Etymology Map
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Suede

3 stages from French to English.

Today it means leather with a soft napped surface

Where does the word "suede" come from? It comes from French Suède, passing through French before entering English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Suède
French · medieval
"Sweden"
the French name for Sweden
2
Stage 2 of 3
gants de Suède
French · 1800s
"Swedish gloves"
'gloves of Sweden', soft kid gloves imported from Sweden
3
Stage 3 of 3
suede
English · 1850s
"napped leather"
shortened from the French glove name and applied to the leather itself
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Read the full story

Suede’s story begins in French: Suède meant “Sweden.” The French name for Sweden. Within French, it grew into gants de Suède by 1800s. 'gloves of Sweden', soft kid gloves imported from Sweden. It reached English by 1850s as suede. Shortened from the French glove name and applied to the leather itself. Today, suede means leather with a soft napped surface.