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| (free)masonic | frjálsveggjanda- |
| -ball (-BOLTI, -knattleikur) | knattleikur |
| -ism (translated as ‘STÍLL’) | -stefna, -list(erni), -hyggja |
| A-bomb (ATÓMsprengja, kjarnorkusprengja) | afnasprengja, kjarnorkuspengja |
| abacus (REIKNIgrind, talnagrind) | talnagrind |
| abbess (ABBADÍS) | aðalsystir (chief-nun), yfirmóðir (mother superior) |
| abbey (KLAUSTUR) | helgisteinn, bænasetur
bræðrasetur (monks), systrasetur (nuns) |
| abbott (ÁBÓTI) | aðalbróðir (chief-munk), yfirfaðir (father superior) |
| Aboriginal, Australian (ÁSTRALÍUNEGRI) | eyálfusvertingi, kastbogamaður |
| absinth (malurtarBRENNIVÍN) | malurtareldveigar |
| Abyssinia (ABYSSINÍA) | blálandsheiði (Bláland = Ethiopia) |
| acacia (AKASÍA) | þyrnitré (Afrikaans ‘doringboom’ = ‘thorn tree’) |
| academic (AKADEMÍU) | 1) hámennta- (only for the Icelandic compounds with ‘akademíu-‘)
2) námshallar- (námshöll = university) |
| accolade (DUBBUN til RIDDARA/ DUBBA til RIDDARA) | reiðherjaslag/ slá til reiðherja |
| accordion (HARMÓNÍKA, DRAGSPIL) | belgharpa (This word appeared in an advertisement in Ægir in 1912 “belghörpur (Harmonikur). It has neither ever been used nor mentioned in dictionaries. Speakers of High Icelandic find this word better than the danicism ‘dragspil’. This will be our word!) |
| account (REIKNINGUR) | röknun (from the verb ‘rakna’ in an additional meaning (see Orðsifjabók). The verb ‘rakna’ is related to German ‘rechnen’) |
| account form (REIKNINGSeyðublað) | röknunareyðublað |
| account, statement of (REIKNINGSskil) | röknunarskil |
| accountant (bókhaldARI) | bókandi |
| ace (in card games: ÁS, háSPIL, hái) | háspjald, hái |
| acetic acid (EDIKsýra) | örveigasýra (From ‘örvínan’, an old word for vinegar) |
| aceton (ASETÓN) | örveigaandi (Dutch ‘azijngeest’ (spirit of vinegar) |
| acetylcholine (ASETÝLKÓLÍN) | örveigasúr gallfjörvi (choline = an ester of choline (originates from Greek ‘cholè’ (gall) and ‘acetic acid’ (ediksýra) |
| Achilles’ heel (AKKILESARhæll) | Egilshæll (The closest phonetical match of Achilles is ‘Egill’. In the same way as the word ‘Sibil’ was icelandicised into ‘Sif’ and ‘Trór’ into ‘Þór’ in the Snorra Edda: Akkiles, er vér köllum Egill.) |
| acid test (sýruPRÓFUN/ eldraun, PRÓFsteinn) | sýrukönnun/ eldraun (only!) |
| acolyte (ALTARISþjónn) | brauðstallssveinn, helgaborðssveinn |
| aconite (VENUSvagn, freyjublóm) | freyjublóm |
| acoustic guitar (KASSAGÍTAR) | 1) hreinstrengjungur
2) órafknúin(n) glymspónn / spónharpa |
| Adam | alái, frummaðurinn
Adam var ekki lengi í paradís (= Maðurinn var ekki lengi í Sælugarði)
á AÐAMSklæðum (í fæðingarfötum) |
| Adam’s apple (ADAMSepli, barkakýli) | barkakýli |
| adjutant bird (AÐJÚTANTstorkur, þjónustustorkur) | þjónustustorkur |
| admiral (AÐMÍRÁLL, flotaforingi) | sæforingi |
| admiral, red (AÐMÍRÁLsfiðrildi) | sæforingjafiðrildi |
| Adonis | Ástsveinn |
| adrenaline (ADRENALÍN, nýrilmergvaki) | nýrli (From 'nýrill', noradrenaline = nýrlisbróðir) |
| Adriatic sea (ADRÍAhaf) | Leggskóvíkin (leg-shoe-bay) |
| advanced level (stúdentspróf) | framhaldsraun |
| Advent (AÐVENTA, jólafasta/ endurkoma KRISTS) | jólafasta/ endurkoma Smurðans |
| Adventist (AÐVENTISTI) | endurkomutrúarmaður |
| adventure (ÆVINTÝRI) | upplifun (Like Dutch ‘belevenissen’) |
| adventurer (ÆVINTÝRAmaður) | upplifanamaður |
| adventuress (ÆVINTÝRAkona) | upplifanakona |
| adventurous (ÆVINTÝRAlegur) | upplifana- |
| adze (skaröxi) | 1) þexla (see 1)
2) skaröxi |
| Aegean (EGÍSKUR) culture | Eyjahafsmenning (Only used for the prehistoric Aegean civilization. Do not confuse it with the adjective eyhafskur which means Greek in High Icelandic) |
| Africa (AFRÍKA) | Sunnálfa |
| African (AFRÍKUbúi) | sunnálfubúi |
| Afrikaans (AFRÍKANSKA) | búaholtlenska (Boers-Dutch; The original name of the Netherlands is Holtland and not Holland, which is a corruption.) |
| aftershave lotion (rakSPÍRI) | rakvatn (German: ‘Rasierwasser’, Czech: ‘voda po holení’ (aftershave water), Faroese ‘rakivatn’) |
| agate | hringagler (Agate is a semi-transparent type of silica mineral with markings similar to annual rings.) |
| Agfa Gevaert | Ljósmyndavörufélag Gjafharður (Family name of Germanic origin composed of gebo (ON gjaf-) + hard (ON harður) |
| Ahriman | Illandi (Means 'evil spirit in Persian. In Persian mythology Angra Mainyu was the god of darkness, death and destruction, the enemy of Ahura Mazda.) |
| Ahura Mazda (Persian mythology) | Viskudrottinn (Means "lord of wisdom" in Avestan. In Persian mythology Ahura Mazda was the supreme creator, and the god of light, truth, and goodness.) |
| Ainu | Frummorguneyingur (original morning-islander) |
| aircraft carrier | hreiðurskip (Nest-ship. The ship where the (steel) birds are home) |
| aircushion (loftPÚÐI) | loftkoddi |
| airmail | dúfusending (dove-message) senda með dúfunni, dúfuþjónusta (metaphorical use) |
| airmail-plane | dúfa |
| alabaster (mjólkursteinn, ALABASTUR) | mjólkursteinn |
| alarm clock (vekjaraKLUKKA) | svefnþjófur |
| Alaska (ALASKA) | Axlarríki (The state at the western shoulder of the world) |
| Albania (ALBANÍA) | Arnaland (The Albanian name means ‘land of eagles’) |
| Albanian (ALBANSKUR, ALBANSKA, ALBANI) | Arnlenskur, Arnlenska, Arnlendingur |
| albatross (ALBATROSI, TROSI, stormfugl) | stormfugl (-styrmir in compounds) |
| album (ALBÚM, myndabók) | myndabók |
| alcohol (ALKÓHÓL, in chemical sense) | eldvatn (Fire-water. Alcohol in the sense of ‘class of organic compounds: veigandi (ethylalcohol) og ‘viðarandi’ (wood-spirits, methylalcohol) eru andavötn) |
| Aleutians (ALJÚTAR) | Axlareyingur (the island at one of the shoulders of the world.) |
| algebra (ALGEBRA, bókstafareikningur) | bókstafaröknun (from the verb ‘rakna’ in an additional meaning. The verb ‘rakna’ is related to German ‘rechnen’) |
| algebra (ALGEBRA, bókstafaREIKNINGUR) | samleiðsla (The word ‘algebra’ is of Arab origin and is composed of al- (definite article) and jebr (reunion of broken parts), from jabara ‘reunite’. The Dutch word is ‘stelkunde’, derived from ‘stellen’ (put together). Thanks Gunnar!) |
| algebraic (ALGEBRU-) | samleiðslu- |
| alginate (ALGINAT) | þangsúrt efni |
| algorithm (REIKNIsögn) | röknunarsögn |
| aliphatic (ALIFATÍSKUR, fitugur) | fitugur |
| alizarine | möðrurauða (a red dye long extracted from Rubia tinctorium of the madder family) |
| alkali (BASI, LÚTUR) | andsýra, átbeiskja, átlögur |
| alkaline (BASÍSKUR, ALKALÍSKUR) | beiskjulegur, beiskur |
| alkaloid (LÝTINGUR) | beiskjuefni, beiskja |
| almanac (ALMANAK, dagatal, tímatal) | dagatal, tímatal |
| almond (MANDLA) | heggfræ (In High Icelandic, all species of Prunus can be designated by ‘heggur’. Particular kernels of the prunus fruits are called almonds (= heggfræ) |
| almond bisquit | heggfrækaka |
| almond milk (MÖNDLUmjólk) | heggfræmjólk |
| almond oil (MÖNDLUOLÍA) | heggfræeldvi |
| almond tree (MÖNDLUtré) | hnotaheggur |
| almond-eyed (með MÖNDLUlaga augu) | með heggfrælaga augu |
| alms (ÖLMUSA) | náðargjöf |
| alpha particle | fernd, ferndareind (Four nucleon-particle. The first ‘quartet’ formed in the universe was the helium-4 nucleus (The triple alpha process of three He-4 nuclei produced the building blocks of life, long before life and some time longer before mankind could conceive of the idea of ‘quartet’. The alpha particle is the most important quartet in the universe.) |
| alpha radiation | ferndageislun |
| alphabet (STAFRÓF) | stafaröð |
| alphabetical (STAFRÓFS-) | stafaraðar- |
| alphabetical order, in (í STAFRÓFSröð) | stafaraðarvís |
| alphorn (ALPAHORN) | 1) næfurlúður (The similar Scandinavian instrument. Alphorns are overwound with birch bark (= næfur)
2) langahorn (the longest horn is an alphorn)
3) hljóðlendahorn (the instrument of the yodelers) |
| alpine | hvítufjalla- |
| alpine orogeny (ALPAfelling) | hvítufjallafelling |
| Alps (ALPAR, MUNDÍAfjöll) | hljóðlendafjöll (named after the yodelers) |
| altar (ALTARI) | helgaborð, brauðstallur, fórnarborð |
| altarpiece | helgaborðsmynd, guðsstallsmynd |
| alumina (súrÁL) | leirjörð (After Old Swedish chemical term ‘lerjord’) |
| aluminium (ÁL) | leirmálmur, leiri |
| aluminium (ÁL) | leirstál (the steel in clay), leiri. The Polish word 'glin' is derived from 'glina' (clay). |
| aluminium foil (ÁLPAPPÍR) | blaðleirmálmur |
| aluminium foil (ÁLPAPPÍR) | blaðleirstál |
| aluminium silicat (ÁLSILIKAT) | leirsöndungur (Polish: ‘glinokrzemian’, glina (clay), (glin) aluminium, silicat (krzemian) |
| aluminous | leirjarðar- |
| Alvilda (Icel. fem. pers. name) | Álfhildur (The uncorrupted form) |
| Alzheimer’s disease | mjölvungsheili, mjölvungsvitglöp (Amyloid brain, Amyloid dementia) |
| amalgam | tannmelmi (tooth-alloy) |
| Amazon (AMASÓNfljót) | Heimsósæð (The aorta of the world) |
| Amazon rain forest | 1) Þúsundáaskógurinn (forest of the thousand rivers)
2) Stóri Regnskógurinn (Heimsósæðin rennur í Stóra Regnskóginum) |
| ambassador (AMBASSADOR, sendiHERRA) | sendidrottinn |
| ambassadorial (AMBASSADORS, sendiHERRA-) | sendidrottins- |
| Amber (proper name) | Rafdís |
| ambergris (AMBRA, hvalsauki) | 1) búravax (Waxy substance secreted by the sperm whale and found floating at sea or washed ashore.)
2) hvalsauki |
| ambulance (sjúkraBÍLL, sjúkrabifreið) | sjúkrabifreið |
| amen | svo sé (segja SVO SÉ við e-u/öllu, setja SVO SÉ eftir efninu). The High Icelandic expression is based on the French translation ‘ainsi soit-il’.) |
| America (AMERÍKA, Vesturheimur, Vesturálfa) | 1) Leifsálfa (The discoverer of the continent was Leif Eiríksson. America could better be called after him than after an Italian, who was 500 years later.)
2) Heimríksland (Amerigo Vespucci was the Italian explorer who gave the continent of America its name (from Americus, the Latin form of HEIMERICH (HINRIK). In order to create a sound-similarity, the original German form ‘Heimerich’ is icelandicized (Heimríkur)
3) Vesturheimur, Vesturálfa (North america = Vestriheimur) |
| American (AMERÍKU-, vesturheims-, vesturálfu) | 1) Leifsálfu-
2) heimríklenskur
3) Vesturheims- |
| American (AMERÍKUmaður, vesturheimsbúi) | 1) heimríklendingur
2) Vesturálfubúi |
| American football | vestræn knattglíma |
| American indian (INDÍÁNI, rauðskinni) | 1) vestkynningur
2) rauðskinni (Noth america)
3) vínlendingar |
| americium | vesturheimsefni |
| amethyst | veigatáragler (Bacchus (Dionysus), the god of wine, was angry because of some slight against him and swore revenge. He announced that the first mortal to come across his path would be eaten by tigers. Just at that moment along came the lovely unsuspecting maiden Amethyst, on her way to worship at the shrine of the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Bacchus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.) |
| amino acid | 1) holdsýra
2) stækjusýra (stækja is the Old word for ammonia, see 4) |
| ammeter (AMPERmælir, strammælir) | straummælir |
| ammoniac | 1) stækja (the old word, see 4)
2)náloft (ammonia is produced when a body decomposes.) |
| Amon, Amon-Ra | hrútröðull (The ram-sun) |
| Amor | Ástbogi |
| ampere (AMPER) | straumstig |
| ampere hour (AMPERstund) | straumstigsstund |
| ampersand | og-teikn, og-lykkja |
| amphibole | hlekkjasöndungur (Pure variant of ‘keðjusiliköt’) |
| amphora (AMFÓRA) | eyrnaker (The Dutch etymological dictionary mentions ‘kruik met twee oren’ (ker með tveimur eyrum). The Greek Amphi = on both sides + pharein (to carry) |
| ampule (AMPÚLA, lykja) | lykja |
| amygdala (medicine: MÖNDLUNGUR) | heilaheggfræ |
| amygdaloid (geology: MÖNDLUberg) | heggfrægrýti |
| amygdaloid (MÖNDLUlaga) | heggfrælaga |
| Anabaptism (ANABAPTISMI) | endurskírnartrú |
| Anabaptists (ANABAPTISTAR, endurskírendur) | endurskírendur |
| anaconda (vatnabóa) | 1) miðbaugsormur
2) kyrkirisi
3) árjörmungandur (the largest strangling snake) |
| anaphase (ANAFASI, aðskilnaðarstig) | aðskilnaðastig |
| anchor | kraki (is used for ‘anchor’ in High Icelandic.) |
| anchovy (ANSJÓSA, KRYDDsíld) | kjaftsíld (Most anchovies, in general, are recognized by their prominent snout and long under-slung lower jaw, which extends far behind the eye, making a large mouth. Much like the Baleen Whale, the mouth is simply left open as they filter feed by swimming through the water.) |
| Andes (ANDESfjöll) | Eirfjöll (The name Andes is believed to have come from the Quechuan ‘anta’ (copper). The Andes are indeed an abundant source of copper. Chile (a country on the southwestern side of the Andes) is known to be the world's largest exporter and producer of copper.) |
| Andromeda (constellation) | Fjötrameyjan (Some astrologist archetypically describe Andromeda as ‘the chained maiden’) |
| Andromeda nebula | 1) Systurvetrarbrautin (The second nearest ‘milky-way-like’-galaxy)
2) Þokan í Fjötrameyju |
| angel (ENGILL) | 1)vængálfur (winged elf)
2) guðsvættur (guð + vættur 'supernatural being')
3) himinsveinn (heaven's servant) |
| angelus (MARÍUbæn, KLUKKNAhringing til bænar) | Guðmeyjarbæn, dymblun til bænar |
| angle iron (VINKILjárn, kverkjárn) | kverkjárn |
| anglican (BISKUPAKIRKJUMAÐUR) | bretatrúarmaður |
| anglican church (BISKUPAKIRKJA) | bretatrú |
| Angora goat (ANGÓRUgeit) | silfurgeit |
| Angora wool (ANGÓRUULL) | silfurull (like wool, is composed chiefly of the protein substance keratin. The fibre structure is similar to that of wool, although the outer layer has about half the number of scales found in fine wools. Because the scales lie almost flat, with little overlapping, the fibre surface is fairly smooth. This explains the characteristic silky appearance of mohair.( see mohair)
In Icelandic ‘mórugeit’ is possible. See 1. |
| anguish (ANGIST) | öngusta (The correct adaptation) |
| anhydrite | þurrt veggsalt (veggsalt = gypsum) |
| aniline | blámakvoða (Dutch: ‘blauwolie’, from synonym ‘cyanol’) |
| animated cartoon (TEIKNImynd) | dráttmynd |
| anise (ANÍSJURT) | sætselja (This herb species belongs to the the parsley family, like dill (sólselja). The Portuguese name erva doce "sweet herb" is used for both the fresh herb and the dried seeds. Note that the English term ‘sweet cumin’ is used for both fennel and anise.) |
| aniseed (ANÍSfræ) | 1) sætseljufræ
2) hnerrafræ (Dutch: ‘nieszaad’ (sneezing seed) |
| anisette | sætseljuveigar |
| ankh (ANKH-TÁKN) | lykkjuróða |
| annalist (ANNÁLAhöfundur/ sagnaritari) | árbókahöfundur/ sagnahöfundur |
| annals (ANNÁLAR, árbækur) | árbækur |
| Anno Domini (á því HERRANS ári, eftir KRIST) | á því drottinsins ári, eftir Smurðann |
| annotation (TEXTAskýring/ athugasemd, GLÓSA) | lesmálsskýring/ athugasemd |
| Annunciation day (boðunardagur MARÍU) | boðunardagur Guðmeyjar |
| anode (forskaut, PLÚSskaut) | forskaut |
| anorak (ANORAKKUR, hettuúlpa) | hettuúlpa |
| Antarctic (suðurheimskauts-) | Ísálfu- |
| Antarctic ocean (Suðuríshaf) | Suðurdumbshaf, ísálfuhaf |
| Antarctica (suðurheimskautsland) | Ísálfa |
| Antares | 1) Andhergoð (The opposant of the warrior-god Ares)
2) Skarphalastjarna (the scorpion-star, the brightest star in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius) |
| antelope (ANTILÓPA) | 1) fagurbukkur (beautiful goat)
2) sprettbukkur (sprinting-goat) |
| anteroom (forHERBERGI/ biðstofa) | forstofa/ biðstofa |
| anthem (KIRKJUsöngur/ lofsöngur) | guðshússöngur/ lofsöngur |
| antiaircraft gun (loftvarnaBYSSA) | loftvarnalaufi |
| antichrist (FALSKRISTUR, andKRISTUR) | 1) svikdrottinn
2) dróttinsfjandi (ennemy of the messiah) |
| Antilles | Vængfreðseyjar (The islands of columbus, Vængfreður)
1) Lesser Antilles: Litlu Vængfreðseyjar
2) Greater Antilles: Stóra Vængfreðseyjar |
| antimony (ANTIMÓN) | 1) hvarmtin (The first use of the chief mineral stibnite was in the form of a black eye-dye. The element is situated next to tin on the periodic table).
