This word is the kind of insult you only really get here in Scandinavia.
Badkruka: Pronounced as [Baahd-kroo-kah].
It comprises two words, so let's break it down:
The word comes from "bada" (to swim – it shares roots with the English verb to bathe) and "kruka", which literally means pot or jug but is also a slang term for coward. So you could translate it as a bathing coward.
“Badkruka” is someone who dislikes or refuses to swim, usually in an open body of water and often due to the low temperature of said water.
If you've ever spent the summer in Sweden, you might have noticed that you're expected to spend a large portion of the season outdoors and engage in active pursuits: hiking, climbing, swimming, etc.
These activities are typically done based on the time of year rather than the weather, so you'll find many Swedes leaping into icy water just because "it's summer" and using “badkruka” as a good-natured insult aimed at those who refuse to join them.
Example:
Hoppa i, badkruka!
Jump in, scaredy-cat!
Jag är ingen badkruka, jag älskar att bada.
I'm not scared of the water; I love to swim.
Linnea, OLS Community Manager – Swedish