the word 'suede' entered english in the early 19th century from the french phrase 'gants de suède', meaning 'gloves of sweden'. it is a shortening of the french 'suède', which itself derives from the swedish 'sverige', meaning 'sweden'. the term originally referred to a specific type of soft leather gloves imported from sweden. over time, the name of the country of origin became generalized to refer to the distinctive napped finish of the leather itself, regardless of its source.

the word 'suede' is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within its modern english spelling.