2) stafmálmungur (the only metalliod in type-metal, an alloy of lead, tin and antimony) |
| Antocyanin (ANTÓSÝANÍN, blómablámi) | blómablámi (see 8) |
| Anubis | Smyrjólfur (The god was depicted as a jackal (gullúlfur). He was the god of mummification.) |
| Apennines | Leggskóshryggur, Leggskósfjöll (the spine of the boot peninsula) |
| Apocrypha (APOKRÝFAR bækur, huldurit) | huldurit (see 8) |
| Apollo | Seifbaldur (Son of Zeus, equivalent of the Nordic Baldur) |
| Apollo project | Seifbaldursáætlun (e.g. Apollo-13 = Seifbaldur 13) |
| Apollo project | Birtugoðsáætlun |
| apostle | 1) frumboði (original messenger)
2) toglöðungur (toglöð = a group of 12 persons. The Dutch dictionary Van Dale mentiones the additional meaning: “name for things that appear in numbers of twelve”) compounds with ‘apostle’: ‘toglöðungs-‘
The twelve apostles: frumtoglöð |
| Apostolic letter (POSTULABRÉF) | frumboðatilrit |
| Appolinaris mineral water | Birtugoðsvatn |
| apricot (APRÍKÓSA, eiraldin) | eiraldin |
| april (APRÍL) | ástmánuður (month was sacred to Venus) |
| april fool | ástmánaðarfífl |
| april fool’s day | glópadagur, nautanýár, nautshausanýár |
| apron (SVUNTA, sveipa) | sveipa |
| apron-string (SVUNTUstrengur) | sveipustrengur |
| apse (KÓRSKANS) | sönghúsbogi |
| aquamarine (AKVAMARÍN) | sæblámasteinn (sea-blue stone) |
| aquatic plant (vatnaPLANTA) | vatnaurt |
| aquavit | (norrænt) fjörvatn (Scandinavian water of life) |
| Arab (ARABI; ARABÍSKUR) | 1) Verpillendingur; verpillenskur
2) Stórskagabúi; stórskaga- |
| arabesque (ARABESKA, sveigaflúr) | sveigaskraut |
| Arabia (Saudi, SAÚDÍ-ARABÍA) | Verpilsland ("Land of the cube" (Kaaba means "cube" in Arabic) |
| Arabian peninsula | Stórskagi (The world’s largest peninsula) |
| arable land (PLÓGland) | arðurland |
| aragonite | nökkvagrýti (The mineral occurs naturally in Chiton shells) |
| arch ducal (ERKIHERTOGA-) | yfirkventyggi- |
| arch duchess (ERKIHERTOGAynja) | yfirkventyggi |
| arch duchy (ERKIHERTOGAdæmi) | yfirtyggjadæmi |
| arch duke (ERKIHERTOGI) | yfirtyggi |
| archangel (ERKIENGILL) | yfirvængálfur, yfirguðsvættur (Archangel Gabriel: Guðþrúðar boðvængálfur) |
| archbishop (ERKIBISKUP) | yfirstólfaðir, landshirðir |
| archbishop of Canterbury | bretafaðir, kantaraborgarhirðir |
| archdeacon (ERKIDJÁKN) | undirstólfaðir (An ecclesiastical dignitary usually ranking just below a bishop.) |
| architecture (ARKITEKTÚR, byggingarlist) | byggingarlist |
| architekt (ARKITEKT, húsaMEISTARI) | húsaskáld |
| Arctic (norðurskauts-) | 1) jarðhvirfils- (nyrsta = north pole)
2) dumbsheims- (dumbsheims- (Old name for the Arctic sea was ‘dumbhaf’)
norðurskauts, norðurhjara |
| arctic ocean (Norðuríshafið) | Dumbshafið (The old name) |
| Arctic zone | hvirfilssvæðið |
| Ardennes | Örðungar (a place name derived from a Celtic word meaning ‘high’. The Icelandic örðugur is related to the Celtic word. The word is adapted with örð + ungur.) |
| Argentinian (ARGENTÍNSKUR) | silfurlenskur |
| Argentinian (ARGENTÍNUmaður) | silfurlendingur |
| argon (ARGON) | 1) letiloft (lazy gas, from Greek a- (negative prefix) nad ergo (work), meaning ‘not active’)
2) andeirsbarn (Child of potassium. 99.% of the argon in the earth’s atmosphere is the isotope Ar-40, which is a product of radioactive K-40. Potassium, rubidium and cesium are the unnoble opposants in group 1A of the noble metals copper, silver and gold in group 1B, so we named the three alkali metals andeir (K), andsilfur (Rb) and andgull (Cs) |
| Argonauts (ARGÓARfarar) | Reyfishetjur (The heroes of the golden fleece, sometimes only referred to as ‘the fleece’) |
| Arian (ARÍSKUR/ ARÍI) | háverskur/ háverji (From Indo-Iranian ‘arya’ (noble) |
| arithmetic operation (REIKNINGSaðgerð) | röknunaraðgerð |
| arithmetical (REIKNINGS-) | röknunar- (from the verb ‘rakna’ in an additional meaning. The verb ‘rakna’ is related to German ‘rechnen’.) |
| arithmetician (REIKNINGSmaður) | röknunarmaður |
| ark (of Noah) | nýáaskip (the ship of the new forefather) |
| ark of the covenant (sáttmálsÖRK) | sáttmálshirsla |
| armadillo (BELTISDÝR) | bryngöltur (The English name originates from Spanish ‘armadillo’, which is a diminutive of ‘armado’ (armed man). In some other languages the animal is named after its armour rather than after its bands: Serbo-Croatian ‘oklopnik’ (cuirassier), Polish ‘pancernik’. The different species of the armadillo are designated by a numeral and the suffix ‘-gjörðungur’: e.g. nine-banded armadillo: nígjörðungur.) |
| armagnac | lóvoðareldur (Armagnac is known as ‘the velvet flame’) |
| Armenia (ARMENÍA, ermland) | Ermland (see ‘3’) |
| Armenian (ARMENSKUR, ARMENI) | Ermskur, Ermverji (See 3) |
| Armenian Apostolic Church (ARMENSKUR þjóðkirkjan) | Ermlandstrú |
| arsenic (ARSENIK) | eiturmálmungur, vámálmungur (the metalloid of poisons) |
| art school (listaSKÓLI) | listanámshús |
| Artemis | Bogdís (the archer-godess is her prime epithet) |
| arteriosclerosis (æðaKÖLKUN, æðahersli, æðasigg) | æðahersli, æðasigg |
| Artesia (ARTESÍA) | Bullaugnaland |
| Artesian well (ARTESÍSK lind, bullauga) | bullauga |
| asbestos (ASBEST) | berghör (from Dutch: ‘steenvlas’ (stone-flax) |
| asbestosis (ASBESTlunga) | berghörlunga |
| ascidium (botanical term. FLASKA, KANNA) | mæna (the real icelandic word for 'bottle') |
| Asclepius (Æskulápur) | Eyljúfur (name means 'unceasingly gentle'); læknaguð (god of medicine) |
| ascomycete (SEKKsveppur, ASKsvepppur) | pokasveppur |
| ascomycetous (SEKKsvepps-, SEKKsveppa-) | pokasvepps-, pokasveppa- |
| ascorbic acid (ASKORBÍNsýra) | 1) hneppulyf ("hneppa" is a synonym of 'skýrbjúgur' (see Íslensk Orðabók). This word is the shortest possible construction to designate this substance.)
2) skýrbjúgsfjörvi (The ‘scurvy-vitamin’, see ‘scurvy’)
3) aldinfjörvi (The ‘fruit-vitamine’)
4) sigðstafsfjörvi (C = sigðstafur = crescent-letter) |
| ascot (broad neck scarf) | Austkotungur (from High Icelandic 'Austurkot'. the place-name Ascot means 'Eastern cottage(s) |
| Ashkenazim | Rínargyðingar (Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities of the Rhineland.) |
| Ashur (god of the Assyrians and name of the capital of Assyria): | guð Grimmseminga; Grimmsemingaborg (semingur = Descendants of 'Sem') |
| Asia | Austurheimur |
| Asia Minor | 1) Lítla Austurheimur
2) Þröskuldskagi, Austurheimsþröskuldur (Because of its location at the point where the continents of Asia and Europe meet, Anatolia was, from the beginnings of civilization, a crossroads for numerous peoples migrating or conquering from either continent.) |
| Asian | Austurlendingur |
| Asian beauty | guldís, austurdís, skáeyg fegurð, morgunstjarna |
| Asian flu (ASÍUINFLÚENSA) | austræna bölkvef |
| asinine (ASNAlegur, ASNA-) | eyrjálkslegur, eyrjálks- |
| asparaginase (ASPARAGÍNkljúfur) | kljúfur sprotalauksholdsýra |
| asparagine (ASPARAGÍN) | sprotalauksholdssýra (A non-essential amino-acid named after the asparagus. Instead of ‘amino-acid’, High Fronian uses ‘hvítusýra’ (protein acid). |
| asparagus (ASPARS, SPERGILL) | sprotalaukur (Etymology (As*par"a*gus) n. [L., fr. Gr. cf. to swell with sap or juice, and Zend-Avestan ‘paregha’ (prong, sprout), Persian ‘asparag’, Lith. ‘spurgas’ (sprout), Sanskrit. ‘sphurj’ (to swell). Perhaps the Greek borrowed from the Persian. The Old English ‘spræc’ (branch of a tree), the Middle German ‘sproc’ and the Icelandic ‘sprek’ are related to ‘asparagus’.). The plant is related to the leek (blaðlaukur) and belongs to the lily family like garlic and onions.) |
| aspartame (ASPARTAM) | sæthvítla (‘sætur’ (sweet) and ‘hvítla’ (short-protein = peptide), see ‘peptide’. Other peptide sweeteners are tested, but the only well-known one is aspartame.) |
| aspartic acid (ASPARsýra) | sprotalaukssýra (the term ‘asparsýra’, mentioned in the ‘5’ could be misinterpreted as ‘acid from a poplar or aspen’) |
| aspidistra (MARÍUlauf) | meyjarlauf |
| aspirin (ASPIRÍN) | 1) andverkjarsýra (The first anti-pain acid, and still the most important one)
2) víðislyfið (the willow-medicine - always with the definite article to exclude connotations with other medicines derived from the willow) |
| ass (ASNI) | eyrjálkur (ey'- (ear) + jálkur (bad horse) |
| assorted chocolats (KONFEKT) | sælgripur, mógætisbitar (mógæti = chocolate) |
| Assyria (ASSÝRÍA) | Grimmsemingaland (land of the cruel Semites) |
| Assyrian (ASSÝRÍSKUR; ASSÝRÍUmaður) | Grimmseminga- (of the cruel semites); Grimmsemingur (cruel semite) |
| Astarte, Astaroth (godess of the phoenicians) | 1) Sættardís (Godess of Sidon (sætt). King Solomon, married to foreign wives, "went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians" (I Kings 11:5)
2) Ástríða (a merely sound-similar name) |
| Astoreth (Astarte) | Ástríður (Semitic godess. The equivalent of Greek Aphrodite) |
| astragal (PERLUbekkur) | sækúlubekkur |
| Atlantic Ocean (ATLANTShaf) | Frónhaf |
| Atlantis (ATLANTIS) | Frónhafsland |
| Atlas | Burðarjötunn, Himinberi |
| atlas (ATLAS, landabréfabók) | landabók (A 17th century Icelandic word.) |
| Atlas mountains | 1) Burðarjötunsfjöll (the mountains were named after Atlas)
2) Móversku fjöllin (The mountains of the Moors) |
| atom (ATÓM, frumeind) | 1) afn (reverse-i-shift of ‘efni’, is sound-similar to the word ‘atom’ when pronounced in english, is short and sounds like a particle name)
2) ögnungur (diminutive of ‘ögn’) |
| atomic age (ATÓMöld) | kjarnaöld, afnaöld |
| atomic bomb (ATÓMsprengja, kjarnorkusprengja) | afnasprengja, kjarnorkusprengja |
| atomic clock (ATÓMKLUKKA) | afnastundsjá |
| atomic force microscope (kraftsjá, ATÓMkraftsjá) | kraftsjá |
| atomic mass (ATÓMMASSI, frumeindarMASSI) | frumeindarmagn, afnsmagn |
| atomic mass unit (ATÓMMASSAeining) | frumeindarmagnseining |
| atomic nucleus (ATÓMkjarni, frumeindarkjarni) | afnskjarni |
| atomic physics (ATÓMfræði) | afnafræði, ögnungsfræði |
| atomic theory (ATÓMkenning) | afnskenning |
| atropine | 1) sjáaldurslyf (From ‘sjáaldursurt’ (pupil-drug). Its chief use is in ophthalmology, in which it is applied locally to the eye to dilate the pupil in the examination of the retina or to break up or prevent adhesions between the lens and the iris. Ancient Egyptian women used plant material containing atropine for its cosmetic effects.)
2) völvuauga (The name of the plant can be used metaphoriacly for the substance
3) völvuaugabeiskja (The alkaloid (beiskjuefni) in the ‘atropus belladonna’ (völvuauga or sjáaldursurt) |
| attic (rishæð/ þakHERBERGI) | rishæð/ þakstofa |
| augur (spáPRESTUR) | spágoði |
| august (ÁGÚST) | Alvaldsmánuður (Augustus' month, emperor’s month; The word 'imperialist' is heimsvaldasinni', so 'alvaldur' is the right Icelandic word for 'emperor'. Alvaldur could also serve as a translation of the proper name for 'Augustus. Augustus means "great" or "venerable" in Latin and in the Icelandic etymological dictionary the Latin adjective is translated as "ágætur", which would make a phoneticly very similar name, but Augustus is related to ON verb 'auka', not to ágætur. For that reason I find that an alternative translation like "Alvaldur" is better. It both means 'emperor' and 'Augustus', it couldn't turn out better.) |
| aurochs (ÚRUXI) | frumnaut (Faroese: ‘frumneyt’) |
| Aussie (ÁSTRALÍUbúi) | Eyálfubúi (eyálfa = island-continent), smáálfubúi (smáálfa = small continent), Hinumeginlendingur (hinumegin = down under, meginland = continent) |
| Australasia (AUSTRALASÍU) | Suður-Sæálfa (South Oceania, Oceania has traditionally been divided into four parts. Austalasia is the southern part. See Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia) |
| Australia | 1) Eyálfa (The island-continent. Eyjaálfa = a continent of islands = Oceania)
2) Smáálfa (The smallest continent. The name ‘Eyjaálfa’ designates a continent of islands and can by no means designate Australia. The ‘2’ mentions ‘eyjaálfa’ for Oceania (Sæálfa). Australia is the smallest continent in the world. This word is by no means degrading nor structurally impossible. It is a mere fact.)
3) Hinumeginland (The continent down under) |
| Australian (ÁSTRALÍUbúi, ástralskur) | Eyálfubúi, eyálfu- |
| Austronesian (languages) | Eyjaheimsmál |
| automatic formatting (sjálfvirk TEXTAuppsetning) | sjálfvirk sniðmótun (orðabanki) |
| automobile (BÍLL, bifreið) | bifreið, vagn, akvél, akald |
| Avalon | Eplaey (According to one theory the word is an anglicisation of the Celtic "Annwyn", the realm of fairies, or netherworld, but this would be a major corruption. Geoffrey of Monmouth interpreted the name as the "isle of apples". This is more probable, since apple is still Aval in Breton and Cornish, and Afal in Welsh which pronounces the single f more as a v.) |
| avens (BISKUPShattur, fjalldalafífill) | stólshattur, fjalldalafífill |
| Avesta (Holy writs in zoroastrianism) | Lofritningin |
| avocado (LÁRPERA) | smjörpera, smjöraldin |
| avoirdupois (engilsaxneskt vogarkerfi, PUNDSkerfi) | 1) tvímarkakerfi (tvímörk = pund)
2)engilsaxneskt vogarkerfi (anglo-saxon system of weights) |
| axolotl (tálknaMANDRA, MEXÍKÓMANDRA) | tálknasýndareðla, hlautlenskur eðlufroskur |
| Azerbaijan (ASERBAÍDSJAN) | Gosaurland (Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea are home to nearly four hundred mud volcanoes - more than half the total throughout the world.. It is thé land of mud volcanos.) |
| azeri (ASERI, ASERBAÍDSJANSKUR) | gosaurlendingur, gosaurlenskur |
| aztec (ASTEKI, ASTEKÍSKA, ASTEKÍSKUR) | hlautverji, hlautverska (Nahuatl), hlautverskur. The Aztecs were the unrivaled champions in spilling sacrificial blood. The city of Teotihuacan is called ‘Hlautgarður’) |
| B-52 stratofortress | heiðhvolfsvirki (Stratofortress means “a plane (fortress) that can fly in the stratosphere) |
| Baalbek | Sólgarður (After the Greek name ‘Heliopolis’) |
| babe (SKVÍSA) | snót (An old skaldic word meaning ‘woman’ that sounds like the adjective ‘snotur’ (pretty) |
| Babel, tower of (BABELSTURNINN) | Drambstöpullinn (The word occurs in the old literature: ‘smíða einn stöpul’, which referred to the Tower of Babel (Cleasby, Vígfússon and Craigie, Icelandic dictionary) |
| baby-minder (dagMAMMA, barnfóstra) | dagmóna, barnfóstra |
| baby-sitter (barnaPÍA, barnafóstra) | 1) barnapíka (The danicism 'pía' is replaced by its true Icelandic equivalent 'píka')
2) barnafóstra |
| babyboomer | barnabylgjumaður |
| Babylon | Svifgarðar (hanging gardens)
Hórsalir (hóra = whore, refering to the term ‘whore of Babylon’. The word rhymes on ‘Jórsalir’, the Old Icelandic name of Jerusalem.) |
| Babylon, the whore of (BABÝLONSHÓRA) | svifgarðaskækjan |
| bacchalaureate (B.A. GRÁÐA) | fyrsta hánámsstig |
| bacchante | svalldís |
| bachelor (PIPARkarl, PIPARsveinn, sveinkarl) | sveinkarl |
| bachelor’s degree (fyrsta háSKÓLAGRÁÐA) | fyrsta hánámsstig |
| backgammon (KOTRA) | fjórborð (The board comprises four sections, or tables)/ leika fjórborð (play backgammon) |
| background radiation | ginnungagjálfur (the din of the cosmic sea) |
| bacteria (BAKTERÍA, GERILL) | gerill, verungur (= diminutive of ‘vera’ (being, species). The word ‘ger’ and the derivations ‘gerjast’ and ‘gerjun’ are danicisms. |
| bad (SLÆMUR, vondur, illur) | vondur, illur |
| badger (GREIFINGI) | grafgöltur (Badgers are the best diggers of all carnivores. The etymological root of ‘greifingi’ is the Middle German ‘grevink’. The animal was named after its digging capacities.) |
| Bagdad | Baldgarður (After the medieval name Baldac (corruption of the name Bagdad), which was used in Europe. Compare Icelandic baldikin, baldskin, baldursskinn). The most logical Old Norse adaptation of the name Bagdad would have been Bald- and -garður (somewhat retaining the last ‘k’ in Baldak or 'g' in Bagdad and used for great cities like Mikligarður). |
| bagel (kind of circular bread) | baugull (The name "bagel" is derived from "bejgel" and means 'curved'. It is related to Icelandic 'bogi' and 'baugur'.) |
| bagpipes (SEKKJAPÍPUR) | blístrubelgur |
| Bahrein | Tvísjóaeyjar (Bahrain is an Arabic word meaning "Two Seas", and is thought to either refer to the fact that the islands contain two sources of water, sweet water springs and salty water in the surrounding seas, or to the south and north waters of the gulf, separating it from the Arabian coast and Iran, respectively.) |
| Baikal, Lake | Hyldýpisvatn (Lake baikal is the deepest continental body of water on Earth, having a maximum depth of 5,314 feet (1,620 m). |
| bakelite | tjörusúrt gerviefni (Also known as ‘phenolic’ or phenoplast. Phenol translates in Dutch as ‘teerzuur’ (tjörusýra). |
| baker (bakARI, brauðgerðarmaður) | bökuður (no –ari’s!) |
| bakery (BAKARÍ, brauðgerðarhús) | hleifrann |
| baker’s dozen (bakARADÚSÍN, bakARAtylft (=13) | bakaðartylft |
| balalaika | 1) bjórstrengjungur ('bjór' in the meaning of 'triangle')
2) (gerskur) þríhyrningur |
| balance (REIKNINGSjöfnuður) | röknunarjöfnuður |
| ball (BOLTI, knöttur, kúla) | knöttur, soppur, kúla |
| ball (DANSleikur, BALL) | sporunargleði |
| ball (in names of sports: -BOLTI) | -knattleikur |
| ball point (kúluPENNI) | knattblekungur |
| ballerina (BALLETTDANSmær) | listsporamær |
| ballot box (kjörKASSI) | kjörbaukur |
| Baltic (BALTNESKUR, BALTI) | raflenskur, Raflendingur |
| Baltic states | Raflönd (The Baltic states have the largest deposits of amber in the world. For that reason the region has always been referred to as ‘the land of amber’.) |
| baluster (PÍLÁRI, rimill) | rimill |
| bamboo | baðmreyr (tree-reed, from Latin ‘dendrocalamus’ (dendro = tree, calamus = reed) |
| Bamboo Curtain, the | Baðmreyrtjaldið |
| banana (BANANI, bjugaldin) | 1) bjugaldin
2) jölsi (composed of 'jölr', an old word for 'yellow' occuring in the names Jölfuður and Jölstur, Jalangursheiður and related to the Old German elo (yellow) + völsi , originally meaning 'horse phallus', refering to the banana as a well-known phallic symbol. |
| bananas split (BANANASPLIT) | bjúgaldinsklofningur |
| Band-Aid (PLÁSTUR) | sárlengja |
| Bangladesh | Óseyriland (Land with the largest delta) |
| banjo | bókfellsspónn (the vellum is characteristic of a banjo) |
| bank (BANKI) | sjóður |
| bank account (BANKAreikninur) | sjóðsröknun |
| bank book (BANKAbók) | sjóðsbók |
| bank note (PENINGASEÐILL, BANKASEÐILL) | fémiði, sjóðsbleðill |
| bank president (BANKAstjóri) | sjóðsstjóri |
| bank robber (BANKAræningi) | sjóðsræningi |
| bank roll (SEÐLABÚNT) | sjóðsvöndull |
| bank, break the (sprengja BANKANN) | sprengja sjóðinn |
| banker (BANKAstjóri) | sjóðstjóri |
| banker’s card (BANKAKORT) | sjóðsspjald |
| banker’s indemnity (BANKAtrygging, BANKAábyrgð) | sjóðstrygging, sjóðsábyrgð |
| banking (BANKArekstur, BANKAstarfssemi) | sjóðsrekstur, sjóðsstarfssemi |
| bantam (BANTAMhænsni) | dverghænsni (German: ‘Zwerghuhn’, French: ‘poule naine’) |
| bantu | miðbaugssvertingi (a member of any of a group of African peoples who speak Bantu languages, a family of Niger-Congo languages spoken in central and southern Africa.) |
| baptism (BAPTISMI) | réttskírnartrú (A member of a group of Protestant Christians who share the basic beliefs of most Protestants but who hold as an article of faith that only believers should be baptized and that it must be done by immersion.) |
| baptist (BAPTISTI) | réttskírður |
| baptist’s church (BAPTISTAKIRKJA) | réttskírnarsóknin (The word ‘church’ in the sense of ‘a body or organization of religious believers’ is ‘sókn’ in Háfrónska.) |
| bar graph (súlurit, GRAF) | súlurit |
| bar tender (BARþjónn) | see ‘barman’ |
| barbarian (BARBARI, skrælingi) | valmenni, skrælingi |
| barbeque | glæðugleði (Thanks Sigurður Hreiðar) |
| Barbie doll | Erlenda (“foreign” from Greek ‘barbaros’) |
| bard (Irish poet) | bragsveinn |
| bariton þungrödd (voice), | þungómur (Greek ‘barutonos’ (heavy of sound). |
| bariton singer (BARÍTÓNsöngvari) | þungrödd |
| barmaid (BARþerna) | hellideigja |
| barman (BARþjónn) | hellisveinn |
| barn dance (hlöðuBALL) | hlöðusporun |
| baron/ baroness (BARÓN, BARÓNSFRÚ) | 1) höldur/ kvenhöldur (An old word designating a land owner)
2) gæðingur (Among the Norsemen in Orkney and Shetland, a gæðingur was used synonymously with 'lendir menn' in Norway. The name is equivalent with 'landlords, barons, nobles, chiefs, See Cleasby, vígfússon and Craigie, An Icelandic -English dictionary)
3) lendur maður |
| baronet (BARONETT) | 1) lághöldur (Faroese: ‘lágbarónur’)
2) undirgæðingur |
| baronetcy (BARONETT) | 1) lághöldstign
2) undirgæðingstign |
| barony (BARÓNStign) | höldstign, gæðingstign |
| baroque (BAROKKSTÍLL) | hlaðlist(erni), hlaðstefna |
| baroque (í BAROKKSTÍL/ ofskreyttur) | hlaðlistar-/ ofskreyttur |
| barracks (hermannaskáli, BRAGGI) | herskáli |
| barracuda | spjótgedda (Latin: ‘sphyraena sphyraena’/ German ‘Pfeilhecht’) |
| barracuda | tundurskeyti (Latin: ‘sphyraena barracuda’. The great barracuda is mostly described as a torpedo-shaped fish.) |
| barrel organ (LÍRUKASSI) | hljómkvörn (Also called ‘grind organ’) |
| barter away (láta fyrir lítið/SLIKK) | láta fyrir lítið |
| Bas mitzvah | (guðversk) fullorðinsvígsla (In High Icelandic: guðverskur (in order to distinguish it from 'gýðinga-' Jewish), guðverska (Hebrew), Guðverji (Israeli, gyðingur = Jew) |
| basalt (BASALT) | frónberg (= Iceland rock. Iceland consists of basalt for the most part) |
| base | andsýra, beiskja (Any of various typically water-soluble and bitter (beiskjuefni) tasting compounds that in solution have a pH greater than 7) |
| baseball (hornaBOLTI, hafnaBOLTI) | hornaknattleikur, hafnaknattleikur |
| baseboard (gólfLISTI) | gólfborði, dregill (see ‘3’) |
| basement (íbúðarKJALLARI) | undirhæð (From French ‘souterrain’) |
| basil (spice) | 1) hjartalauf (The spice is made of the leaves. These are heart-shaped and a symbol of love in Italy.)
