What’s the meaning of IKEA product names? The Swedish store has a secret system
The names of IKEA products have English translations and they make perfect sense - find out what they are here
EVERY product in IKEA is named after something in Scandinavian and often their English translation also makes sense in a very clever way.
While many English-speakers struggle to pronounce the item names in the furniture store, they actually all have a secret coded system and here's what it is.
What is the meaning behind the IKEA product names?
MALM dressers = the Swedish translation for an 'ore' a type of rock
DUKTIG kid's kitchen play set = the Swedish translation for 'capable'
POÄNG birch armchair = the Swedish translation for 'point'
TRILLING a set of three photos = the Swedish translation for 'triplet'
BEVARA food clips = the Swedish translation for 'preserve'
ALVINE STRÅ pillow covers = the Swedish translation for 'straw'
KALAS colourful dinnerware = the Swedish translation for 'party'
LEKA blankets and soft toys = the Swedish translation for 'play'
BESKYDDA high-viability vest = the Swedish translation for to look at
BLANDA salad bowl = the Swedish translation for mixing
LACK shiny coffee tables = the Swedish translation for 'lacquer'
What are the other code words?
While some of the products do translate directly to what they mean, there is an overall specialised system for figuring out which items get which name.
And Janice Simonsen, design spokeswoman for Ikea U.S., revealed to the full scheme.
Full IKEA list of product names and meanings
• Beds, wardrobes and hall furniture = Norwegian place names
• Sofas, armchairs, dining chairs and dining tables = Swedish place names
• Bookcases = professions, Scandinavian boy’s names
• Desks, desk chairs and swivel chairs = Scandinavian boy’s names
• Garden furniture = Scandinavian islands
• Lighting = measurement units, seasons, months, days, shipping and nautical terms, Swedish place names
• Fabrics and curtains = Scandinavian girls’ names
• Rugs = Danish place names
• Children’s products = mammals, birds and descriptive words
• Kitchen accessories = fishes, mushrooms and descriptive words
• Boxes, wall decoration, pictures and frames, clocks = Swedish slang expressions, Swedish place names
• Bowls, vases, candles, candle holders = Swedish place names, descriptive words, spices, herbs, fruits and berries
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