Norwegian dictionary

For any more indepth consider the influence of Old Norse around the British language have a look in the series: How Vikings Transformed the British Language: Intro

The British language has certainly been huge affect on many languages all over the world – including modern Norwegian. Because of ‘internationalisation’ from the web, TV and movie, Norwegians frequently use words like baby, drink, awesome, jeans, web and chips – to title a couple of.

But not so long ago it had been the other way round. Many British words really originate from old Norse language – introduced by Vikings to England in medieval occasions. Here are a few words you've most likely uttered without understanding you're speaking Norwegian!

• Anger – from angr (“trouble, affliction”)
• Bag – from baggi. Norwegians make use of the word bag today but, ironically, by having an British pronounciation. The term has really been re-imported from British!
• Berserk – from berserkr (“bare shirt”). Fierce players who fought against without armour (and ate miracle mushrooms for courage).
• Crawl – from krafla (“to claw”).
• Grime – from drit (“feces”).
• Gun – from gunn (“war, battle”)
• Hell – from Hel, the ruler from the Underworld in Norse mythology.
• Hit – from hitta (“find”). Another illustration of a re-imported word.
• Husband – from husbondi (“master from the house”).
• Knife – from kniv, kvifr. You might have suspected that one already. Actually, any word beginning with kn- is most likely from old Norse.
• Raft – from raptr (“log”). Today we make use of the (British) word rafting in Norwegian when speaking concerning the popular sport.
• Reindeer – from hreindyri. In modern Norwegian: reinsdyr.
• Scare – from skirra (“to frighten”).
• Steak – from steik, steikja (“to prepare, roast”). Strangely enough, the term restaurant is typical in Norwegian today.
• Town – from tun, mentioning towards the open space between structures.
• Ugly – from uggligr (“dreadful”).