kärring

Swedish

Alternative forms

• käring (less common)

Etymology

From Old Swedish kärling, from Old Norse kerling. Equivalent to karl +‎ -ing.

Noun

kärring c

1. (disagreeable) old woman
2. (derogatory or endearing) wife
3. cowardly (male) person

Usage notes

Sometimes more older than old. A (disagreeable) older woman still of working age might be a "kärring på jobbet."

Declension

Declension of kärring

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	kärring	kärrings
	definite	kärringen	kärringens
plural	indefinite	kärringar	kärringars
	definite	kärringarna	kärringarnas

Derived terms

• kärringkånk
• påskkärring
• skurkärring

References

• käring in Elof Hellquist, Svensk etymologisk ordbok (1st ed., 1922)