2) kóngalauf (Dutch: koningskruid (konungskrydd) |
| basilica (BASILÍKA, höfuðKIRKJA) | höfuðhjarðrann, höfuðguðshús |
| basilisk (BASILÍKA) | kringjukemba (crowned iguana, any of four species of lizards belonging to the Iguanidae (KEMBUR). The name is applied because of a resemblance to the legendary monster called basilisk. The name is derived of Greek ‘basileus’, which means ‘KING’.) |
| basket (tágaKARFA, tágameis, tægja) | vandlaupur, tágameis, tægja |
| Basket Makers | laupamenningin, laupgerðarmenningin (Nick-name of the Anasazi culture, characterized by the use of wicker basketry, dry farming, and coiled pottery.) |
| basket weave | tágavefnaður |
| basketball (KÖRFUBOLTI) | laupaleikur (In many language the word 'ball' is omitted, so 'laupaleikur' suffices.) |
| basketry (KÖRFUgerð/ tágavörur) | laupagerð/ tágavörur |
| basophil (LÚTsækinn, LÚTfólginn) | beiskjusækinn, beiskjusólgin (not 'lútsækinn', 'lútur' is a danicism) |
| bass (bassi) | djúprödd ((singer), djúpómur (instruments) |
| bass horn (TÚBA) | faðmlúður |
| bassett horn (BASSETThorn) | hlykkhorn (Dutch ‘kromhoorn’(= skáhorn) |
| bassoon (lágPÍPA) | lághorn (Icelandic ‘lágpípa’) |
| bassoonist (FAGOTTleikari) | lághornsleikandi |
| bastard (BASTARÐUR, lausaleiksbarn) | lausaleiksbarn (never ‘bastarður’ in Háfrónska) |
| bat (leðurblaka) | 1) leðurblaka
2) spenugla (The little mammalian nocturnal flyer) The idea originates from the English name for 'night butterflies: 'owlets'. Bats are the only really flying mammals.) |
| bath mat (baðMOTTA) | baðábreiða |
| bath room (baðHERBERGI) | baðstofa (never ‘herbergi’) |
| batik (BATÍK/ BATÍKMYNSTUR) | baðskreyta/ skreytibaðsvígindi (Batik is a wax-resistant dyeing technique used on fabric. Melted wax is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. Wherever the wax has seeped through the fabric, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colors are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.) |
| Batman | Verblaka |
| baton (TÓNsproti) | leiðsproti |
| batten (BATTINGUR, SKÁLKtré) | langband (orðasafn byggingalistar) |
| battering ram (MÚRbrjótur) | veggbrjótur |
| baud (BOT) | stafrið (The unit 'baud' represents the amount of information processed in a period of time and is often compared to hertz (Icelandic: rið). A stem-compound is used to make it sound like 'stafróf' and 'stafrænn'.)
|
| bauxite (BÁXÍT) | leirmálmsteinn (leirmálmur = aluminium) |
| bawd (PÚTNAMAMMA, hórMANGARI) | mellumóna/ melludólgur |
| bayonet (BYSSUstingur) | laufastingur |
| bayonet (stinga með BYSSUsting) | stinga með laufasting |
| bazaar (góðgerðar(BASAR) | góðgerðarsala |
| bazooka (flugskeytaBYSSA) | flugskeytalaufi |
| BC (before christ) | fyrir Smurðann |
| BC (before Christ) | fyrir Smurði |
| beach ball (strandBOLTI, sundBOLTI) | strandknattleikur, sundknattleikur |
| bead (PERLA) | 1) sörvingur (from 'sörvi')
2) skrautbaun
3) sækúla (pearl)
4) knatthnoss |
| beading (PERLUskraut/ PERLUskreyting) | sörvingaskraut/ sörvingakreyting |
| beadle (KIRKJUþjónn) | guðshúsvörður, brauðhofsvörður |
| beads (PERLUfesti/ talnaband) | sörvi, skrautbaunafesti/ bænaband (a bead on a rosary is called ‘bænbaun’) |
| beak (lögREGLUdómari) | löggæsludæmandi |
| bean oil (SOYAOLÍA) | baunaeldvi (After the example ‘bean-curd’ for ‘tofu’.) |
| beat down (PRÚTTA niður) | þjarka niður |
| beat time (slá TAKT) | slá hljóðfall |
| beatification (PÁFA)BLESSUN) | alsæling |
| beatify (gera alsælan, BLESSAÐAN) | gera alsælan |
| beatitude (BLESSUNARsæla) | alsæla |
| Beatles (BÍTLARNIR) | Fræga Ferndin (fab four) |
| beau monde (FÍNA fólkið) | tigna fólkið |
| Beaufort scale (BEAUFORTkvarði) | vindmælistika |
| beaver (bjór, BIFUR/ BIFURskinn, bjórskinn) | bjór/ bjórskinn |
| bed pan (hægðaskál, BEKKEN, BEKJA) | hægðaskál, sjúkraskál (Faroese: ‘sjúkrakerald’) |
| bedouin | sandhirðingi, vinjamaður, auðnarskipverji (desert-sailor, from auðnarskip ‘ship of the desert’, a camel) |
| bedroom (svefnHERBERGI) | svefnstofa |
| bedsitter (eins HERBERGIS íbúð, leiguherbergi) | einstofuíbúð, leigustofa |
| bedspread (rúmábreiða, rúmTEPPI) | rúmábreiða |
| beefburger (HAMBORGARI) | hakkakringla |
| beefsteak (BUFF, bauti, nautasteik) | bauti, nautasteik |
| beep (PÍP, PÍPA, tísta) | tíst/ tísta |
| beer (BJÓR, öl) | öl, líð (very old and obsolete Old Norse word), barrmjöður (barley-mead), mungát |
| beet (RÓFA) | rótvi ('rófa' is a germanism) |
| beggar (BETLARI, beiningamaður) | beiningamaður, verðgengill |
| beggar’s (in compounds) | beininga-, verðgengils- |
| beige (DRAPPAÐUR litur/ adj. DRAPPlitaður) | ljósmógrár (Faroese ‘grábrúnur’/ beige is a light grayish brown colour) |
| Belarus (hvíta RÚSSland) | Ljósa Gerskaland (The word ‘white’ refers to the fair complection of the people.) |
| Belarusian (hvítrússneskur/ Hvítrussi) | ljósgerskur, Ljósgarðverji |
| belfry (KLUKKUturn) | 1) bjöllustöpull
2) bumbeldingur (from 'bumbaldi') |
| bell (KLUKKA, bjalla) | dymblingur |
| bell flower (bláKLUKKA) | bládymblingur |
| beluga sturgeon (HÚSstyrja) | kóngsstyrja (The Icelandic name was derived from the Latin name ‘huso huso’, which originates from Middle Low German ‘Hûsen’ (House). We call it ‘king’s sturgeon because it produced the real kaviar.) |
| benedicite (Blessi þig (eða ykkur)!) | bænsæli þig (eða ykkur)! |
| benedictine | bænsældsbróðir/ systir |
| benediction (BLESSUN, BLESSUNARorð) | bænsæling, bænsælingarorð |
| Benedictus (Benedikt, Bent) | Bænsældur (from ‘bænsæll, bænsæla’) |
| benefice (PRESTAkall, brauð) | hirðiskall, brauð |
| benzene | baugefni, baugvi (baugur = ring) |
| benzo- | baugva- (see 'benzene') |
| benzoic acid | mjúkkvoðusýra (heaven’s mead-acid) |
| benzoin resin | mjúkkvoða (soft resin) (named after ‘asa dulcis’, (dulcis = soft, the soft resin). This gum resin is used especially in treating skin irritation.) |
| benzol | baugefni, baugvi (see 'benzene') |
| berber | valserki (The saracens named the conquered inhabitants of North Africa barbarians. Another example of aboriginals being designated by their conquerors as strangers are the Welshmen, the Vlach, the Walloons. In Icelandic we find old names like ‘Valland’ (Italy). It is possible to use ‘val-‘ as a prefix in names of these populations: e.g. ‘Valbreti’ (Welshman), Valbelgi (walloon) |
| Berenice’s hair (BERENÍKUhaddur) | Drottningarhaddur (The constellation is also called ‘Hair of the queen)/ Bjarnríkuhaddur (Bjarnríka is the merely phonetic equivalent) |
| beret (ALPAhúfa) | flathúfa |
| berkelium | Birkilóarefni (The name ‘Berkeley’ comes from a Scottish surname which was likely derived from the English place name Berkeley, meaning “birch wood clearing” in Old English.) |
| Bermuda Islands | 1) Vermundungseyjar (The name Bermuda is derived from the name of the Spanish explorer Juan de Bermudez (Jón Vermundungur / af Vermundsætt. Spelling variations include: Bermúdez, Bermudez, Bermudes, Bermúdiz, Bermudiz, Bermudo, Bermúndez, Bermundez, Vermúdez, Vermudez, Vermudo, Vermúndez and many more. The original V was pronounced B in Spanish and lead to the change of Spelling. The origin of the name is the Visigothic Vermundo (Icelandic: Vermundur, family name 'Vermundungur')
2)Þanghafseyjar (Þanghafseyjar (The sargasso sea (Þanghaf) encompasses the Bermuda Islands. No other island is found in this region.) |
| Bermuda shorts | Vermundungur, Vermundungsbrók |
| Bermuda triangle | Vermundungsþríhyrningur (See "Bermuda Islands) |
| beryl (berill) | birtlingur (Derived from ‘bjartur’. The French word ‘briller’, the English ‘brilliant’ come from Latin ‘berillare’, derived from Greek ‘berullos’ (beryl).) |
| beta | Eyhafskt bjarkan |
| beta radiation | létteindageislun |
| betel nut palm | tyggihnotutré (The nut is used for chewing.) |
| Beverly Hills | Bjórlækjarhólar (Beverly Hills was named after Beverly Farms, MA (part of Beverly, MA nowadays), which I believe was directly named after a Beverly in England, which is an English surname which means “Beaver Stream” from “beofor” (beaver, Bífur) and ‘leac’ (stream, lækur). |
| Bhagavadgita | stéttlenskt Hávamál (The translation of 1938 was named ‘Hávamál Indíalands’) |
| bib (SMEKKUR, slefaspeldi, speldi) | speldi |
| Bible (BIBLÍA, Ritningin, helg bók) | Ritningin, Helgabókin |
| Biblical (BIBLÍU-, BIBLÍUlegur) | Ritningar- |
| bienniel plant (tvíær PLANTA) | tvíær urt |
| big bang | ginnungahvellur (The prefix ‘ginnunga-‘ occurs in a few mythological names (ginnungagap, ginnungavé). The orðsifjabók mentions for ‘ginnungagap’: ‘hið mikla gap eða frumtóm, áður en jörð og himinn voru sköpuð’. This unique prefix refers both to the beginning of time (frumsprenging) and the vastness of the event, expressed in the English term.) |
| big mistake (KÓRvilla) | meginvilla (See 7) |
| bight (BUGT/ flói) | flói |
| bigwig (stórlax, merkisPERSÓNA) | stórlax, merkismaður |
| bikini | 1) ræmuskýla* (Íslensk-ensk orðabók til aðhafa við höndina)
2) flíklur, baðflíkur, sundflíkur |
| bilboquet (BILBÓKÉT) | bollaknöttur, hring og naglaleikur |
| bill (REIKNINGUR) | röknun (from the verb ‘rakna’ in an additional meaning. The verb ‘rakna’ is related to German ‘rechnen’) |
| bill of lading (farmBRÉF) | flutningsskýrsla (See 7) |
| billion (MILJARÐUR) | þursund (from þurs-hund-ræði. The word 'þurs' means 'giant' and is a translation of 'giga-' (which is related to English 'giant'.) |
| billionaire | þursundaþengill, þursundungur |
| bingo (BINGÓ) | 1) Baunaleikur (Bingo can be traced back to a game called Lotto, played in Italy in 1530. The bingo name comes from a corruption of the name Beano, the name of a form of bingo played in the United States in the 1920s. Beano was so called because beans were used to cover the numbers. The name of the game was changed to "Bingo" when an excited player called out "bingo" instead of "beano." The name stuck.
2) spjaldahappdrætti |
| bingo! (exclamation) | baun! (see 'bingo') |
| binoculars (sjónauki, KÍKIR) | sjónauki, fjarauga |
| biorhythm (lífRITMI, lífhrynjandi, lífTAKTUR) | lífhrynjandi (Avoid the abominations ‘ritmi’ and ‘taktur’) |
| biotin (BÍÓTÍN) | haddfjörvi (= hair-vitamin; Biotin is the primary nutrient involved in hair loss and the growth of healthy hair.) |
| biotite (black mica) | dumbgljái, dökkur gljásteinn (German: ‘Dunkelglimmer’) |
| bipetalous (með tvö KRÓNUblöð) | með tvö sveigblöð (avoid the latinism ‘króna’, use ‘kringja (-ju, -jur)’ or ‘sveigur’) |
| biprism (tvíPRISMA) | gleiðhornsstrendingur (A prism whose refracting angle is very nearly 180 degrees.) |
| bird house (fuglahús, fuglaKASSI) | fuglahús, fuglabaukur (avoid ‘fuglakassi’, which contains the danicism ‘kassi’. There are enough purely Icelandic words to replace it, e.g. ‘baukur’, the foreign origin of this word is uncertain so it is acceptable.) |
| biro (BÍRÓpenni) | (ungverskur) knattblekungur (The ball-point was invented by the Hungarian Lazlo Biro) |
| Biscay, bay of | kvöldsflói (The largest gulf of the evening land = Europe) |
| biscuit (KEX, KEXkaka) | kekla |
| bishop (BISKUP) | stólfaðir, guðshersir (guðsjarl = cardinal), stórhirðir |
| bishop (in chess: BISKUP) | stólfaðir, guðshersir |
| bishopric (BISKUPSdæmi; BISKUPSdómur) | 1) stóll, stóldæmi; stóldómur
2) hjarðsýsla, guðssýsla |
| bister | sótbrúnn (calque of Dutch ‘roetbruin’) |
| bit (biti) | stafskorn |
| bitter (BITTER) | beiskjuöl |
| bitter cress (hrafnaKLUKKA) | hrafnadymblingur |
| bitters (BITTERbrennivín) | beiskjueldveigar (brennivín = eldveigar) |
| black hole | geimpyttur, stjarnæta, svelgidvergur (The Icelandic ‘svarthol’ is a too literal translation of the English word) |
| black list (SVARTLISTI/ setja á SVARTAN LISTI) | voskrá; (verb) setja á voskrá, voskrá |
| black magic (svartigaldur) | skrattagaldur |
| Black Muslim | Bandarískir Svartserkir |
| Black Panther Party | Surtskettirnir (The Black panther is called surtsköttur. The name of the fire-GIANT ‘Surtur’ means ‘the black one’, so ‘surtsköttur’ stands for ‘big black cat’.) |
| blackberry (BRÓMber, bjarnarber) | bjarnarber |
| blackboard (SKÓLATAFLA) | veggborð |
| blackhead (fílaPENSILL, gelgjunabbi) | gelgjunabbi |
| blackjack (drykkjarKRÚS úr leðri) | leðurþjórker, svart þjórker |
| blank cartridge (PÚDURskot) | eldur án kúlu (fire without bullet) |
| blanket (TEPPI, ábreiða) | rý (Old word), ábreiða |
| blaspheme (GUÐLASTA) | guðníða (The compound ‘guðlasta’ is of German origin: ‘Gott lästern’.) |
| blasphemer (GUÐLASTARI) | guðníðungur |
| blasphemous (GUÐLASTANDI) | guðníðandi |
| blasphemy (GUÐLAST) | guðníð |
| blaze abroad (BÁSÚNA, breiða út) | breiða út |
| bless (BLESSA) | bænsæla (vertu blessaður = vertu bænsældur) |
| Blessed Sacrament (ALTARISSAKRAMENTI) | Helgiverður, Helgur kvöldverður, höfuðnáðarmeðal (chief sacrament) |
| Blessed Virgin | Guðmey |
| blessing (BLESSUN) | bænsæling |
| blink (BLIKK, depl / verb BLIKKA, depla augum) | depl/ depla augum |
| block (íbúðarBLOKK, BLÖKK) | húsasamstæða |
| block letters (BLOKKSKRIFT) | bútstafir |
| blood mobile (blóð(söfnunar)BÍLL) | blóðvagn |
| blood money (blóðPENINGAR/ manngjöld) | dreyrafé/ manngjöld |
| blood plasma (blóðvökvi, PLASMA) | blóðvi, blóðvökvi |
| bloodbank (blóðBANKI) | blóðsjóður |
| bloodbath (BLÓÐBAÐ, blóðsúthelling) | 1) blóðsúthelling (The word blóðbað is a loan-translation, the original word is ‘blóðsúthelling’ (Fornaldar Saga)).
2) dreyraflóð
3) hlautfoss (Because the Icelandic word for victim ‘fórnarlamb’ is connected with the idea of ‘sacrifice’ we can use ‘hlaut’ (sacrificial blood) in the meaning of ‘blood of victims’.) |
| bloodshed (blóðbað) | dreyrafoss |
| bloody Mary | dreyradrottning (The cocktail ‘Bloody Mary’ is named for Henry VIII’s illegitimate daughter, Mary Tudor, who during her five years as Queen killed most of her Protestant enemies.) |
| blotting paper (þerriPAPPÍR) | þerribleðmi |
| blouse (BLÚSSA, TREYJA) | bolver |
| blowgun (blástursPÍPA) | blásturshólkur |
| blowlamp (blástursLAMPI, LÓDLAMPI) | blásturslýsill (synonym: ‘blowtorch’) |
| blue jacket (DÁTI (í flotanum) | skipherji (skipverji = sailor man) |
| blue vitriol (copper-sulphate) | eirblámi (The existing ‘blásteinn’ is also used for lapis lazuli and indigo and is a confusing term) |
| bluebell (bláKLUKKA) | bládymblingur |
| blueprint (TEIKNING) | dráttmynd |
| blues (BLÚS) | millihljómalist (blue note = millinóta) |
| blurb (kápuTEXTI, (skrum)auglýsing | (skrum)auglýsing |
| boarder (KOSTGANGARI/ heimavistarnemandi) | matgengill (German: ‘Tischgänger’)/ heimavistarnemandi) |
| boarding school (heimavistarSKÓLI) | gistinámshús |
| boas | þungsnókar (the heaviest snakes) |
| boaster (MONTrass) | rettirófa |
| bobsled (BOBsleði, langsleði) | langsleði |
| bodily (í eigin PERSÓNU) | holdverulegur |
| bohemian (BÓHEMI, léttúðarmaður, lausingi) | lausingi, léttúðarmaður |
| boiling point (suðumark, suðuPUNKTUR) | suðumark |
| boldface (feitLETUR) | feitstafur (avoid the gallicism ‘letur’) |
| bolero (BOLERÓ) | svifspor (The ‘bolero’ is a smooth, sophisticated and sentimental love dance. The name is thought to originate from "Volar" (to fly) because the Manchenga expert had danced the Seguidillas so wonderfully, he seemed to fly, hence the High Icelandic ‘svifspor’. The coining of this word was inspired by 'svifhugi' (romanticist).) |
| Bolshoi Ballet (BOLSHOJBALLETTINN) | Gerskur Listsporaflokkur |
| bolshoi theatre (BOLSHOJleikhúsið) | Stóra Leikhúsið |
| bolt (SKRÚFBOLTI) | snigla (from ‘snigill’) |
| bonbon (brjóstSYKUR) | brjóstsætungur |
| bongos (BÓNGOTROMMUR) | hjónabumbur (because the two drums are of different sizes and yoked together with the larger one being called the ‘hembra’ (Spanish for female) and the smaller one called the ‘macho’ (male).) |
| bonobo (dvergSIMPANSI) | 1) ástapi (the sexually most active primate)
2) dvergmannapi (Also called ‘pygmy chimpansee’. It is the smallest species of the Pongidae or apes.) |
| bonus (BÓNUS, BÓNUSgreiðsla) | afkastaálag/ aukaarður |
| bookkeeper (bókhaldari) | bókandi |
| booklet (bæklingur, PÉSI) | bæklingur |
| bookmobile (bókaBÍLL) | bókavagn |
| bookworm (bókaBÉUS, lestrarhestur, grúskari) | lestrarhestur, grúskandi |
| boom (BÓMA) | baðmur (The word ‘boom’ has the same origin as ‘baðmur’. The English ‘boom’ is borrowed from Dutch ‘boom’ (tree). The word ‘baðmur’ can be used in the sense of ‘long pole’, as it is done in Dutch.) |
| boomerang (bjugverpill, bogtré) | kastbogi, bogtré |
| boot (STÍGVÉL, STÝFILL, BÓTI) | leggskór |
| boracic acid | deyfisýra (old name: ‘sedative salt’ An inaccurate name because boracic acid is an ‘acid’ instead of a ‘salt’.) |
| borcade (RÓSASILKI;glitvefnaður; verb: glitvefa) | blómavoð; glitvefnaður; verb: glitvefa) |
| boric acid (borsýra) | harðmelmingssýra |
| boron | harðmelmingur (the hardest more non-metallic metalloid) |
| borsch (RÚSSNESK rauðRÓFUSÚPA) | gerskt rauðrótarsaup (Faroese ‘reyðrót’) |
| Bose-Einstein condensate | fimbulstorka (from the synonym ‘supersolid’) |
| botch (KLÚÐUR, handavömm/ KLÚÐRA) | klambra, handavömm/ klambra |
| bother (óMAK, fyrirhöfn, ónæði) | fyrirhöfn, ónæði |
| bottle (FLASKA) | 1) mæna (seldomly used word for 'wine-botlle', derived from 'mjór', referring to the narrow bottle-neck).
