Zoetermeer

Dutch

Etymology

First attested as soetermere. Compound of the hydronym Zoete and Middle Dutch mere (“lake, pool”). The first element was gradually reinterpreted to zoet (“potable, sweet”). Compare Zoeterwoude and Zwieten.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˌzu.tərˈmeːr/
Audio (file)
Hyphenation: Zoe‧ter‧meer

Proper noun

Zoetermeer n

A city and municipality of South Holland, Netherlands without city rights.
Synonyms: Sweet Lake City (jocular nickname), Soetelanden (Carnival nickname)
Meronym: Roeleveen

Derived terms

Zoetermeerder
Zoetermeers

References

van Berkel, Gerard; Samplonius, Kees (2018), “zoetermeer”, in Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard (in Dutch), Mijnbestseller.nl, →ISBN