twister of a word is easier to pronounce than you think. The silicone bakeware is named in perfect correlation to its use with SOCKERKAKA meaning “sponge cake.”
23. ÄPPLARÖ
According to the key, IKEA’s outdoor furniture is named after Scandinavian islands. The contemporary ÄPPLARÖ series is unsurprisingly named after a picturesque town located in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.
24. MINNEN
Your child can relish memories in their uniquely designed MINNEN bed, which grows alongside your child with handy extendable features. Coincidentally, “minnen” translates to “memories,” which seems a perfect fit.
25. BRIMNES
While we focus on IKEA’s bedroom furnishings, we move our attention to the pronunciation of “Brimnes.” The name is more complex than it seems, with many translations sounding a “d” at the start of the word (“d-brim-nes”). The favorable wardrobe series is named after a small village located in Southern Sweden.
26. KYRRE
Originating from the Old Norse word “krr”, “Kryrre” translates as “calm and peaceful.” Not the name you’d necessarily expect for a simple birch wood stool!
27. INBJUDEN
Can you pronounce the name of IKEA’s romantically designed INBJUDEN wedding furniture series? In English, “Inbjuden” is defined as “invitation,” something you’ll certainly need to attend a wedding!
28. GODMORGON
If you’re familiar with this one, you’ll know that “Godmorgon” is the Swedish term for “Good Morning.” IKEA insists you calm the morning rush with their functional yet stylish bathroom series.
29. VÄRMER
Treat yourself in the colder months with IKEA’s series of winter accessories, including functional furniture or cozy decoration. Strategically, the VÄRMER collection is named after the Swedish term for “warmth,” another great match.
30. IDEALISK
If you took a guess on this one, there’s a high chance you were correct. “Idealisk” is the Swedish way of saying “ideal,” which may reflect the polished, stainless steel appliances.
31. BÄRBAR
Designed with angled edges for easy grip, IKEA’s bird printed tray was introduced for your convenience. IKEA unquestionably chose the name “Bärbar,” which means “carryable,” which undoubtedly mirrors the product’s concept.
32. RÖDASK
The light brown to orange colored RÖDASK rug conveys warmth into your home. Designed with woven cotton and cotton-chenille, you’ll see different textures working together in harmony. Interestingly, the name’s meaning translates as “red-ash,” which justifiably links to the rug’s appearance.
33. MÖRBYLÅNGA
IKEA named their specially crafted oak top table after Mörbylånga Kommun is just one of two municipalities situated across the southern half of the Swedish Baltic island of Öland. Just like the area, the MÖRBYLÅNGA table contains plenty of character.
To learn more about IKEA, also see our posts on IKEA statistics, IKEA stock, and IKEA’s competitive advantages.
Conclusion
IKEA’s furniture names may seem obscure to anyone that does not speak the lingo. However, the quirky names undeniably bring authenticity to the brand, truly setting them apart from its competitors.