2) glerald |
| bottleneck (fig.: FLÖSKUHÁLS, tafvaldur) | tafvaldur |
| boulevard (breiðSTRÆTI) | breiðgata |
| bourgeois (smáBORGARAlegur) | miðstéttarlegur, smámunalegur, þröngsýnn, öngúðarlegur |
| bourgeois, petty (smáBORGARI) | þröngþegn |
| bourgeoisie (BORGARAstétt) | miðstétt |
| bourgogne (wine) | borgundarveigar |
| bourrée (flækjuDANS) | flækjuspor |
| bout (lota, TÖRN) | lota |
| bouzouki | eyhafskur ljóðspónn (ljóðspónn = lúta) |
| bow and scrape (BUGTA sig og beygja) | hneigja sig og beygja |
| bow tie (þverSLAUFA, þverhnýti) | þverhnýti |
| bowline (PELASTIKK) | kóngshnútur (The bowline’s nick-name is ‘king of knots’.) |
| box (BOXA/ leika hnefaleik) | leika hnefaleik, banga |
| box (DÓS, KASSI, BOX, BAUKUR) | dolla |
| box number (PÓSThólfsNÚMER) | hólfstala |
| boxing (hnefaleikar, BOX) | hnefaleikar |
| boxing glove (BOXHANSKI) | hnefaglófi, slagvettlingur, hnefaskór (The expression ‘fist-shoe’ is an extension of the German ‘handschuh’ (hand-shoe) |
| boy scout | ratstrákur (path-finder) |
| boys band | sveinasveit |
| brace (stoð, STYTTA/ slaufusvigi) | stoð/ lykkjusvigi |
| bracelet (armband) | úlnliðsmen |
| bradawl (STIFTISalur, SÝLL) | strendur alur, strendalur |
| brahman | véstéttungur (member of the priest-caste) |
| Brahmaputra | Gnæfafljót ((the Brahmaputra is the world’s highest river) |
| Braille (blindaLETUR) | Haðarrúnir (The runes of the Blind god Höður) |
| brains trust (hugmyndaBANKI) | hugmyndasjóður |
| brainwash (heilaþvotta) | sálskola (The term ‘heilaþvotta’ is a too explicit loan-translation of English. In Dutch the word is ‘hersenspoelen’ (heilaskola), but I preferred a completely different compound.) |
| brainwashing | sálskolun |
| brake (BREMSA, hemill) | hemill (only!) |
| brandy (KONÍAK) | frakkaandi (spirits of the French) |
| brass (LÁTÚN, LÁTÚNSmunur) | guleir, gulllíki/ guleirmunur, gulllíkismunur (Dutch: ‘geelkoper’, after “aurichalcum, "gold-copper.") |
| brassy (LÁTÚNS-) | guleir-, gulllíkis- |
| bravo (BRAVÓ!, Heyr!) | Heyr! |
| Brazil (BRASÍLÍA) | Brúnspónsland (After the word ‘brís’ in ‘brúnbrís’, which is derived from the word ‘brazilwood’) |
| Brazil nut (PARAhneta, NEGRAnögl) | rjómahneta (also named ‘cream nut’ after the brazil-nut’s creamy oil) |
| Brazilian (BRASÍLÍUmaður/ BRASILÍSKUR) | Brúnspónlendingur, brúnspónlenskur |
| break step (fara úr (göngu)TAKT) | ganga rangt |
| Breton (Bretóni/ bretónska) | 1) Álfubreti, Álfubreska (the reference to the continent distinguishes Breton from Island-Celtic)
2) stútsbreti/ stútsbreska (Bretagne looks like the nozzle of France) |
| bribe (MÚTA/ verb MÚTA) | fúlfé (dirty money)/ bera fé á e-n |
| bribery (MÚTUR/ MÚTUgjöf/ MÚTUþægni) | fjárburður (Old word mentioned in Icelandic dictionary by Cleasby, Vígfússon and Craigie)/ fúlgjöf (dirty gift) |
| brick (MÚRsteinn) | veggsteinn |
| brick up/in (MÚRA upp í, MÚRA inni) | veggja upp í, veggja inni |
| brickbat (MÚRsteinsbrot) | veggsteinsbrot |
| brickfield (MÚRsteinaverksmiðja) | veggsteinaverksmiðja |
| bricklayer (MÚRhleðslumaður, múrari) | veggjandi (from the verb ‘veggja’), vegghleðslumaður |
| brickwork (MÚRhleðsla) | vegghleðsla |
| bridge | sómaspjaldleikur |
| brilliant | birtusteinn (the brightest stone) |
| brimstone (brennisteinn) | 1) surtsgull (gold of the fire-giant Surtr)
2) brennisteinn |
| brine (saltvatn, PÆKILL) | salta (See Íslensk Orðabók), saltvatn |
| Broadway | Breiðvegurinn |
| brocade (RÓSAsilki) | klyngrusilki, ástblómssilki |
| brocade (RÓSASILKI; glitvefnaður; verb: glitvefa) | blómavoð; glitvefnaður; verb: glitvefa |
| broccoli (SPERGILkál, BROKKÓLI) | sprotaskálpungur (The name ‘broccoli’ comes from ‘brocco’ (a shoot). The term ‘skálpungur’ designates ‘plants bearing a siliqua’ (Icelandic ‘skálpur’), a kind of pod characteristic of the plants of the Cruciferaceae (Brassica). |
| brochure (bæklingur, PÉSI) | bæklingur |
| brogue (GOLFskór) | höggleikskór |
| broil (glóðarsteikja, GRILLA/ stikna) | glóða/ stikna |
| broiler (GRILL) | glóðgrind |
| broke (BLANKUR, auralaus, félaus) | auralaus, félaus |
| bromine (BRÓM) | rokroði (volatile redness) |
| bronze (BRONS) | 1) tineir (the oldest alloy of tin and copper)
2) bryneir (Bronze is harder and more durable than copper and stone as a result of alloying that metal with tin or other metals. The substitution of iron for bronze in tools and weapons from about 1000 BC was the result of iron's abundance compared to copper and tin rather than any inherent advantages of iron.) |
| bronze (BRONSAÐUR/ BRONSlitaður) | tineiraður, bryneiraður/ tineirlitaður, bryneirlitaður |
| bronze age (BRONSöld) | tineiröld, bryneiröld |
| bronze medal (BRONSverðlaun, BRONS) | tineir |
| broomstik (KÚSTskaft) | skúfskaft |
| brothel (vændishús, PÚTNAhús) | vændishús, hóruhús |
| brown sugar (PÚÐURSYKUR) | duftsætungur |
| brownie (kvenSKÁTI) | ratmey (pathfinder, boy scout) |
| brush (BURSTI/ verb: BURSTA) | buski (burst is purely Icelandic, bursti comes from Danish ‘børste’)/ buska (to brush) |
| Brussels (BRUSSEL) | Brúksalir (originates from Dutch ‘broek’ (marsh), related to English ‘brook’, and Dutch ‘zele’, which is equivalent with Icelandic ‘salir’. Because no cognate of ‘brook’ exists in Icelandic the word is adapted to the Icelandic phonology) |
| brussels sprouts (RÓSAkál) | belgaskálpungur (The word ‘skálpungur’ means ‘plants bearing a siliqua’ (Icelandic ‘skálpur’), a kind of pod characteristic of the plants of the Cruciferaceae (Brassica). |
| bryophyte (mosaPLANTA, mosi) | mosi |
| Brythonic (Welsh, Cornish and Breton) | breska (velska, Tá-breska (Island-toe-Brittish, Cornish) of stútsbreska) |
| bubble gum (kúlutyggjÓ, tyggiGÚMMI) | munntogleður |
| bubbles (KAMPAvín) | bólaveigar |
| Bucephalus | Nauthöfði (The horse of Alexander the Great) |
| Buckingham palace (BUCKINGHAMhöll) | Bretahöllin |
| buddhism (BÚDDAtrú) | vökulanstrú |
| buddhist (BÚDDAtrúarmaður/ BÚDDAtrúar) | vökulanssinni/ vökulanstrúar- |
| budo (BÚDÓ) | morguneyskar bardagalistir (general name for the Japanese fighting arts.) |
| buff (BUFFALSleður/ VASKAskinn) | uxaleður (A soft thick undyed leather from the skins of e.g. buffalo or oxen.)/þvottaskinn |
| buffalo (BUFFALL/ (bison) vísundur) | þrumunaut (an old name of an ox mentioned in the ‘þulur’), villinaut |
| Buffalo Bill (VÍSUNDA VILLI) | þrumunauta Villi |
| bulk (main part: meginhluti) | 1) þorri (see 1)
2) meginhluti |
| bull (PÁFAbréf, BULLA) | helgt tilrit |
| bullet (BYSSUkúla) | skotkúla, laufakúla, járnbaun |
| bullfinch (DÓMPÁPI) | hirðisfinka |
| bumpkin (sveitalubbi, BÚRI) | sveitalubbi |
| bundle (BÚNT, KNIPPI, vöndull) | kjarf, vöndull, hneppi |
| bung (SPONS, tappi) | tappi |
| bunghole (SPONSgat, tappagat) | tappagat |
| bungle (KLÚÐUR/ KLÚÐRA) | klambur/ klambra |
| bunny (KANÍNA) | grenhéri, grafhéri (rabbits burrow, hares don’t. Hence the Hungarian name ‘üregi nyúl’ (burrowing hare). The 4 mentions: “hérar grafa ekki, kanínur grafa”.) |
| buoy (BAUJA, dufl) | dufl |
| burnus (BEDÚÍNAskikkja) | serkjaskikkja, sandverjaskikkja |
| burr (suð, SÚRR/ verb suða, SÚRRA) | suð/ suða |
| bus (STRÆTISVAGN, áætlunarBÍLL, RÚTA) | götuvagn, áætlunarvagn |
| Bushmen | Runnamaður (A calque of the Faroese word ‘runnamaður’ refers to the hunting life-style of the Bush-man.. The denotation ‘Runnasvertingi’ is more appropriate because ‘runnamaður’ could be confused with the Australian ‘bushmen’, who have nothing to do with the African bushmen.) |
| bussiness college (verslunarSKÓLI, viðskiptaháSKÓLI) | verslunarnámshús/ viðskiptanámshöll |
| bye-bye (BLESS, vertu blessaður) | sæll, heill og sæll, vertu bænsældur |
| byte (tölvustafur, BÆTI) | tölvustafur |
| C | sigðstafur |
| c cedilla | sigðstafur með króki |
| cab (leiguBÍLL) | leiguvagn |
| cabaret (KABARETT) | stofuskopla, smáskopla |
| cabbage (hvítKÁL) | hvíti skálpungur (The word ‘skálpungur’ means ‘plants bearing a siliqua’ (Icelandic ‘skálpur’), a kind of pod characteristic of the plants of the Cruciferaceae (Brassica). |
| cabdriver (leiguBÍLSstjóri) | leiguvagnsstjóri |
| cabin boy (KÁETUdrengur) | kytjudrengur |
| cabinet minister (ráðHERRA) | ráðdrottinn / ráðfreyja |
| cable’s length (KAPALlengd) | reipastika |
| cacao tree (KAKÓtré) | guðgætistré (see 'cacao') |
| cacao (KAKÓ) | guðgæti (The botanist Carl von Linné named the cacao tree 'Theobroma cacao'. 'Theobroma is Greek for "the food of the gods' and Linné based the name upon the beliefs of the Aztecs and Mayas, who considered cacao to be man's inheritance from Quetzalcoatl, the god of the air.) |
| cacao bean (KAKÓbaun) | guðgætisfræ (see 'cacao') |
| cactus (KAKTUS) | broddurt |
| caddy (GOLFsveinn) | kylfungssveinn, höggleikssveinn |
| cadence (hljóðfall, stigmál, TAKTUR) | hljóðfall, stigmál |
| cadet (KADETT, foringjaefni) | hernemi, foringjaefni |
| cadmium (KADMÍN) | eitursilfur (A metal of poisonous compounds near silver. Nothing in this word suggests we’re dealing with a liquid, so there’s no confusion with mercury.) |
| caesarean section (KEISARAskurður) | kviðfæðing (from the synonym ‘abdominal delivery’ and ‘abdominal birth’) |
| café (KAFFIhús) | kyrgisshús, korgsoðshús |
| cafetaria (KAFFITERÍA) | 1) veitingabúð (the word originates from the Spanish word for ‘coffee shop’. It differs from a restaurant in that people take there food themselves instead of being served. A cafetaria is a shopping restaurant.)
2) kyrgissalir, korgsoðssalur |
| caffein | kyrgisbeiskja (Dutch ‘koffiebitter’) |
| calcification (KÖLKUN, KALKmyndun) | hvítsteinruni |
| calcify (KALKAst, harðna) | hvítsteinrenna (named after Latin ‘terra alba’ (white earth, limestone) |
| calcination (KALKbrennsla) | útglóðun (From Faroese: ‘útgløðing’. The term originally applied to the formation of calx. When calcium carbonate, Ca(HCO3)2, is heated it decomposes into the calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide. This process is known as ‘calcination’. Now the term is used for any heating of solid material to drive off volatile components.) |
| calcite (KALKSPAT, silfurberg) | silfurberg (kolsúrt beinstál, CaCO3) |
| calcium (KALSÍN, KELKI) | beinstál, beinmálmur |
| calculable (REIKNANlegur) | raknanlegur |
| calculate (REIKNA (út) | að rakna |
| calculation (útREIKNINGUR) | röknun (from the verb ‘rakna’ in an additional meaning. The verb ‘rakna’ is related to German ‘rechnen’) |
| calculator (REIKNIvél/ REIKNINGSmaður) | talnavél, talnamaður |
| calculus (REIKNIvísi) | röknunarvísi |
| caledonian orogeny | skoska fellingahreyfing |
| calendar (ALMANAK, dagatal/ timatal) | dagatal/ tímatal |
| calendar month (ALMANAKSmánuður) | dagatalsmánuður |
| calendar year (ALMANAKSár) | dagatalsár |
| caliph (KALÍFI) | helgikóngur (A caliph is a leader in both religious and secular matters. A kind of secular pope. The word literally means ‘successor’) |
| caliphate (KALÍFAdæmi) | helgikóngadæmi (The civil and religious leader of a Muslim state, a successor of Muhammad.) |
| calomel | flotmálmsshyrni (from Eng. ‘corneous mercury’) |
| caloric restriction (KALÓRÍUtakmörkun) | takmörkun hitaeininga |
| calorie (KALORÍA, hitaeining, verma) | verma, hitaeining |
| calvinism (KALVÍNStrú) | genfartrú (The calvinistic branch of protestantism originates from Geneva.) |
| calvinist (KALVÍNStrúarmaður) | genfartrúarmaður |
| calypso | þrenningareyjarsöngur (a type of folk song primarily from Trinidad (Þrenningarey) |
| camel (ÚLFALDI, KAMELdýr) | 1) auðnarskip (Ship of the desert. When walking, the camel moves both feet of one side of its body, then both feet on the other. This gait suggests the rolling motion of a boat, explaining its 'ship of the desert' nickname.)
2) einhnýðingur, hnúðdýr (dromedary), tvíhnýðingur (camel)
3) vinjadýr (animal of oases) |
| camera (myndavél) | myndald (shorter) |
| camphor alcohol (KAMFÓRUvínandi) | mölvaxandi |
| camphor oil (KAMFÓRUOLÍA) | mölvaxeldvi |
| camphor tree (KAMFÓRUtré) | mölkvoðutré (camphor and naphtalene are used in moth balls. Camphora was the first to be used in mothballs. Naphtalene is a constituent of coal-tar while camphor is a tree resin.) |
| camphora (KAMFÓRA) | mölvax (The waxy solid used in mothballs. A moth-ball is a small sphere of camphor or naphthalene used to keep moths away from stored clothing.) |
| camphorism (KAMFÓRUeitrun) | mölvaxeitrun |
| campus (háSKÓLAlóð, háSKÓLAsvæði) | námshallarlóð, hánemalóð |
| can (DUNKUR, brúsi) | brúsi |
| can opener (DÓSAhnífur) | dolluhnífur |
| Canada (KANADA) | Hlynland (Canada = Land of maples, symbolized by the national flag.) |
| Canadian (KANADAbúi, KANADÍSKUR) | hlynlendingur, hlynlenskur |
| canary | eyfinka (finches from the islands (Canary islands) |
| Canary Islands | Finkueyjar (Canaries are finches) |
| canary yellow | eyfinkugula |
| candidatus magistrii (CAND. MAG.) | mestingjaefni (meistari = mestingi) |
| candle (KERTI) | kyndla (Derived from kyndill. the word looks like English latinism candle but is purely icelandic) |
| candy (brjóstSYKUR, sælgæti) | brjóstsætungur, sælgæti, sætindi |
| canker-worm (KÁLormur, bröndungur) | bröndungur |
| cannabis (hampur/ KANNABIS) | reykhampur |
| cannibal (mannæta) | átmorðingi |
| cannibalism (mannát) | skyldraát, átmorð, að fremja skyldraát, átmorð (The name ‘mannát’ isn’t applicable for cannibalism in the sense of ‘eating its own kind’) |
| cannon (fallBYSSA) | fallstykki, stórhleypa |
| canon (KIRKJUréttur) | helgiréttur |
| canon (KÓRbróðir, KANÚKI) | bænhallarbróðir (A priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter.) |
| cantata (KANTATA) | dýrdegissöngur (Faroese: ‘hátíðarsongur’) |
| canter (VALHOPP, verb VALHOPPA) | þverspor/ þverspora |
| canton (KANTÓNA/ fylki) | fylki (also for the swiss cantons) |
| caoutchouc (hrágúmmí) | hrátogleður |
| Cape Horn | Ilhvarf |
| Capernaum (KAPERNAUM) | Kápernisborg |
| Capet, Hugh | Huginn Köpungur |
| Capetians (KAPETINGAR) | Huginsættingjar |
| capillarity (hárpípuhrif/ hárpípukraftur/ hárpípuverkun) | hárhólkshrif, hárhólkskraftur, hárhólksverkun |
| capillary (háræð/ hárPÍPA) | háræð/ hárhólkur |
| Capitol (KAPITÓLSMUSTERI) | Jófshæðarhof |
| Capitol hill (KAPITÓLShæðin) | Jófshæð (Jófur = Jove, Jupiter) |
| Capitol in Washington | Alríkisþinghöllin (United States) |
| Capodimonte Palace (CAPODIMONTEhöll) | Fjallshöfðahöllin |
| Cappadocia (Kappadókía) | Hvíta Sýrland (after the greek 'leukosyri' (White Syrians), because Cappadocians had a fairer complexion than the southern syrians, compare Belarus (Hvíta Rússland) |
| cappilary attraction (hárPÍPUkraftur/ hárPÍPUhrif) | hárálskraftur/ hárálshrif |
| cappuccino | freyðikyrgi, freyðikorgsoð (The word cappuccino comes from the hooded Italian order of Catholic Capuchin monk, whose hooded robes resembled the coffee’s cap of foam in shape and colour.) |
| capsicum (spænskur PÍPAR) | bjölluepli (English: bell pepper) |
| capsid (veiruskurn) | veiruskurn, skyrni |
| capsomere | skyrniskorn (skyrni = veiruskurn, capsid) |
| captain (navy) KAFTEINN/ (army) höfuðsmaður) | skipsforingi/ höfuðsmaður |
| captain (of a ship: KAFTEINN, skipstjóri) | skipstjóri |
| caption (yfirskrift/ myndaTEXTI) | yfirrit/ myndalesmál |
| captivity (FANGAvist, hald/ ánauð) | haftsvist, hald/ ánauð |
| car (BÍLL, bifreið) | bifreið, vagn, akvél, akald (in compounds ‘-vagn’ or ‘-reið’) |
| car ferry (BÍLAferja) | vagnaferja, bifreiðaferja |
| car hire (BÍLAleiga) | vagnaleiga, bifreiðaleiga |
| car mania (BÍLADELLA) | vagnaæði |
| car sick (BÍLveikur) | vagnveikur |
| carafe (KARAFLA/ vínkanna) | veigakanna |
| caramel (KARAMELLA, adj. KARAMELLU-) | töggur (see ‘toffee’) |
| carat (gold) | göfgieining, hálftólftungur (af hreinu gulli): 18 hálftólftungar af hreinu gulli |
| carat (of gems) | göfgieining |
| caraway (KÚMEN) | túnselja (from German ‘wiesenkümmel’ (wiesen = tún). Kúmen vex í túnum og graslendi víðast hvar á Íslandi (See 8) |
| carbine (KARABÍNA, RIDDARABYSSA) | reiðliðslaufi |
| carbon black (KINROK) | kolat |
| carbon copy (KALKIafrit) | sótafrit |
| carbon monoxide (kolsýringur, kolMÓNOXÍÐ) | kolildi |
| carbon nanotube (kolPÍPLUR) | gleipniskol, gleipnishólkur (Gleipnir was the THIN UNBREAKABLE ribbon used to fasten Fenrir. The nanotubes apply to this description. It is the strongest known substance. A cylindrically-shaped carbon molecule.) |
| carbon paper | sótblöð (from Dutch ‘roetvel’ (Guus Kroonen’s list of Dutch neologisms. Sometimes other substances are used but with the same effect as soot. The fine particles of these substances could also be regarded as a soot-like.) |
| carbonado | borkol (a black aggregate of diamond particles in a diamond matrix used for drilling and as an abrasive) |
| carbonate (KARBÓNAT) | kólsúrt efni (salt eða saltbróðir (ester)) |
| card game (SPIL) | spjaldaleikur |
| cardboard (PAPPI) | spjaldefni |
| cardboard box (PAPPAKASSI) | spjaldefnisaskja |
| cardigan (GOLFtreyja) | höggleiksstakkur |
| cardinal (bird) | guðsjarl, rauðtittlingur ((The cardinal is also named ‘redbird’, the male being bright red, the female duller reddish or olive brown. The bird belongs to the emberizidae ‘tittlingaætt’.) |
| cardinal (KARDINÁLA) | 1) guðsjarl (An earl was the second after the king)
2) tignarhirðir |
| cardplayer (SPILAmaður) | spjaldamaður |
| cards, play (SPILA á SPIL) | leika spjöldum |
| careless (KÆRULAUS; óvandvirkur; óvandaður) | ómeskinn; óvandvirkur; óvandaður |
| Caribbean sea | 1) Vesturálfuhaf (The only sea that washes the shores of both Americas. Middle America is part of North America.)
