Standard Lemma guide

aquavit

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌækwəˈviːt/
  • /ˌɑkwəˈviːt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A Scandinavian liquor distilled from potato or grain mash to about 40% ABV and typically flavored with anise, although caraway seeds, fennel, dill, and other spices and herbs are also used.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Scandinavian liquor usually flavored with caraway seeds

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: akvavit

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: liquor, spirits, booze, hard drink, hard liquor, John Barleycorn, strong drink

History

Etymology

From Swedish and Danish akvavit and Norwegian akevitt, from Medieval Latin aqua vitae (“water of life”). Doublet of aqua vitae and akvavit. Compare eau de vie, whisky, whiskey, and water of life from the same source.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 阿夸維特 — Scandinavian liquor
  • Danish: akvavit — Scandinavian liquor
  • Danish: snaps — Scandinavian liquor
  • Danish: brændevin — Scandinavian liquor
  • Esperanto: akvavito — Scandinavian liquor
  • Estonian: akvaviit — Scandinavian liquor
  • Finnish: akvaviitti — Scandinavian liquor
  • Icelandic: ákavíti — Scandinavian liquor
  • Indonesian: aquavit — Scandinavian liquor
  • Japanese: アクアビット (akuabitto) — Scandinavian liquor
  • Norwegian: akevitt — Scandinavian liquor
  • Portuguese: aquavit — Scandinavian liquor
  • Portuguese: akvavit — Scandinavian liquor
  • Russian: аквави́т (akvavít) — Scandinavian liquor
  • Swedish: akvavit — Scandinavian liquor