# Snaps

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Small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal

This article is about the Nordic spirit measure. For the alcoholic beverages, see [Schnapps](/source/Schnapps). For other uses, see [Snap](/source/Snap_(disambiguation)).

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A snaps

Snaps drinking in Sweden, early 20th century.

In the [Nordic countries](/source/Nordic_countries), especially [Denmark](/source/Denmark) and [Sweden](/source/Sweden), but not in [Iceland](/source/Iceland), **snaps** (pronounced [\[ˈsnaps\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Swedish), [Finnish](/source/Finnish_language): **snapsi**), among many nicknames, is a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal.

In Denmark, a snaps will always be [akvavit](/source/Akvavit), although there are many varieties of it. In Sweden, *snaps* is a more general term for any small amount of "[liquor](/source/Liquor)"; although usually [brännvin](/source/Br%C3%A4nnvin), it may also be other spirits, such as [vodka](/source/Vodka), bitters/bitter liqueurs, [whisky](/source/Whisky) or [brandy](/source/Brandy) etc. In Norway, a more common name is the synonym *dram* (from the unit [of the same name](/source/Dram_(unit))).[1][2] One of [Finland](/source/Finland)'s strongest alcohol drinks served as snaps is [Marskin ryyppy](/source/Marskin_ryyppy), named after [Marshal](/source/Marshal_of_Finland) [C. G. E. Mannerheim](/source/Gustaf_Mannerheim).[3]

The word "snaps" also has the same meaning as German *[Schnapps](/source/Schnapps)* (German: [\[ʃnaps\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German)), in the sense of "any strong alcoholic drink".[4]

## Culture

### Snaps shanties

Main article: [Snapsvisor](/source/Snapsvisor)

Swedes, Danes and [Swedish-speaking Finns](/source/Swedish-speaking_Finns) have a tradition of singing songs, called *snapsvisor* ("snaps shanties"), before drinking snaps. These songs are typically odes to the joys of drinking snaps. They may praise the flavour of snaps or express a craving for it.

### Festivities

Poster used at the [1922 Swedish prohibition referendum](/source/1922_Swedish_prohibition_referendum), emphasizing that [crayfish parties](/source/Crayfish_party) requires snaps, and thus its banning would kill off crayfish parties with it, depicting a bottle of liquor and a glass for snaps together with cooked crayfish. The text in English: "Crawfishes demand these beverages! You have to forego crawfishes unless you vote no on 27 August"

Snaps and *snapsvisor* are essential elements of Swedish festivities involving food, especially [Midsummer](/source/Midsummer) and [crayfish parties](/source/Crayfish_party) ([Swedish](/source/Swedish_language): *kräftskiva*), which are notoriously tipsy affairs. Dozens of songs may be sung during such a party, and every song requires a round of snaps. However, the glass need not be emptied every time.

### Nicknames

Another subculture are the many nicknames for snaps, some of which might be regional. Some names are heavily associated with certain phrases used in conjunction with snaps drinking.

## See also

- [Liquor portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Liquor)
- [Drink portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Drink)

- [Schnapps](/source/Schnapps)

- [Drinking culture](/source/Drinking_culture)

- [Moonshine](/source/Moonshine)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ordbokene_snaps_1-0)** ["snaps"](https://ordbokene.no/nn/snaps). *ordbokene.no*. Retrieved 2025-02-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ordbokene_drma_2-0)** ["dram"](https://ordbokene.no/nn/dram). *ordbokene.no*. Retrieved 2025-02-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Uola, Mikko: *Marskin ryyppy: marsalkkamme juomakulttuuria chevalier-kaartista ylipäällikön ruokapöytään.* Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2002. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [951-746-385-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/951-746-385-5)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Haugen, Einar (1965). *Norwegian-English Dictionary*. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. The definition given is "nip, schnaps; shot (of brandy, aquavit, etc.)."

## External links

Look up ***[tipsy](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tipsy)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

- [Drinking song – snapsvisa](https://archive.today/20090303112750/http://www.aurora.komvux.norrkoping.se/Pedagogical_Web/web_2006/utb7/swedish/Drinking_song.htm)

- [Drinking songs at Spiritmuseum](http://spritmuseum.se/start/snapsvisor/sanghaften/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140908034505/http://spritmuseum.se/start/snapsvisor/sanghaften/) 2014-09-08 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Snaps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snaps) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snaps?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.