2) Vængfreðshaf (sea of Columbus = Vængfreður) |
| Carmelite (KARMELÍTI, hvítmunkur) | hvítbróðir |
| carnage (blóðbað) | dreyrafoss |
| carnation (NELLIKKA, drottningarblóm) | drottningarblóm (-drottning in compounds, never ‘nellikka’) |
| Carpathian Mountains | Harfaðafjöll (The Old Norse name, see 1) |
| carpet (TEPPI, ábreiða/ TEPPAleggja) | ábreiða, gólfklæði/ klæða gólfið |
| cart (KERRA, vagn; flytja á KERRU/ vagni) | 1) vagn; flytja á vagni
2) æki |
| carter (KERRUekill, keyrari) | keyrandi |
| Cartesian (KARTESÍUSAR-) | karteskur (Orðabanki) |
| cartographer (KORTAgerðarmaður) | dráttlandafræðingur |
| cartography (KORTAgerð) | landauppdráttur |
| cartoon (TEIKNImynd) | dráttmynd, dráttverk |
| cartoonist (skopmyndateiknari) | skopmyndaskáld |
| cartridge (hljóðDÓS) | hljóðdolla |
| cartwheel (KERRUhjól) | vagnshjól |
| carwash | þvottagata, þvottagangur (Dutch: wasstraat (washing street) |
| case (KASSI, baukur) | baukur |
| cashew nut | nýruhnot (The kidney-shaped nut) |
| cashew nut | osthneta (cashew nuts taste like cheese and are used by vegetarians as a cheese alterantive) |
| cashmere (KASMÍRull) | heimþaksull, gnálendisull (Pashmina, the wool from the roof of the world. Cashmere goats graze at HIGH ALTITUDES of remote regions. There the harsh, cold conditions cause them to grow long, extra-fine fibers in their downy undercoats.) |
| Caspian Sea | 1) miðjarðarvatn (The southern part of this lake was once connected to the Meditteranean sea. There’s no other body of water who could bear the name ‘mediterranean lake’)
2) Styrjadrótt (Court of the sturgeons) |
| Cassiopeia (constellation) | drottningarmerkið (This constellation is nick-named ‘the queen’. Cassiopeia was the queen of Ethiopia.) |
| cassock (PRESTShempa) | hempa, hirðishempa, bergishempa |
| cassowary (KASÚI) | bryntoppur |
| castanets (KASTANÍETTUR, handskellur) | mundskellur |
| castellated (byggður með KASTALAsniði) | byggður með virkissniði |
| caster sugar (stráSYKUR) | strásætungur |
| castle (KASTALI, virki) | virki |
| castle in the air, in Spain (loftKASTALI, skýjaborg) | skýjaborg |
| castor oil (LAXEROLÍA) | hægðakvoða (It is used in the production of synthetic resins, plastics, fibres, paints, varnishes. Castor oil is viscous, has a clear and colourless to amber or greenish appearance.) |
| castor oil plant (LAXEROLÍUtré) | hægðakvoðutré |
| cataclism (stórflóð, NÁTTÚRUhamfarir) | stórflóð, lífheimshamfarir |
| catacomb (KATAKOMBA, grafhvelfing) | grafhvelfing |
| catalogue (skrá, LISTI) | skrá (only!) |
| catapult (teygjuBYSSA/ valslöngva, steinvarpa) | teygjutjúga (after the term ‘slingshot fork’)/ valslöngva, steinvarpa |
| caterpillar (fiðrildisLIRFA, tólffótungur) | yrmildi, tólffótungur |
| caterpillar (hjólBELTI) | 1) þyn (occurs in the compound ‘drekaþyn’. The word means ‘caterpillar’ (hjólBELTI) and was mentioned in Stephan G. Stephansson’s Vígslóði, Reykjavík 192')
2) skriðgjörð, hjólgjörð |
| caterpillar crane | skriðgjarðarhegri |
| caterpillar crane (hjólBELTISKRANI) | þynhegri, skriðhegri |
| caterpillar tractor (BELTISdráttarvél) | gjarðardragi |
| caterpillar truck | skriðgjarðarvagn |
| caterpillar truck | þynvagn; gjarðarvagn |
| caterpillar-shaped | yrmildislaga |
| cathedral (DÓMKIRKJA) | bænhöll |
| cathode (bakskaut, MÍNUSskaut) | bakskaut |
| cathode ray tube (bakskautsLAMPI) | bakskautshólkur |
| catholic (KAÞÓLSKUR maður) | hjarðkóngssinni, alhirðissinni |
| catholic church (KAÞÓLSK KIRKJA) | alhirðissóknin |
| catholicism (KAÞÓLSK TRÚ) | alhirðistrú (páfatrú) |
| catterpillar (hjólBELTI) | 1) þyn (occurs in the compound ‘drekaþyn’. The word means ‘caterpillar’ (hjólBELTI) and was mentioned in Stephan G. Stephansson’s Vígslóði, Reykjavík 192')
2) skriðgjörð, hjólgjörð |
| Caucasus (KÁKASUSfjöll) | Reyfisfjöll (The mountains of the golden fleece) |
| cauliflower (blómKÁL) | blómskálpungur (The word ‘skálpungur’ means ‘plants bearing a siliqua’ (Icelandic ‘skálpur’), a kind of pod characteristic of the plants of the Cruciferaceae (Brassica). |
| causal (ORSAKAbundinn, ORSAKA-) | atvaldabundinn, atvalda- |
| causal conjunction (ORSAKAtenging) | atvaldatenging |
| causality (ORSAKAsamband) | atvaldasamband |
| causative (ORSAKARsögn) | atvaldssögn |
| cause (ORSÖK/ ORSAKA, valda) | atvald (Faroese ‘atvøld’)/ valda (only!) |
| caustic soda (vítisSÓTI) | vítisbeiskja |
| Cavalier | Karlssinni (In the English Civil Wars (1642-51), the name was adopted by Charles I's supporters) |
| cavalier (RIDDARI/ adjective RIDDARAlegur) | reiðherji, reiðliði/ reiðherjalegur |
| cavalry (RIDDARAlið) | reiðlið |
| cavendish (munnTÓBAK) | tyggireyklauf (see: tobacco) |
| caviar (KAVÍAR, styrjuhrogn) | styrjuhrogn, sæluhrogn (also as a food term) |
| cedar (SEDRUStré) | 1) sættartré (Sætt = Sidon (3) Traders from throughout the Mediterranean sailed to Sidon to obtain the valuable cedar timber for construction)
2) barreik (Cedars are sometimes compared to oak trees, due to the strenghth of its timber and the tree's longevity. The use of 'barr' excludes any relationship with the oak-tree and suggests that 'eik' is used here in a figurative sense. The use of a name of a deciduous tree in the designation of conifer has a precedent in Icelandic. The 3 mentions 'barrlind' for the 'yew' (taxus baccata) |
| cellar (KJALLARI) | 1) gröf (the old word, see Íslensk orðabók)
2) róthæð (The root-floor)
3) undirhús
4) djúpstofa, djúpstofur |
| cellist (SELLOleikari) | djúpómur strokmaður (djúpóma = bass/ cello = bass violin) |
| cello (SELLÓ, knéFIÐLA) | knéstrokharpa |
| cellophane (SELLÓFAN) | skinbeðmi (from ‘cellulose’ (beðmi) and Greek ‘phanein’ (to shine) |
| Celsius scale | hundraðsstigsstaðall (kvarði is a loan-word/ degree centigrade = hundraðsstig, hitaeyrir.) |
| cement (binda með sementi, sementsbera) | binda steinlím, steinlímsbera |
| cement (SEMENT, steinlím) | steinlím |
| cemetary (KIRKJUgarður, grafreitur) | grafreitur, guðsakur (god’s acre), sorgakur |
| cent (SENT) | dalseyrir (1% of a dollar) |
| centaur (KENTÁR, mannfákur) | 1) mannfákur, verjór
2) gandór (an adpatation with 'gandur' (in the meaning of 'horse' as the first part. The ending -ór is a pure improvisation which is found numerously in folk etymology)
|
| centigrade scale (CELSÍUSKVARÐI) | hundraðsstigsstaðall |
| centigram (SENTÍGRAMM) | vogeyrir (The ‘eyrir’ of ‘the units of weight’) |
| centilitre (SENTÍLÍTRI) | 1) spónn (the early 20th century name)
2) lagareyrir |
| centimetre (SENTÍMETRI) | lengdareyrir |
| Central African Republic | Miðsuðurríki |
| Cepheus, the constellation | Blálandskóngur (Cepheus was the legendary king of Ethiopia. The word occurs in ‘4’ ) |
| ceremonial (FORMlegur, hátíða-, viðhafnar-) | sniðlegur, dýrdegis-, viðhafnar- |
| ceremonial (viðhafnarsiður, KURTEISISvenja) | viðhafnarsiður, háttvísivenja |
| ceremonious (FORMfastur/ hátíðlegur, viðhafnarlegur) | sniðfastur/ dýrdegis, viðhafnarlegur |
| Ceres (SERES) | Korndís (The Roman godess of agriculture. The word ‘cereal’ is derived from her name.) |
| certified mail (ábyrgðarPÓSTUR) | ábyrgðarsending |
| cha cha cha | þríspor (named after the ‘chasse’ or ‘three step’, expressed in the name of the dance) |
| chain (festa með KEÐJU/ hlekkja) | hlekkja (in all cases) |
| chain (KEÐJA, hlekkir, viðjar) | hlekkir (in all cases) |
| chain letter (KEÐJUbréf) | hlekkjatilrit |
| chain letter (KEÐJUBRÉF) | hlekkjableða |
| chain reaction (KEÐJUverkun/ KEÐJUhvörf) | hlekkjaverkun/ hlekkjahvörf |
| chain smoker (KEÐJUreykingamaður) | síreykingamaður, reykháfur |
| chain stich (KEÐJUspor, lykkjuspor) | lykkjuspor |
| chain store (KEÐJUverslun/ verslanaKEÐJA) | hlekkjaverslun/ verslanahlekkir |
| chain-smoke (KEÐJUreykja) | síreykja, labbandi reykháfur |
| chaingang (KEÐJUgengi) | hlekkjagengi, viðjargengi |
| chakra | orkuhjól (The Sanskrit word means ‘wheel’ and designates any of a number of psychic-energy centres of the body.) |
| chalet (ALPAkofi, fjallakofi) | fjallakofi |
| chalice (KALEIKUR) | bergibolli (berging = Holy Communion), hábolli, fótbolli |
| chalk (KALKsteinn; KRÍT) | hvít (hvítar- in compounds. Derived from Latin ‘terra alba’ (white earth); rithallur (graphic rock) |
| chalk (verb KALKA, KRÍTA (á) | hvítrita |
| chalky (KALKkenndur/ KRÍTARkenndur) | hvítarkenndur/ rithallskenndur |
| chamber (HERBERGI) | stofa (in all cases) |
| chamber maid (HERBERGISþerna) | stofudeigja |
| chamber music (KAMMERTÓNlist) | stofuhljómlist |
| chamber orchestra (KAMMERhljómsveit) | stofuhljómsveit |
| chamberlain | stofumestingi (chamber-master). The word impure 'herbergi' doesn't exist in High Icelandic. |
| chameleon (KAMELJÓN, lithverfingur (obsolete)) | 1) kynngieðla (magic lizard)
2) lithverfingur (An 18th century neologism, coined by members of the ‘lærdómslistafélag’). |
| chammy (VASKAskinn, þvottaskinn) | þvottaskinn |
| chamois (GEMSA) | gumar (see 1) |
| champagne (KAMPAvín) | frakkabólur, sigurbólur (synonym: ‘bubbles’) |
| Champs Elysées | Ódáinsvallarbraut (in Paris) |
| chancel (KIRKJUKÓR) | sönghús (see 3) |
| chancellor (KANSLARI) | forsætisráðdróttinn (The chief minister of state in some European countries) |
| Chancelor, Lord | dómshleifvörður (hleifvörður = lávarður) |
| chandelier (ljósaKRÓNA) | ljósasveigur |
| change (skiptiMYNT) | smáfé, skiptifé |
| chapel (KAPELLA) | bænhús |
| chaplain (KAPELLUPRESTUR) | smáhirðir, smábergir |
| chapter (kafli, KAPITÚLI/ (religious) KÓRbræður) | kafli/ bænhallarbræður (Priests who are a member of a cathedral chapter.) |
| chapter house (samkunduhús KÓRbræðra) | samkunduhús bænhallarbræðra |
| character (eðli/ skapgerð, PERSÓNULEIKI/ PERSÓNA, manngerð) | eðli/ skapgerð, einstaklingseðli/ manngerð, mannvera |
| characterization (PERSÓNUsköpun) | mannverusköpun |
| charcoal (viðarkol/ TEIKNIkol) | viðarkol/ dráttkol |
| charisma (PERSÓNUtöfrar) | einstaklingstöfrar |
| chastity belt (skírlífisBELTI) | skírlífisgjörð |
| chateaubriand | kastalasteik (íslenska alfræðiorðabók, p 254) |
| check (receipt) geymsluNÚMER) | geymslutala |
| checkerboard (SKÁKborð, DAMMborð) | reitaborð, reitungur |
| checkers (DAMMTAFL) | drottningaborð |
| checkmate (MÁT/ verb MÁTA) | 1) kóngsdráp/ drepa kónginn
2) kringjurán/ fremja kringjurán (kringja = crown) |
| Cheddar (Cheddarostur) | kjóðursostur (Cheddar comes from OE Céodor (a gorge). The phonetical adaptation is Kjóður (declined like apaldur (OE apuldor). |
| cheerio (BLESS!) | sæll! |
| cheetah (blettTÍGUR) | 1) snarköttur (fast cat)
2) sprettkóngur (sprint-king) |
| chemical warfare (in Icelandic ‘efnastríð’) | eiturhernaður |
| Cheops (khufu) pyramid | Risastrýtan |
| cheque (ávísun, TÉKKI) | ávísan |
| cheque card (BANKAKORT) | sjóðsspjald |
| chequebook (ávísanahefti, TÉKKhefti) | ávísanahefti |
| cherry (KIRSUber) | neggber (The fruit is generally heart-shaped to nearly globular. The word ‘heart-berry’ is referring to the shape, the most popular red colour of the fruit and the juice) |
| cherry (KIRSUberjatré, KIRSUberjarauða) | neggberjatré, neggberjarauður litur/ adjective: neggberjarauður |
| cherub (varðENGILL/ ENGILbarn) | himinvörður/ vængjabarn (a childlike winged angel -originally meaning 'gracious'.) |
| chervil (kerfill) | kjörlauf (The Greek name of this plant is ‘Anthriskos’. The species name cerefolium means "leaves like wax" and might refer to the bright green color, but is more possibly a spelling mistake for cherifolium (Greek chairephýllon), the name the Romans used for this plant (Greek chaírein "to delight in" and phýllon "leaf", referring to the pleasant aroma of the leaves). Cherifolium is also the source of the modern names in English, French, German and Italian. An obsolete Icelandic spelling mentioned in ‘4’ is ‘kjörvel’, reqembling the Norwegian ‘kjørvel’. I made a mixture of the old spelling and the etymology. The first part ‘kjör’ remains and ‘folium’ is litarally translated. The resulting ‘kjörlauf’ still retains the idea of a delightful herb.) |
| chervil (KERFILL) | glaðlauf (from khairéphyllon, rejoicing leaf.) |
| chess (mannTAFL, SKÁK) | kóngaborð |
| chess master (SKÁKmeistari) | borðsnillingur |
| chess, to play (að TEFLA SKÁK) | að leika kóngaborð |
| chessman (TAFLmaður) | borðherji |
| chest (KISTA) | 1) greppa (an word occuring in old poetry)
2) skokkur |
| chest of drawers (KOMMÓDA, dragKISTA) | draghirsla |
| chestnut (KASTANÍA) | irpuhnot (the chestnut colour = dökkjarpur) |
| cheval glass (hverfiSPEGILL) | hverfigler (Simply gler, like in English) |
| chevron (VINKILmerki) | vaffmerki |
| chewing gum (tyggiGÚMMÍ) | munntogleður |
| chief constble (yfirlögREGLUmaður) | yfirlöggæslumaður |
| chile saltpetre (SÍLESALTPÉTUR) | 1) hersaltsbróðir (Chile saltpetre is NaNO3, the substance that is homologeous to ordinary saltpetre or KNO3. See ‘saltpetre’)
2) lyftissúr sæmálmur (The chemical denotation) |
| Chilean (CHILESKUR) | kölfu- |
| Chili (Síle) | Kölfuland. (The word ‘kalfa’ is an old word for ‘strip of land’, derived from ‘kálfi’ (calve). If Tierra del Fuego is the “foot of the inhabited world”, Chili forms the “calves of the world”). |
| chili con carne | kjöt með surtsblóð |
| chili pepper (SÍLEPIPAR) | surtsaldin (red pepper), surtsfræ (chili pepper seed), surtsblóð (tabasco) |
| chime (hringja KLUKKUM) | dymbla, dinglumdangla |
| chime (KLUKKUspil / KLUKKNAhljómur) | dymblun, dinglumdangl |
| chimney (reykháfur, SKORSTEINN) | reykháfur |
| chimney pot (reykháfsPÍPA) | reykháfshólkur (a cylinder of earthenware or sheet metal placed at the top of a chimney which rises above the roof.) |
| chimpansee (SIMPANSI) | fremdarapi |
| China (KÍNA) | Miðríki (The Chinese name means 'kingdom in the middle') |
| china (POSTULÍN) | skartleir, eystrileir |
| Chinese (KÍNverskur/ KÍNverji/ KÍNverska) | miðrískur (adj.), miðríska (language), Miðríkismaður (inhabitant) |
| Chinese emperor | miðrískur alvaldur |
| chip (HEFILspónn) | lokarspónn |
| chipmunk (jarðÍKORNI) | jarðtoskur |
| Chippendales (male strippers) | Kaupangurdælir (The English name Chippendale derives from the family living in Chippingdale, which was otherwise known as Chippendale. This was the valley in which the village of Chipping (Lancashire) was located. The name of this village is derived from Old English céping, which is equivalent with Icelandic kaupangur and means 'market-place'. The Icelandic equivalent of the valley's name is Kaupangursdalur and the family name derived from the place-name is Kaupangurdælir (like Svarfdælir)). |
| chips (FRANSKAR KARTÖFLUR) | jarðeplafingur |
| chips (KARTÖFLUflögur) | jarðeplaflögur |
| chitin | brynhyrni (Greek ‘khiton’ (tunic, coat of mail). Chitin is the strengthening substance in the exoskeleton of insects) |
| chivalrous (RIDDARAlegur) | reiðherjalegur |
| chivalry (RIDDARAmennska) | reiðherjamennska |
| chlorine (KLÓR) | 1) bleikiloft (named for the bleaching capacity of gaseous chlorine)
2) selti (After the original meaning of salt (NaCL), hence the name saltsýra (salt acid) for hydrochloric acid)
3) gallreykur (The word means bile-smoke, named after bile for its yellowish-green colour. The greek word cholé (bile) is related to chloros (yellow-green) |
| chloroform (KLÓRÓFORM) | maurasúrt selti (chlorine + the name of the hypothetic radical of formic acid (formyle) |
| choc-ice (rjómaís með SÚKKULAÐIbráð) | rjómaís með mógætisbráð |
| chocoholic | mógætisfíkill, guðgætisfíkill (see 'cacao') |
| chocolate (SÚKKULAÐI) | mógæti (or guðgæti)
Compounds with ‘mógæti’ or 'guðgæti' (cacao):
guðgætismjólk, guðgætisbaun, guðgætisduft, frauðmógæti, mógætisbrúnn, mógætissmjör, hvítt mógæti, mjólkurmógæti, dökkt mógæti, mógætisbúðingur, mógætisihlaup (súkkulaðisós) |
| choir (KÓR) | söngflokkur (group of singers)/ sönghús (the part of the chancel between sanctuary and nave) |
