Law of Jante

English

Etymology

Introduced by the Dano-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose in the 1933 novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks (En flyktning krysser sitt spor), in which Jante is a small Danish town where nobody is anonymous.

Proper noun

Law of Jante

1. A supposed negative pattern of group behavior in Scandinavian communities toward people who achieve individual success.

Translations

Law of Jante

• Danish: janteloven
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: jantelov (no) m

  Nynorsk: jantelov m or f

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