Etymology. The name semla (plural, semlor) is a loan word from German Semmel, originally deriving from the Latin simila, meaning ‘flour’, itself a borrowing from Greek σεμίδαλις (semidalis), “groats”, which was the name used for the finest quality wheat flour or semolina. In the southernmost part of Sweden and by the Swedish-speaking population in Finland, they are known as fastlagsbulle.