| choir master (KÓRstjóri, söngstjóri) | söngstjóri |
| cholate (KÓLAT) | gallsalt (bile-salt) |
| cholera (KÓLERA) | þurrasótt |
| cholesterol (KÓLESTERÓL) | blóðfita |
| choline (KÓLÍN) | gallfjörvi |
| cholinesterase (KÓLÍNkljúfur) | gallfjörvakljúfur |
| chop (of meat) KÓTELETTA, rifjasteik) | rifjasteik, rifja (rifja = rifjasteik, see 7) |
| choral (KÓR-, KÓRsöngs-) | söngflokks-, flokksöngs- |
| choreography (BALLETTgerð, listDANSsamning) | listsporagerð |
| chorister (KÓRsöngvari) | flokkssöngmaður |
| chorus girl (DANSmey, KÓRstúlka) | sporamey/ flokkssöngstúlka |
| Christ (KRISTUR) | 1) Smurður (literal translation)
2) Guðsburi |
| christian (kristinn maður) | 1) guðskind (sheep of god)
2) smurður (an anointed one. The name 'Christ' means 'the anointed' and every christian is anointed, so 'smurður' can be used to designate every christian, not just Christ.) |
| christianity (KRISTNI) | 1) smurðatrú (religion of the 'anointed ones')
2) kindatrú (religion of the sheeps (of God)) |
| christmas card (jólaKORT) | jólaspjald |
| christmas cracker (jólaKNALL) | jólahvellir |
| chrome (KRÓM/ KRÓMlitur/ KRÓMA, KRÓMhúða) | brynskin (hardest metal (9 on mohs scale) having the brightest lustre)/ brynskinslitur/ húða brynskini |
| chromium | brynskin (see chrome) |
| chronicle (ANNÁLL/ færa í ANNÁL/ skrá) | árbók/ færa í árbók/ skrá |
| chronicler (ANNÁLSritari) | árbókarhöfundur |
| chrysalis (PÚPA) | reifla, reiflingur (An old word for ‘reifabarn’. After the Faroese word ‘reivvera’.) |
| chrysanthemum (tryggðablóm, KRÝSANTEMA) | tryggðablóm |
| chrysoberyl | 1) kattarauga (Translation of ‘cat’s eye’)
2) Þriðjusteinn (The third hardest gem) |
| chuck (KJAFI, greip) | greip |
| chummy (KUMPÁNlegur, vingjarnlegur) | vingjarnlegur |
| church (KIRKJA) | 1) (The building) guðsver (This word is based on the word Jezus spoke to St Peter, the fishermen, and the other apostles: "Follow me, and I will make you FISHERS OF MEN". It wouldn't be far-fetched to call churches 'God's fishing stations'. The existing synonym Guðshús does not unambiguously designate a Christian church. It could serve as an equivalent for 'mosque' as well. The term 'guðsver' is based on one of the central features in Christian symbolism
2) (Church as a community) sókn, safnaður (in the sense of ‘community’), e.g. mótmælendasóknin (the protestant world) |
| church bell (KIRKJUKLUKKA) | 1) þrymgjöll (see 1)
2) dymblingur |
| churchgoer (KIRKJUgestur) | 1) tíðafólk (old word)
2) bænagestur |
| chutney (KRYDDAÐ ávaxtamauk) | (bragð)bætt ávaxtamauk |
| cicero (12 points) | frakkneska dílatylft/ deplatylft (= french dozen of points; A cicero is a unit of measure used in typography in France and other continental European countries and is 1⁄6 of the historical French inch, and is divided into 12 points. The term point translates as 'díl' or 'depill' in High Icelandic, not the unicelandic loan-word 'punktur', which is not a part of High Icelandic vocabulary)
|
| cigarette (SÍGARETTA, vindlingur) | vindlingur |
| cigarette case (SÍGARETTUhulstur) | vindlingahulstur |
| cigarette holder (SÍGARETTUmunnstykki) | vindlingsmunnstykki |
| cigarette lighter (SÍGARETTUkveikjari) | vindlingskveikir |
| cinchona (KÍNAtré) | köldubörkur (During the 300 years between its introduction and world war I, kinine, the most important alkaloid of cinchona bark, was the only effective remedy against malaria) |
| cinema (kvikmyndahús, BÍÓ) | kvikmyndahús |
| cinnabar (SINNÓBER) | flotmálmsrauða (mercury red) |
| cinnamon (KANILL) | sælbörkur (the spice-bark) |
| cirrocumulus (MARÍUtása, tása) | tása |
| cisalpine (sunnan ALPAfjalla) | sunnan um fjall (The word ‘fjall’ is also used as a proper noun, of the Alps, in the phrase ‘fyrir norðan fjall’ for ‘Germany north of the Alps’ and ‘sunnan um fjall’ (Italy). The German Emperor was called: ‘keisari fyrir norðan fjall’. The expression occurs in the ‘Fornmanna Saga’ and the ‘Landnáma’.) |
| cistern (KLÓSETTKASSI) | salernisbaukur |
| citizen (ríkisBORGARI, BORGARI) | ríkisþegn, þegn (borgari is a loan-word from German and is impossible in Háfrónska) |
| citizenship (ríkisBORGARAréttur) | þegnsréttur |
| citrine (SITRÍN) | gulaldingler (The distinctive colour of Citrine is due to the presence of colloidal Iron Hydrate and varies from pure yellow to dull yellow, honey or brownish yellow. The honey variety is very similar to imperial topaz) |
| civet | spangarangan (Civet is a substance comparable to musk, but excreted by perineal glands (spangarkirtlar) |
| civic (BORGARAlegur, BORGARA-) | þegnlegur, þegns- |
| civil rights (BORGARAréttindi) | þegnsréttindi, lýðréttindi |
| civil war (BORGARAstríð) | innanlandsstríð, innanlandsstyrjöld, hýróg |
| civilian (óbreyttur BORGARI) | óbreyttur þegn |
| civility (KURTEISI) | háttvísi |
| clarinet (KLARÍNET) | svartahorn (The word means ‘black horn’. Clarinets are traditionally made of ebony) |
| clarion | skærómungur (From Latin ‘clarus’ (hljómskær) |
| classic (KLASSÍSKT verk) | sígilt verk, gullaldarverk |
| classic (KLASSÍSKUR, sígildur, gullaldar-) | sígildur, gullaldar (Never ‘klassískur’) |
| classicism (KLASSISISMI, gullaldarSTÍLL) | gullaldarstefna |
| classics (fornKLASSÍSKAR bókmenntir) | fornbókmenntir |
| clef (NÓTNA) lykill) | lykill |
| clergy (PRESTAstétt, KLERKAstétt) | hirðastétt, bergastétt |
| clerical (PRESTA-, KLERKA-/ ritara-, SKRIFstofu-) | hirða-, berga-/ ritenda-/ ritstofu- |
| cliché (KLISJA, gömul tugga, þvæld setning) | gömul tugga, þvæld setning |
| climactic (háPUNKTS, hástigs) | hámarks-, hástigs- |
| clock (KLUKKA, ÚR) | 1) stundsjá (From ‘hour’, the origin of the Icelandic ‘úr’ and ‘watch’ (sjá)
2) tifald |
| cloister (KLAUSTUR, MUNKAsetur/ KLAUSTURlíf) | helgisteinn (bræðra- eða systrasteinn), bænasetur / helgisteinslíf, bræðra- eða systralíf |
| clothes line (þvottaSNÚRA) | þvottastag |
| cloudberry (MÚLTUber, MOTTUber, hreinsber) | hreinsber |
| clove (NEGULL/ NEGULtré) | nagl/ naglatré (from ‘negulnaglar’, as the unopened flower bud is called.) |
| clover leaf (SLAUFUgatnamót) | smáramót (an interchange between two major highways that allows traffic to change from one to the other without requiring any left turns or crossings and that from above resembles a four-leaf clover.) |
| club (KLÚBBUR) | kolfur (Once used in the sense of ‘association of people’) |
| club together (taka sig saman, mynda KLÚBB) | taka sig saman, mynda kolf |
| coal gas (kolaGAS) | kolaloft |
| coarse (GRÓFUR, stórgerður/ GRÓFyrtur, klúr) | stórgerður/ hroðyrtur (see 7), klúr |
| coat (FRAKKI, stakkur) | stakkur |
| coaxial cable (samása KAPALL) | samása leiðsla |
| cob (MAÍSkólfur) | kornakólfur |
| Cobra movement | þríborgalisterni (The name Cobra is an acronym of Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam) |
| coca leaves | snjóbeiskjulauf (The nick-name of cocaine is snow, because of the snowy crystals, beiskja (bitter) is derived from ‘beiskjuefni’ (alkaloid) |
| coca plant | snjóbeiskjurunni |
| cocaine | 1) snjóbeiskja (beiskjuefni = alkaloid)
2) fjörsnjór (A popular nick-name of cocaine is ‘snow’, named after the snowy appearance of its crystals.) |
| cock-up (KLÚÐUR, klambur) | klambur |
| cocker-spaniel | lubbi (already in use in Iceland) |
| Cockney | Austurendsenska (East-Endish) |
| cockroach (KAKKALAKKI, KLAKKI) | skorskratti (The least wanted of all insects) |
| cocktail (HANASTÉL, KOKKTEILL) | milska (see 4) |
| cocoa (KAKÓ) | mógætisefni |
| coconut | loðhnot, mjólkurhnot, loðfílseista |
| coconut milk | hnotarmjólk (The term ‘milk’ is used also to designate the more or less milky liquid in plants and fruits, especially in the coconut.) |
| cocoon (LIRFUhýði) | ormhýði (Faroese: ‘ormvera’) |
| coeducation (blandað SKÓLAkerfi) | blandað námskerfi |
| coffee (KAFFI) | 1) kyrgi, korgsoð (derived from ‘korgur’, which is almost exclusively used for coffee grounds.) |
| coffee bar (KAFFIhús) | kyrgisshús |
| coffee bean (KAFFIbaun) | korgfræ (the idea of ‘bean’ is too international) |
| coffee plantation (KAFFIPLANTekra) | kyrgisekra (The word plantation literally means ‘the planting something’ and is used as a designation of an area where things are planted. The word ‘gróðursetning’ could be used as an equivalent the Icelandic ‘plantekra’.) |
| coffee, instant (soluble) | korgleysa |
| coin (MYNT/ slá mynt) | gangeyrir, málmfé, kringlungur/ féslátta, smíða málmfé |
| coinage (MYNTslátta) | féslátta, málmfjársmíð |
| coir (KÓKOStrefjur) | hnotatrefjur, hnotastrigi |
| cokes (KOX, sindurkol) | sindurkol |
| cola (KÓK) | hnotgos (The soft-drink containing nut-extracts (the cola nut) |
| cola nut | gosdrykkjarhnot |
| cola: Coca Cola | Snjóbeiskjugos (cocaine is referred to as ‘snow’ because its crystals have a snowy appearance) |
| cold blood, in (með köldu blóði) | með frosnu hjarta |
| cold cream (húðKREM, hreinsiKREM) | hreinsiáburður |
| colic (magaKRAMPI) | magakreppingur |
| collapsible chair (fellistóll, KLAPPstóll) | fellistóll |
| collect money (innheimta, RUKKA) | innheimta |
| collector (innheimtumaður, RUKKARI) | innheimtumaður |
| college (háSKÓLI/ framhaldsSKÓLI) | námshöll/ framhaldsnámshús |
| collegiate (háSKÓLA-, framhaldsSKÓLA) | námshallar-, framhaldsnámshúss- |
| Cologne | Nýstaður við Rín (The name Cologne means 'colony' (Icelandic 'nýlenda' (new land)). It is more appropriate to designate a city with 'borg' or 'staður', as in 'kaupstaður' (see 'Neskaupstaður') |
| colon (tvíPUNKTUR) | tvídepill |
| colonel (OFURSTI) | efstingi (from German ‘oberst’, which literally means ‘highest’. The word ‘efstingi’ is a loan-translation of the German word.) |
| Colorado beetle (KARTÖFLUbjalla) | jarðeplabjalla |
| Colosseum | Hringleikahöll |
| Colossus of Rhodes | Rísalíkneski af Birtugoðinu |
| colter (PLÓGjárn) | vangsni, ristill |
| Columbia (KÓLUMBÍA) | Vængfreðsland (Named after Columbus (The Latin name for’dove’, a symbol of peace) |
| Columbia, district of Columbia) | Vængfreðshérað |
| Columbus | Vængfreður (Columbus’ Italian name Cristoforo Colombo, too, apparently comes from these gentle birds that since the biblical story of Noah have symbolized the spirit of divine harmony and peace. It’s very difficult to use ‘dúfa’ (dove) as a proper name in Icelandic. The name Vængfreður is an alternative way to create the image of the dove.) |
| Columbus, Knights of | Vængfreðsreiðherjar |
| Columbus’ egg | Vængfreðseggið (In the story, Columbus asks the gentlemen in attendance to make an egg stand on end. After the gentlemen successively tried to and failed, they stated that it was impossible. Columbus then placed the egg's small end on the table, breaking the shell a bit, so that it could stand upright. Columbus then stated that it was "the simplest thing in the world. Anybody can do it, after he has been shown how!) |
| come-back | nýfrumraun (Nynorsk: ‘nydebut’) |
| comic book (TEIKNImyndablað) | dráttmyndablað |
| comic opera (gamanÓPERA) | gamansöngleikur |
| comic strip (TEIKNImyndasyrpa/ myndasaga) | dráttmyndasaga/ myndasaga |
| comics (TEIKNImyndasyrpur) | dráttmyndasyrpur |
| comma (KOMMA, högg) | högg |
| commercial vehicle (vöruflutningBÍLL) | vöruvagn |
| Commissioner of Oaths (lögbókandi, NÓTARÍUS) | lögbókandi |
| commune (samyrkjubú, KOMMÚNA) | samyrkjubú |
| communicant (ALTARISgestur) | bergingargestur, brauðstallsgestur (The christian altar is called ‘brauðstallur’) |
| communism (KOMMÚNISMI) | sameignarstefna, rauðherji |
| communist (KOMMÚNISTI) | rauði, sameignarsinni, vinstriherji |
| compact (for face powder: PÚÐURDÓS) | duftdolla |
| compasses (SIRKILL, hringfari) | hringfari |
| composer (TÓNskáld) | hljómskáld |
| composite family (KÖRFUblómaætt) | vandlaupsblómaætt |
| composition (TÓNverk) | hljómverk |
| comprehensive high school (fjölbrautaSKÓLI) | fjölbrautanámshús |
| compute (REIKNA) | rakna (Once used in the meaning of ‘reikna’, see Orðsifjabók) |
| concentration camp (FANGAbúðir) | haftabúðir |
| concert master (KONSERTmeistari, forFIÐLARI) | fyrsta strokharpa (first violin) |
| conclave (PÁFAkjörsfundur) | alhirðiskjósendur |
| concorde | farþegaþura (þura = supersonic jet (flugorðasafn) |
| condiment (KRYDD/ bragðbætir) | bragðbætir |
| condor | risahrævi |
| confess (SKRIFTA, játa SYNDIR sínar) | játa (trúbrot sín) |
| confessional (SKRIFTAstóll) | játningastóll |
| confessor (SKRIFTAPRESTUR, SKRIFTAfaðir) | hlerfaðir |
| confetti | snifsasnjór, gleðisnjór |
| confinement (FANGAvist) | haftavist |
| confirm (staðfesta/ FERMA) | staðfesta (only!) |
| confirmation (staðfesting, FERMING) | staðfesting |
| confucianism (KONFÚSÍUSARhyggja) | Konfúsarhyggja |
| Confucius (KONFÚSÍUS) | Konfús (‘kon’ of ‘konráð’ + ‘fús’) |
| conning tower (stjórnTURN) | stjórnstöpull |
| conscience (SAMVISKA) | viterni |
| conscience, pang of (SAMVISKUbit) | viternisbit |
| conscientious (SAMVISKUsamur) | viternissamur |
| conscientiousness (SAMVISKUsemi) | viternissemi |
| conservatory (listaSKÓLI) | listanámshús |
| constable (lögREGLUþjónn, löggæsluþjónn) | löggæsluþjónn |
| constabulary (lögREGLUlið, löggæslulið) | löggæslulið |
| Constantine (KONSTANTÍN) | Trausti (The name Constantine is derived from Latin Constans, which meant 'constant, steadfast'. It is the equivalent of Icelandic Trausti.) |
| construe (skýra, TÚLKA, (in grammar) greina) | skýra, þýða, málferja (in grammar) greina |
| consul (KONSÚLL, ræðismaður) | ræðismaður |
| contact lens (augnLINSA, snertiLINSA) | snertisgler (Like French ‘verre de contact’ or Dutch ‘contactglas’, which is used along with ‘contactlens’) |
| contraband (SMYGLvarningur) | bannvarningur |
| control tower (flugTURN) | flugstöpull |
| convent (NUNNUKLAUSTUR) | systrabúr, systrasetur |
| convention (siðvenja, REGLA) | siðvenja |
| converging lens (safnLINSA, safngler) | safngler |
| convertible (blæjuBÍLL) | blæjuvagn |
| convulsion (KRAMPI) | kreppingur |
| convulsive (KRAMPAkenndur) | kreppingskenndur |
| cook (KOKKUR/ matreiðslumaður) | 1) eldir (The name of the ‘cook’ of the god Ægir)/ matreiðslumaður
2) brass (Old obsolete word, occurs one time in poetry. In Háfrónska a frequently used word.)
3) matsveinn |
| cookie (KEX/ smákaka) | kökungur/ smákaka |
| cool (slang) | svalur (not the abominable 'Flottur', which is a DANICISM. Avoid this word with all your skladic might. I have used it for years without checking the Orðsifjabók. Shame on me!) |
| cooper (TUNNUsmiður, BEYKIR, laggARI)) | 1) lögguður (from ‘laggari’; the prefix '-ari' is of Latin origin and can't exist in High Icelandic; "beykir" is a danicism))
2) fatsmiður ("tunna" is a loan-word from medieval Latin) |
| copal | suðurraf |
| copeck (KÓPEKI) | spjóteyrir (One hundredth of a rouble. Russian kopéjka, diminutive of ‘kopjë’ (lance), so named from the substitution in 1535 of the figure of Ivan IV on horseback with a lance for that of his predecessor with a sword). The Icelandic ‘eyrir’ can be used in designations of the one-hundredth part of any currency unit: e.g. dalseyrir (cent of a dollar), bretaeyrir (a penny) |
| copestone (hettusteinn, KRÚNUsteinn) | hettusteinn |
| coping (MÚRKRÚNA, vegghetta) | vegghetta |
| copper (KOPAR, eir, rauðmálmur) | eir, rauðmálmur |
| copper (KOPARhúða) | eirhúða |
| copper coin (KOPARpeningur) | eirfé |
| Copperbelt (KOPARBELTI) | Eirgyrðill, Eirgjörð |
| coral (KÓRALL/ KÓRAL-) | rifskraut |
| Coral sea (KÓRALhafið) | Rifhafið |
| Corbusier, Le | Korpaskytinn (Le Corbusier means "raven-archer".
One of his relatives on Le Corbusier's paternal grandmother‘s side was Lecorbesier, Ozenfant changed the variation to Le Corbusier which means “the raven – archer“, the name of a medieval archer who shot the pigeons and ravens that soiled the roofs on churches.
Icelandic korpur = raven, not related to Latin corvus (raven), but like the Latin word onomatopoeic.
The archaic 'skyti' is the true word for 'shooter, marksman', while 'skytta' is a danicism. |
| cord (SNÚRA, reim, snæri/ strengur) | reim, snæri/ strengur |
| cordage (KAÐLAKNIPPI) | reipahneppi |
| Cordon Sanitaire (sóttvarnarBELTI) | sóttvarnargyrðill |
| corduroy (RIFFLAÐ FLAUEL) | rifjavoð |
| coriander (KÓRÍANDRA) | serkjaselja (coined after French ‘persil arabe’) |
| Corinth (KORINÞUBORG) | Grandaborg (Grandi (isthmus) + borg (city)) |
| corinthian order (KÓRINÞÍSKUR byggingarSTÍLL) | súlublómsstefna (Its main characteristic is an ornate capital carved with stylized acanthus leaves.) |
| cork (KORK) | þurreik, tappaviður |
| corn (MAÍS) | kólfgrjón |
| corn pone (MAÍSbrauð) | kólfgrjónabrauð |
| corncob (MAÍSkólfur) | kólfax |
| cornett (KORNETT) | hornungur (cornet is a diminutive of ‘corno’ (horn) |
| cornflour (MAÍSsterkja) | kólfgrjónamjöl |
| cornice (MÚRbrún, veggbrún) | veggbrún |
| Cornish (KORNbreskur) | hornbreskur |
| cornstarch (MAÍSsterkja) | kólfgrjónamjölvi |
| Cornwall | Hornbretland (The first member of the English word is derived from the name of the tribe Cornovii (means ‘people of the HORN, peninsula’); |
| Cornwaller (KORNbreti) | Hornbreti |
| corolla (blómKRÓNA) | blómsveigur |
| corona (sólKÓRÓNA) | sólsveigur, ljóssveigur |
| coronary (adjective. KRANSæða-) | sveigæðastífla/ adjective. sveigæða- |
| coronary (KRANSæðastífla) | sveigæðastífla |
| coronary thrombosis (KRANSæðastífla) | sveigæðastífla |
| coronation (KRÝNING/ KRÝNINARathöfn) | 1) kringing, kringingarathöfn
2) kollbaugun
3) kóngsvígsla |
| coroner (LÍKSKOÐARI, dánardómsstjóri) | dánardómsstjóri |
| correction (TUGThús, betrunarhús) | betrunarhús |
| correspondence school (bréfaSKÓLI) | fjarnámsstofnun (German: ‘Fernlehrinstitut’) |
| corrugate (gára, RIFFLA/ gera báróttan, bylgja) | gára/ gera báróttan, bylgja |
| corrugated cardboard (bylgjuPAPPÍR) | bylgjubleðmi |
| corteous (KURTEIS, HÆVERSKUR) | háttvís, dróttvanur (kurteis originates from Old French ‘courtois’, from ‘cour’ (royal court).) |
| corundum (KÓRUND) | jarlsteinn (kóngasteinn = diamond. The second hardest stone is corundum ‘jarlsteinn’ The idea of ‘noble stone’ is expressed by the titels ‘king’ and ‘earl’ in combination with ‘stone’) |
| cosine (KÓSÍNUS) | aðra hornafall (Cosine is usually the second trigonometric) |
| cosmonaut | gerskur geimfari |
| cossacks | gerskir frjálsherjar |
| cost (KOSTNAÐUR, útgjöld, gjöld, útlát) | útgjöld, gjöld, útlát |
| cost of living (framfærsluKOSTNAÐUR) | framfærsluútgjöld |
| costly (KOSTNAÐARsamur) | dýr, buddumjaltandi |
| costs, at all (hvað sem það KOSTAR) | fyrir alla muni, hvað sem það er dýrt |
| Cote d’azure (ASÚRströnd) | Bláströnd (German ‘Blaue Küste’, named after the water’s shades of blue) |
| cotter pin (SPLITTI, varnagli) | varnagli |
| cotton (baðmull, BÓMull/ BÓMullarþráður) | baðmull/ baðmullarþráður |
| cotton gin (BÓMullarfræskilja) | baðmullarfræskilja |
| cotton wool (VATT, óhreinsuð baðmull, flóki) | flóki (Íslensk samheitaorðabók) |
| cottonseed oil (baðmOLÍA, BÓMOLÍA) | baðmeldvi |
| cotyledon (KÍMblað) | frumblað |
| couch (SÓFI, setbekkur/ legubekkur) | setbekkur/ legubekkur |
| cougar (PÚMA, fjallaljón) | fjallagramdýr |
| cough mixture (hóstaMIXTÚRA, hóstaSAFT) | hóstablanda |
| coulomb | hleðslueining |
| count (GREIFI) | hersir (The 1 mentions: ‘héraðshöfðingi í Noregi á söguöld’. The (3) mentions : ’sá sem þar var síðastur hersir (greifi).’ |
| counterfeit (FÖLSUN; adjective FALSAÐUR, verb FALSA) | vöngun; adjective vangaður; verb vanga (derived from adjective 'vangur') |
| counterfeit money | félíki |
| countess (GREIFAFRÚ) | hersisfreyja, kvenhersir |
| county (GREIFAdæmi) | hersisdæmi |
| coupé (tveggja dyra fólksBÍLL) | tveggja dyra fólksbifreið |
| couple (PAR) | tvennd |
| coupling (KÚPLING, tengsli) | tengsli |
| courante (hlaupDANS) | hlaupspor |
| court (konungsgarður; HIRÐ, drótt, verðung) | konungsgarður; drótt, verðung) |
| courtesy (KURTEISI/ KURTIESISbragð) | háttvísi/ háttvísibragð |
| courtly (HOFmannlegur, KURTEIS) | dróttvanur, háttvís |
| couscous (KÚSKÚS) | serkjastappa |
| cover (KÁPA) | hjúpa (old word) |
| cover picture (KÁPUmynd) | hjúpumynd |
| coverlet (rúmTEPPI) | rúmrý, rúmábreiða |
| cowberry (TÝTUber) | refsber (synonym : ‘fox berry’) |
| cowl (MUNKAKUFL) | bróðurhjúpa |
| coypu (bjórROTTA, NÚTRÍA) | bjórvalska |
| cracker (TEKEX / PÚÐURkerling, KNALL) | laufsoðskekla/ sprengikerling |
| cramped (PLÁSSlítill, þröngur) | þröngur |
| crane (lyfta með KRANA) | lyfta með hegra |
| crane (machine) KRANI, hegri) | hegri |
| crate (rimlaKASSI/ pakka í KASSA) | rimlabaukur/ setja í rimlabauki |
| crease (KRUMPA, brot / KRUMPA(ST), hrukka(st) | brot, hrukka, kryppla / hrukka(st), kryppla(st) |
| credentials (PERSÓNUskilríki) | einstaklingsskilríki |
| credit card (greiðsluKORT) | gjaldspjald |
| creese (also ‘kris’) | ormhnífur (a Malay or Indonesian dagger with a ridged serpentine blade (Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary) |
| crème de menthe (piparMYNTULÍKJÖR) | kælieldveigar |
| crepe (KREPefni, (paper) KREPPAPPÍR) | hrokknaefni / grisjubleðmi |
| crepe paper (KREPPAPPÍR, grisjuPAPPÍR) | grisjubleðmi |
| crepe rubber (hráGÚMMÍ) | hrátogleður |
| Cretaceous (KRÍTartímabil) | 1) hvítartímabil (see 'chalk')
2) rithallsöld (see ‘chalk’) |
| Cretan | ritbergseyingur, mannþjóseyingur |
| Cretan (Krítarbúi/ Krítverskur) | 1) Hvítarbúi, Hvítar-
2) Rithalleyingur/ rithalleyskur
3) Verþjóreyingur/ verþjóreyskur |
| Crete (KRÍT) | 1) Hvít (Hvítar- in compounds)
2) Rithallsey
3) Verþjórsey (island of the minotaurus) |
| cricket (insect: KRYBBA) | fjárungur (English-Icelandic dictionary by Cleasby, Vígfússon and Craigie) |
| crinkle (KRUMPA, hrukka/ KRUMPA) | kryppla, hrukka/ kryppla |
| crinoline (KRINÓLÍNA) | gjarðarrokkur (synonym: hoopskirt) |
| crisp (KARTÖFLUflaga) | jarðeplaflaga |
| crisscross (gera KROSSMUNSTUR í) | gera þversumvígindi í |
| crisscross (KROSSMUNSTUR) | þversumvígindi |
| cro magnon man | 1) ísaldarfrakki (In France, the Cro-magnon man is seen as the first Frenchmen)
2) frumlistamaður (The oldest artistic expressions are the ones that were found in the caves of Lascaux. The producers were the same population that are designated by the term ‘Cro-magnon’) |
| Croatia, Croatian | Kraftverjaland, Kraftverji (The French word ‘cravate’ has the same origin as ‘hrvat’ (croatian) |
| crockery (leirvörur, leirTAU) | leirvörur |
| crocodile (KRÓKÓDÍLAskinn) | kjálkagálknsskinn |
| crocodile (KRÓKÓÐÍLL) | 1) kjálkagálkn (kjálki (jaw) + gálkn (abulous animal/ dangerous monster). Alligators and crocodiles have the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom at this time in nnatural history. Deinosuchus, the ancestor of the crocodile had the strongest jaws of any animal known to science regardless of time period.)
2) brynmerill (bryn + merill (from ‘að mara’). Armoured (thick and plated skin) animal, frequently floating at the surface of the water (mara). In this position they wait for potential prey, often a small mammal, to come to the water’s edge to drink.)
3) nykureðla (especially for the Nile crocodile)
4) bakkaskrímsli (monster of the banks) |
| crocus (dvergLILJA, KRÓKUS) | 1) snæblóm (Samheitaorðabók)
2) dvergleykla (leykla (from ‘laukblóm’) = lilja) |
| croquet (KROKETT) | hamarknattleikur |
| crosier (BAGALL, BISKUPSstafur, krókstafur) | 1) krókstafur (Íslensk samheitaorðabók)
2) krækill (The Íslensk orðsifjabók mentions the meaning of 'krókstafur'. The term 'crosier' is derived from Italian 'croccia' (crook), in the samle way as 'krækill' is derived from 'krókur'.)
3) hjarðstafur (A bishop bears it as "shepherd of the flock of God") |
| cross (KROSS, róðuKROSS, róða/ KROSSmark) | róða, þverstafir/ gjafróða (X-cross, named after the gjöf-rune)/ róðumark/ in compounds: róðu-, þverstafa- |
| cross-legged (með KROSSlagða fætur) | með gjaflaga fætur (like the gjöf-rune) |
| cross-stitch (KROSSsaumur) | þversaumur |
| crossing (skurðPUNKTUR) | skurðdepill |
| crossroad (KROSSgata, þvergata) | þvergata |
| crossroads (KROSSgötur) | þvergötur |
| crosswise (þversum/ í KROSS, á víxl) | þversum/ á víxl |
| crossword (KROSSgáta) | reitagáta |
| crotchet (fjórðungsNÓTA) | fjórðungshljómur |
| crown (currency unit KRÓNA) | kringja |
| crown (KÓRÓNA/verb: KRÝNA) | 1) kringja/ verb: að kringja (If we add meaning of ‘to crown’ to the verb ‘kringja’ we can get derivatives similarly to those of ‘krúna/ krýna’, kringja/ krýna (to crown), kringja/ krúna (a crown), kringdur/ krýndur (crowned, petalled), kringing/ krýning (coronation)
2) kollbaugur/ verb: að kollbauga (for those who find ‘kringja’ is however pure still influenced by the sound of the latin word, ‘kollbaugur’ is an alternative.
3) vígja til konungs |
| crown colony | kónganýlenda |
| crown prince (KRÓNPRINS, ríkisarfi) | ríkisarfi, þenglingur |
| crown princess (KRÓNPRINSESSA, ríkisarfi) | ríkisarfi, kóngsdóttir, þengla (þenglingur = prince) |
| crucifix (róðuKROSS) | róða, þverstafir |
| crucifixion (KROSSfesting) | róðufesting |
| cruciform (KROSSlaga) | róðulaga (right angles), gjaflaga (like a gjöf-rune or X) |
| crucify (KROSSfesta) | róðufesta |
| cruet (KRYDDGLAS, borðflaska) | borðglerald |
| crusade (KROSSferð) | róðuferð |
| crusader (KROSSfari) | róðufari |
| cryolite | ísgrýti |
| crystal (in the meaning of ‘bright glass’) | skrautgler |
| crystal (kristallur) | hagall (The origin of crystal is the Greek ‘krústallos’ (Ice), from ‘krustaínein’ (to freeze), krúos (ice). This typical association with ice is found in the Icelandic ‘hagall’, designating the runic character that is sometimes referred to as the ‘crystal-rune’, due to its shape. The origin of ‘hagall’ is ‘hagl’ (a piece of ice). |
| crystal ball | spásjá, spágler |
| crystal night | glerbrotsnóttin (also called ‘night of broken glass’) |
| Crystal Palace | Glerhöllin |
| crystal vase | glerker, skrautglerker |
| crystalline (KRISTALLAÐUR/ KRISTALtær/ KRISTAL-) | hagalkenndur/ hagaltær/ hagal- |
| crystallization (KRISTÖLLUN) | hagalruni |
| crystallize (KRISTALLAST) | hagalrenna |
| crystallography (KRISTALLAfræði) | hagalfræði |
| Cuba (KÚBA) | Vindlaey (Cuba is often called ‘the land of cigars’. Since Cuba consist of one large island and a few very few islands, we will call the country ‘Vindlaey’ instead of ‘Vindlaeyjar’, which would sound inappropriate.) |
| Cuban (KÚBUmaður/ KÚBANSKUR) | vindlaeyingur/ vindlaeyskur |
| cuckold (KOKKÁLL/ verb KOKKÁLA) | gaukaldur/ verb gaukalda (from medieval English ‘cocold’, ‘kokewold’, ‘kokeweld’, from Old French ‘cucuault’ (cocu (gaukur) and the suffix ‘-ault’, which originated from teutonic ‘valda’, ‘-aldur’ in proper names.) |
| cuckoo flower (hrafnaKLUKKA) | hrafnadymblingur |
| cucumber | lurkepli (Manx ‘slattag ghlass’ (green stick) |
| cuddle (faðmlag, KNÚS) | faðmlag |
| cue (KJUÐI, knatttrré) | knatttré |
| cue (STIKKorð, markorð) | markorð |
| cuff (ermaLÍNING, MANSÉTTA) | handstúka, stál |
| cuff link (ermahnappur, MANSÉTTUhnappur) | ermahnappur |
| cultivator (machine: PLÓGHERFI) | arðurherfi |
| cum (porn slang for sperm) | frjómi (frjór + rjómi) |
| cumin (KÚMEN) | kóngsselja |
| cup (bolli; BIKAR) | bolli; bolli, hábolli (high cup) |
| cupboard (SKÁPUR) | stokkur |
| Cupid | Ástbogi |
| curate (aðstoðarPRESTUR) | 1) fjárhundur (Dutch: ‘herdershond’ is used as an assistant of a priest, like a sheep-dog is the assistant of a herdsman)
2) hjálphirðir |
| curb (beislisKEÐJA) | beislisól (more a strap than a chain) |
| curbstone (KANTsteinn) | randsteinn |
| Curie point | járnseglunarmark (When heated to a certain temperature called ‘Curie point’, the ferromagnetic materials lose their characteristic properties and cease to be magnetic. See 'Néel point') |
| curl (KRULLA(ST), liða(st) | liða(st), kára(st) |
| curl (KRULLA) | kárlokkur (The Orðsifjabók mentions ‘kárr’ (hrokkinn hárlokkur) |
| curling (KURL) | sópleikur, sópkeila |
| curling iron (KRULLUjárn, hárjárn) | hárjárn, kárjárn |
| curly (KRULLAÐUR, liðaður/ hrokkinn) | liðaður, kár/ hrokkinn |
| current (KÚRENNA) | hrukkuber (wrinkle-berry) |
| curry (GARFA, SÚTA, barka, barklita) | barka, barklita |
| curtain (glugga)tjald, GARDÍNA) | (glugga)tjald |
| cushion (PÚÐI) | koddi |
| customer (viðskiptavinur) | kaupanautur (See 7) |
| cut up (RAKKA niður, níða) | níða |
| cutaway (síðJAKKI, lafaFRAKKI) | löfungur, lafastakkur |
| cutlet (KÓTELETTA, rifjasteik, rifja) | rifja, rifjasteik |
| cutter (KÚTTER, skúta) | skúta |
| cyborg | vélvera (cyber + organic) |
| cynic (KYNÍKI, hundingi) | hundingi |
| cypress (KÝPRUSviður) | grátviður |
| Cypriot | eireyingur, eireyskur |
| Cyprus | Eirey (The name of the island is related to the word ‘copper’) |
| Cyrillic alphabet | 1) Gerskir stafir (Russian hcarcters)
2) Kýrilsstafir (Slavic alphabet, the alphabet only found in slavic languages) |
| Czar (SAR, RússaKEISARI) | stólkonungur (originally the title of the Byzantian emperor.) |
| czarina (KEISARAynja (Rússlands) | stóldrottning |
| Czech (TÉKKI/ TÉKKNESKA/ adj TÉKKNESKUR) | hávindlendingur/ hávindlenska/ adj. hávindlenskur |
| Czechoslovak (TÉKKÓSLÓVAKI/ adj. TÉKKOSLÓVASKUR) | Bæheims- og Harfaðamaður (Bohemian-Carpathian)/ Bæheims- og Harfaða- (Harfaðafjöll is the old Icelandic name of the Carpathians) |
| Czechoslovakia (TÉKKOSLÓVAKÍA) | Bæheims- og Harfaðaland |
| dachshund (GREIFINGJAhundur) | grafgaltarhundur |
| daffodil (PÁSKALILJA) | vorjólablóm |
| dagger (RÝTINGUR, laghnífur) | rifjungur (The name of a sword mentioned in the ‘þulur’), laghnífur |
| dahlia (DALÍA, glitfifill) | glitfifill |
| daimyo | Morguneyskur hersir |
| daintiness (FÍNleiki) | ???? |
| dainty (adjective FÍNgerður) | ???? |
| daisy wheel printer (LETURKRÓNAPRENTARI) | rithjól |
| Dalai Lama (DALAI LAMA) | Þaklandsfaðir (Þakland = Tibet (Roof of the world), Gnáfoldargoði |
| Damocles | Tamhléður (Damo comes from ‘daman’ (to tame) an ‘kleos’ (famous), which is related to Icelandic ‘hléður’, which has a similar meaning. The derivation ‘tams’ comes from ‘tamsvöndur’ (the taming (magic) wand.)
Damocles’ sword (sverð DAMÓKLESAR)/ sverð á hrosshári |
| Damocles’ sword (sverð DAMÓKLESAR) | sverð á hrosshári |
| dance (DANSA, DANS) | verb: hrynspora/ noun: hrynspor (compounds : hringsporun (round dance), ljámannsspor (dance macabre)/ sporunarhús (discotheque), sporunargleði (ball) |
| dandified (uppPÚSSAÐUR) | uppábúinn |
| danse macabre (dauðaDANS) | ljámannsspor |
| dare (þora, VOGA sér, dirfast, hætta á) | þora, dirfast, hætta á |
| daring (BÍRÆFNI, fífldirfska) | fífldirfska |
| darn (STOPP, stögun/ verb STOPPA, staga) | stögun/ staga |
| darning needle (STOPPUnál, stagnál) | stagnál |
| dart (kastPÍLA) | kastör |
| dash (ÞANKAstrik) | hugsunarstrik, hikstrik |
| databank (GAGNAbanki) | gagnasjóður |
| date (DAÐLA) | þumalber (The term date itself came to English via Old Provençal ‘datil’ and allegedly goes back to Greek ‘dáktylos’ (finger). This naming was obviously motivated by shape resemblance. The berry does resemble a finger, especially a ‘thumb’. Since it is regarded as a one-seeded berry, hence the name ‘þumalber’.) |
| datepalm | þumlatré, þumalberjatré |
| dauphin | frakklandsarfi, frakkneski ríkisarfi |
| David (Davíð) | Dýrvaldur (David means 'the beloved' and is replaced by Icelandic 'Dýrvaldur'. The ending 'valdur' reminds the fact that David was a king.) |
| David, star of | 1) Dýrvaldsstjarna (See 'David')
2) sexyddingur (six pointer)
3) gyðingahagall (hagall of the jews) |
| davit (bátsugla, DAVÍÐA) | bátsugla |
| Davy Lamp | öryggisljósker (English : ‘safety lamp’) |
| day shift (dagVAKT) | dagvarsla |
| DDT | dauðaduft |
| deacon (DJÁKN/ hringjari) | hirðisþjónn (deacon comes from Greek ‘diakonein’ (to serve)/ hringjandi |
| deaconess | safnaðarsystir (see 2) |
| dead heat (jafnTEFLI) | jafnstæða (á kóngaborði) |
| deadlock (sjálfhelda/ þráTEFLI) | sjálfhelda/ þrástæða (á kóngaborði) |
| dealing (verslunarMÁTI) | verslunarháttur |
| dean (PRÓFASTUR) | 1) dúnfaðir (from Greek dekanos, chief of ten. The Icelandic ‘dúnn’ is an eddaic term designating a group of ‘ten people’.
2) tugartogi |
| deanery (PRÓFASTSdæmi) | dúnföðurdæmi |
| death centre (miðPUNKTUR/ dauður PUNKTUR) | miðdepill/ dauður depill |
| Deborah | Dagbjört |
| decaffeinated (KOFFEÍNlaus) | án kyrgisbeiskju |
| decanter (borðflaska, KARAFFLA) | borðglerald |
| Deccan (peninsula) | Stéttlenskur skagi |
| Deccan (plateau) | stéttlensk heiði |
| December (DESEMBER) | sáðgoðsýlir (The month of the Saturnalia, the roman equivalent of yule (jól). The celebrations were sacred to Saturn, the god of seeds or ‘of sowing’. Saturn is said to have derived its name from sowing (the word ‘satus’ meant sown) |
| decibel | hljóðstíund (hávaðastig = sone) |
| decimal point (tugabrotsKOMMA, tugabrotskil) | tugabrotsskil |
| deck (þilfar, DEKK) | þilfar |
| declutch (verb KÚPLA) | tengsla |
| deep-freeze (frystiKISTA, frystir/ verb djúpfrysta) | frystir, ísgreppa/ verb djúpfrysta |
| deep-sea prawn (stóri KAMPALAMPI, djúpRÆKJA) | djúpsundfætla |
| defeatism (uppgjafarstefna/ vonleysisTÓNN) | uppgjafarstefna/ vonleysishljóð |
| degree (GRÁÐA, stig/ háSKÓLAGRÁÐA) | stig/ hámenntastig |
| degree (háSKÓLAGRÁÐA) | hánámsstig |
| delft | hollenskur skrautleir (Dutch china) |
| Delhi (DELHI) | Dilliborg (Delhi is sometimes refered to as Dilli) |
| Delian (DELÍSKUR) | Bogdíseyingur; bogdíseyskur (Bogdís = Artemis/ Diana. Delos is the island of Artemis. The Icelandic ‘Diljá’ is replaced by Eybogdís (addition of 'ey' in order to refer to the island)
Lady Diana: Bogdís hleifdeigja |
| Delian league (DELÍSKA bandalagið) | Deleyska bandalagið (Delos = Deley, Delian = Deleyskur) |
| delineate (TEIKNA, rissa, draga upp) | draga upp |
| delineation (TEIKNING, uppdráttur/ útLISTUN, útskýring) | uppdráttur/ útskýring |
| delirium tremens (brennivínsæði, drykkjuæði) | áfengisæði, drykkjuæði |
| Delos | Bogdísarey (Island of Artemis (Bogdís), the godess of hunting, represented with a bow) |
| delta (DELTA) | Eyhöfsk dagrún, þrýhyrningsstafur |
| Delta Works (DELTAÁÆTLUNIN) | Óseyriáætlunin (The Deltaworks are a series of constructions built between 1950 and 1997 in the southwest of the Netherlands to protect a large area of land around the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta from the sea.) |
| deluge (SYNDAflóð) | heimsdrekking |
| demerara (hráSYKUR) | hrásætungur |
| Demeter | Korndís (Godess of agriculture and korn, the Greek equivalent of Ceres, the etymological root of the word 'cereal') |
| democrats (DEMÓKRATAR) | sérveldismenn (see 3) |
| demon (púki, DJÖFULL, ári) | púki, ári, illvættur |
| demoness | ódís, heljardís |
| demoniacal (DJÖFULóður/ DJÖFULlegur) | skrattaóður/ skrattalegur |
| demonism (DJÖFLAtrú) | skrattatrú, óvættatrú |
| denarius | (sjöhæskur) táneyrir (Roman dollar/ gyllini is the word used for ‘golden coins’. The dollar ‘dalur’ is used for silver coins, because he original ‘dollar’ is the silver Joachimstaler. The roman denarius was originally a silver coin.) |
| denazification | afþjóðherskun (From þjóðherji = nazi) |
| density (þettleiki/ eðlisMASSI) | þéttleiki/ eðlismostur |
| dentifrice (tann(hreinsi)KREM) | tannþvol (tooth-soap) |
| dentures (gervitennur, FALSKAR tennur) | gervitennur |
| deodorant (LYKTAReyðir) | loftvaeyðir |
| deodorizing (LYKTAReyðing) | loftvaeyðing |
| depilatory (háreyðingaKREM) | háreyðir, hártökuefni (Faroese: ‘hártøkuevni’) |
| derby hat (DERBYhattur, harðkúlauhattur) | harðkúluhattur (see 8), dýrbæjarhattar |
| derrick (KRANI, hegri/ borpallur) | hegri/ borpallur |
| designation (útnefning/ nafn, TITILL) | útnefning/ nafn (never ‘titill’) |
| desillusioned (vonsvikinn, SVEKKTUR) | vonsvikinn |
| desoxyribose | frumgormasæta (the saccharide of the helices of origin) |
| despot (einræðisHERRA/ harðstjóri) | einræðisdrottinn/ harðstjóri |
| detainee (FANGI, bandingi) | haftur, bandingi |
| detective (leynilögREGLUmaður) | leynilöggæslumaður |
| detective story (leynilögREGLUsaga) | glæpasaga (See 7) |
| devil (DJÖFULL, fjandi, púki) | fjandi, skratti, andguð, óvættur |
| devilish (DJÖFULlegur) | fjandalegur |
| dextrine (DEXTRÍN, STERKJUlím) | mjölvalím |
| diabetes (SYKURsýki) | sætblæði |
| diabetic (SYKURsýkisjúklingur) | sætblæðissjúklingur/ sætblæðis- |
| diabolical (DJÖFULlegur/ DJÖFUL-) | fjandalegur/ fjanda- |
| dial (verb velja símaNÚMER) | velja símatölu |
| dial tone (SÓNN) | valhljóð (Dutch: kiestoon (choosing-tone) |
| diamond (DEMANTUR) | 1) kóngssteinn (the noblest of all noble stones, the king of stones)2) alsverfir (a substance that abrases every other substance is the hardest stone)3) þórsgler (strongest glass-like stone) |
| diamond (TÍGULL) | þekill (the origin of ‘tígull’ and ‘tígl’ is Latin ‘tegula’ (þaksteinn) from ‘tego (ég þek). Its easy to create a sound-similar noun from ‘þekja’.) |
| diatomite (kísilGÚR, barnamold) | barnamold |
| dice (TENINGUR, verpill/ TENINGASPIL) | verpill/ verplaleikur |
| didgeridoo | frumbyggjahólkur, andfætlingshólkur |
| diesel engine (DÍSILvél, DÍSILhreyfill) | hrólfsvél, hrólfshreyfill (from ‘Rudolf Diesel’. The name Rudolf translates as ‘hrólfur’ in Icelandic.) |
| diesel fuel/ oil (GASOLÍA, DÍSILOLÍA) | hrólfseldvi |
| dieseling | þjöppunarkveiking |
| differential calculus | deildarröknun |
| digital (stafrænn) | tölrit- (Sigurður Hreiðar) |
| dilettante (viðvaningur, FÚSKARI) | viðvaningur |
| dimble (SPÉKOPPUR, brosbolli) | brosbolli |
| dime | dalstíund (a tenth of a dollar) |
| dimole (dimple: SPÉKOPPUR, brosbolli) | brosbolli |
| dinar | táneyrir (Originally a Roman silver coin of the value of about fourteen cents, the ‘penny’ of the New Testament. The foreign name can be adapted to Icelandic by making a compound of ‘tán-‘ (‘ten’ in ‘þrettán’ or ‘táningur’) and ‘eyrir’ (cent, currency (gjaldeyrir). |
| dinner jacket (SMÓKINGJAKKI) | selfuglsföt (pinguin-clothes. The plumage of penguins are often compared to tuxedos.) |
| dinner service (matarSTELL) | matarsamstæða (literal translation of English ‘dinner service’.) |
| dinner set (matarSTELL) | matarsamstæði |
| diocese (BISKUPSdæmi) | 1) stóldæmi
2) hjarðsýsla, guðsýsla |
| diode (tvistur, DÍÓÐA) | tvistur |
| dioxide (DÍOXÍÐ, tvísýringur) | tvíildi |
| diplomatic (DIPLÓMATÍSKUR) | ríkiserindrekstrar- |
| dipstick (OLÍUkvarði) | dýfingarstaðall |
| directive (tilskipun, REGLUgerð) | tilskipun |
| dirge (jarðarfararSÁLMUR, útfararsöngur) | jarðarfararsöngur, útfararsöngur |
| discjockey (PLÖTUsnúður) | skífusnúður |
| discotheque (DANShús, DISKÓTEK) | sporunarhús |
| disfranchise (svipta BORGARAréttindum) | svipta þegnréttindum |
| dishwasher (uppVASKARI) | uppþvottasveinn |
| disorder (ringulreið, óREGLA) | ringulreið |
| dissenter (utanKIRKJUmaður) | frjálstrúarmaður (Swedish: ‘frireligiös’) |
| disturb (TRUFLA, ónáða) | ónáða |
| disturbance (TRUFLUN, ónæði) | ónæði |
| divan (DÍVAN, legubekkur) | legubekkur |
| diverging lens (dreifigler, dreifiLINSA) | dreifigler |
| dividers (SIRKILL, hringfari) | hringfari |
| divine service (guðsþjónusta, MESSA) | guðsþjónusta |
| DNA | frumgormar (plural tantum because it’s a double helix) |
| Dnjepr | Danpur (see 1) |
| Dnjepropetrovsk | Danparpétursborg |
| docent (DÓSENT) | hákennandi, fræðsluþegn |
| dockyard (skipasmíðastöð, SLIPPUR, dráttarbraut) | dráttarbraut, skipasmíðastöð |
| doctor (DOKTOR) | háfræðingur |
| doctorate (DOKTORSGRÁDA) | háfræðingsstig |
| doctrinaire (KREDDUþræll/ adjective KREDDUfastur) | kenningarþræll/ adjective: kenningarfastur |
| dodo (DÓDÓ, þeffugl) | þeffugl |
| dogma (trúarkenning/ KREDDA, kennisetning) | trúarkenning/ kennisetning |
| doll (brúða, DÚKKA) | brúða |
| doll (brúða, DÚKKA, táta) | brúða, táta |
| dollar (DOLLARI, dalur) | dalur |
| doll’s house (brúðuhús, DÚKKUhús) | brúðuhús |
| Domesday Book (DÓMSDAGSBÓKIN) | Vilhjálmsskráin |
| domino game (DÓMÍNÓTAFL) | flatverplaborð (Dominos tiles are sometimes called ‘flat dice’. Like in Dutch, names of board-games are compounds with ‘borð’ in High Fronian, instead of ‘tafl’ in Icelandic.) |
| donkey | eyrjálkur |
| doodle (krot/ verb krota, pára, KRASSA) | krot/ krota, pára |
| doorplate (dyraSKILTI, hurðarSKILTI) | dyraskildi, hurðarskildi |
| doorstep (dyraþrep, útidyraTRAPPA) | dyraþrep |
| dope (gefa eiturlyf, DÓPA/ uppDÓPAÐUR, í vímu) | gefa eiturlyf/ í vímu |
| dope (smurningsOLÍA, fernisOLÍA) | smurningseldvi |
| Doppler-effect (Doppler-hrif) | tíðniafstæði (frequency-relativity) |
| Dorian (DÓRI; DÓRÍSKUR) | Darrverji; darrverskur (The name of the tribe is related to Greek "dóry" (spear)) |
| Dorian style (DÓRÍSKUR BYGGINGASTÍLL) | Darrversk byggingalist |
| Dorothy | Guðgjöf |
| dot (PUNKTUR, depill/ PUNKTA, setja PUNKT (við/yfir) | depill/ setja depil (lokdíl) (við/yfir) |
| dot matrix printer (nálaprentari) | nálritunarvél |
| dotted line (PUNKTALÍNA) | deplastrik |
| double bass (KONTRABASSI) | standstrokharpa (standfiðla with replacement of fiðla by strokharpa) |
| double-decker (tvílyftur STRÆTISvagn, tvíþilja) | tvíþilja |
| doughnut (KLEINUhringur) | 1) hjólkur (hjól + hólkur, torus, cylindrical wheel)
2) hjólbaka
3) sætuhringur |
| downpour (hellirigning) | himinfoss, hellirigning |
| draftsman (TEIKNARI/ skjalaritari) | dráttmaður/ skjalaritandi |
| dragon (DREKI) | eldgálkn, gandeðla (in compounds: bryngálkn, bókagálkn) |
| dragon fly (DREKAfluga, vogvængja, glermey) | vogvængja, glermey |
| dragoon (RIDDARI) | reiðherji |
| Drakensberg (DREKAFJÖLL) | Gálknagnípur |
| dram | lúka (From Greek ‘drachma’ handful)
lyfjalúka (apothecaries weight = 3,887 g)
bresk lúka (avoirdupois weight = engilsaxneskt vogarkerfi) |
| dram (staup, SJÚSS) | staup |
| draught beer (ÁMUbjór) | keraldsöl |
| draught of air (TREKKUR, dragsúgur) | súgur, vindsog, dragsúgur |
| draughts (DAMMTAFL) | drottningaborð |
| draughts, to play | að leika drottningaborð |
| draughtsman (TEIKNARI) | dráttmaður/ dráttskáld |
| Dravidian | dökkur stéttlendingur (dark Indian)/ dökkstéttlenskur |
| draw (draga, draga upp, TEIKNA) | draga, draga upp |
| draw (jafnTEFLI) | jafnstæða (á kóngaborði) |
| drawer (SKÚFFA, draghólf, skotald) | draghólf, skotald |
| drawing (TEIKNING, dráttmynd, uppdráttur) | dráttmynd, uppdráttur |
| drawing board (dráttborð) | dráttborð |
| drawing pin ( STIFTI, TEIKNIBÓLA) | dráttnagli |
| drawing room (viðhafnarstofa, STÁSSstofa) | viðhafnarstofa |
| dreadlocks | blökkufléttur |
| dress (KJÓLL) | fang (See ‘Íslensk Orðabók’) |
| dresser (eldhúsSKÁPUR, SKENKUR) | skekkur (The pure Icelandic equivalent of the loan-word 'skenkja' is 'skekkja' (see Íslensk orðsifjabók), from which 'skekkur' can be derived.) |
| dressing (SALATSÓSA) | blandlaufsídýfa |
| dressing room (búningsHERBERGI) | búningsstofa |
| drip-dry (STRAUFRÍR) | strokfrjáls |
| drive-in (BÍLA-) | bifreiða-, akvéla- |
| drive-in (BÍLABÍÓ) | kvikmyndastæði |
| droll (KOSTUlegur, skoplegur) | skoplegur |
| drollery (KOSTUleg, skopleg fyndni) | skopleg fyndni |
| dromedary | 1) einhnýðingur (one-lumped one)
2) vinjadýr (oases-animal)
3) auðnarskip (ship of the desert) |
| drugs | vosæla (synonym ‘eiturlyf’), eiturlyf |
| drugstore (lyfjabúð, APÓTEK) | lyfjabúð |
| druid | mistilgoði (refers to the ceremonial cutting of the ‘mistletoe’, an imporant feature of druidical rites) |
| drum (TROMMA, TRUMBA) | bumba |
| drum beat (TROMMUsláttur, TRUMBUsláttur) | bumbusláttur |
| drum majorette (TAMBORÍNA) | bumbumey |
| drummer (trommuleikari) | bumbumaður |
| drumstick (TROMMUKJÚÐI) | slegill, bumbutré |
| dub (slá til RIDDARA) | slá til reiðherja |
| duchess (HERTOGAynja) | kventyggi (see ‘duke’) |
| duchy (HERTOGAdæmi) | tyggjadæmi (see ‘duke’) |
| duet (DÚETT, tvísöngur) | tvísöngur |
| duke (HERTOGI) | tyggi (an old purely Scandinavian word related to ‘duke’ and ‘togi’ in hertogi. It is one of the many synonyms for king that occur in poetry.) |
| dumbbell (handLÓÐ) | mundvægi (vigt is a loan-word) |
| dumper (STURTUBÍLL) | steypivagn |
| dunce (TOSSI, heimskingi) | heimskingi |
| duraluminium | harðleirmálmur (A hard alloy of aluminium widely used in aircraft construction, may contain about 3 or 4 percent copper, 1/2 to 1 percent manganese, 1/2 to 1 1/2 percent magnesium, and, in some formulations, some silicon.) |
| duraluminium | harðleirstál (A hard alloy of aluminium widely used in aircraft construction, may contain about 3 or 4 percent copper, 1/2 to 1 percent manganese, 1/2 to 1 1/2 percent magnesium, and, in some formulations, some silicon.) |
| dustbin (ruslaTUNNA, sorpTUNNA) | ruslafata |
| dustcart (sorpBÍLL) | sorpvagn |
| Dutch (HOLLENSKA; HOLLENSKUR) | holtlenska; holtlenskur |
| Dutchman (HOLLENDINGUR) | Holtlendingur |
| dynamite | elfráðstundur (Alfred’s explosive (Nobel) |
| e-mail (tölvuPÓSTUR) | netskeyti (Sigurður Haraldsson) |
| E.E.C. | Kvöldlenska Efnahagsbandalag |
| earnest, in (í ALVÖRU/ adj. ALVARlegur, einlægur) | í alhuga, án gamans/ adj. alhugull (Derived from ‘alhugi’, the older and truly Scandinavian word. The modern ‘alvara’ is a germanism.)/ einlægur |
| Easter (PÁSKAR) | 1)vorjól (= Spring-Yule. The christian ‘jól’ now falls on december 25 because early Christians wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival on winter solstice (Jól of the pagan Norsemen). The name ‘Easter’ was derived by Bede from the name of a godess, whose feast was celebrated at the vernal equinox, March 21, the spring equivalent of yule. Easter is also comparable with christmas because ‘resurrection’ is a kind of rebirth.
Compounds with ‘vorjól’ (vorjólaey = Easter island, vorjólalamb = paschal lamb)
2) drottinssunna (Easter-Sunday, sunday of the Lord) |
| Easter bunny (PÁSKAhéri) | eggjahéri |
| Easter egg (PÁSKAegg) | héraegg |
| Easter holidays (PÁSKARFRÍ) | vorjólaleyfi |
| Easter Monday (annar í PÁSKUM) | annar í vorjólum, dróttinsmánudagur |
| Easter Sunday (PÁSKAdagur) | drottinssunna |
| Eastertide (PÁSKAvika) | vorjólavika, drottinsvika |
| ebonite (tinnuGÚMMÍ, harðGÚMMI) | harðtogleður |
| ebony (ÍBENholt, svartviður) | hrafnviður |
| ecclesiastic (KLERKUR) | hirðir, bergir, guðsþjónn |
| ecclesiastical (KIRKJUlegur/ KLERKAlegur) | guðshúsbundinn/ hirðislegur, bergislegur |
| Eden | Frumgarður |
| eggnog (eggjaPÚNS, eggjahristingur) | eggjahristingur |
| Egypt | 1) Ýfilland (scarab-land)
2) Árvinjarland (land of the river-oase. The Nile-valley is seen as the worlds largest oasis.) |
| Egyptian | 1) ýfillenskur
2) Árvinskur (see Egypt) |
| Egyptian (EGYPTI) | 1) Ýfillendingur
2) Árvinjungur (see Egypt) |
| egyptology (EGYPTAfræði | ýfillandsfræði (Ýfilland = Egypt, land of the scarab) |
| eighth note (áttundaPARTSNÓTA) | hljómstafsáttungur (hljómstafur = note) |
| einsteinium (EINSTEINÍN) | Albjartsblý (Albert's lead, element nr. 99) |
| eiology (ORSAKAfræði) | atvaldafræði (see ‘cause’) |
| eisschießen | skotfími á svelli |
| electronic organ (rafmagnsORGEL) | rafómvél |
| elektra complex | Rafmeyjarduld (Greek ‘elektron’ = ‘raf’) |
| elementary school (grunnSKÓLI) | grunnnámshús |
| elements (NÁTTÚRUöfl) | umheimsöfl |
| embankment (upphlaðinn) KANTUR) | (upphlaðin) brún |
| embroider (BALDÝRA, vírsauma, sauma glitsaum) | vírsauma, sauma glitsaum |
| emerald (SMARAGÐSgrænn) | dýrsægrænn |
| emerald (SMARAGÐUR) | sægrænusteinn, merli (from verb ‘merla’, sound-similar to ‘emerald’. See’ heliodor’ (gullmerli), morganite (rósamerli), blámerli (aquamarine) |
| emery (SMERGILL) | rifduft/ jarlsteinssdúft (jarlsteinn = corundum, the second hardest mineral) |
| emery paper (sandPAPPÍR) | slípiblað |
| emigré (PÓLÍTÍSKUR flóttamaður) | stjórnmálalegur flóttamaður |
| emir | serkjakóngur |
| emperor (KEISARI) | alvaldur, hákóngur |
| empress (KEISARAynja) | alvaldskona, hádrottning |
| emu | bryntoppsbróðir (The brother of the cassowary (bryntoppur) |
| enamel (SMELTA, glera) | glera |
| encore (aukaNÚMER) | aukatala |
| encyclical (umburðarbréf PÁFA) | helgt umburðarrit |
| end in a derivation of the greek word ‘klasis’ (a breaking) | |
| enema (stólPÍPA) | stólhólkur |
| enfranchise (veita BORGARAleg réttindi) | veita þegnréttindi |
| engraver (LETURgrafARI) | stafagröfuður |
| engraving (LETURgröftur) | stafagröftur |
| Ennead, the | Nígyðisætt (The Eddiac word for a group of nine people, the eternal nine, the nine gods) |
| enzyme (ENSÍM, hvati) | hvati |
| Eolia, Eolian | jólverskur, Jólverjaland |
| epha | lúknatugur (A hebrew unit of dry measure corresponding with 10 omer (omer means ‘a handful’ (lúka) |
| ephedrine | marvöndulslyf (ephedra, marvöndull), or simply 'marvöndull' as a designation of the medecine |
| epic (EPÍSKUR, sagnrænn) | sagnrænn |
| epidote | grænhnotarsteinn (synonym ‘pistacite’, pistache = grænmandla (Dutch ‘groene amandel) |
| episcopal (BISKUPlegur, BISKUP-, BISKUPA) | 1) stólföðurlegur, stólföður-
2) guðshersis- |
| epsilon | einfalt e (literal translation) |
| Epsom salt (EPSOMsalt, MAGNÍNSÚLFAT) | 1) Ebbaheimssalt (Named after Epsom, a British village. The name means ‘Homestead or village of a man called Ebbe or Ebbi’).
2) brennisteinssúr klémálmur (Magnesium sulphate). |
| equalizer (TÓNjafnari) | hljómjafnandi |
| eraser (TÖFLUþurrka) | veggborðsþurrka |
| erg | yrklingur, ork (from ‘orka’). The name of this unit of work and energy originates from Greek ‘ergon’ (to work) and has Indo-European cognates in Icelandic ‘orka’, ‘yrkja’ and ‘verk’. The diminutive suffix should emphasize the smallness of this unit (1 erg = 10-7 joule) |
| Ernest, Ernst (German name) | 1) Alhuginn (semantical equivalent)
2) Arnsteinn (merely phonetical equivalent) |
| Eros | Ástbogi (See Amor, Eros) |
| Erythrocyte (rauðkorn, roðra) | roðra |
| escalator (RÚLLUstigi, rennistigi, stigalyfta) | rennistigi (see ‘roll’), stigalyfta |
| Escorial (SKORJÁLL) | Jóvinshöll (Build by the Spanish king Philip II. The proper name ‘philip’ (meaning ‘horse-friend’) translates as Jóvin (existing name) in Icelandic.) |
| Eskimo, Inuit (ESKIMÓI) | 1) nyrstingi (The northernmost (people)
2) eiríkslappi (The laps of Eric (the red)
3) snæverji (snow-man) |
| Esperanto | Vonarmál (nick-named ‘the language of hope’) |
| estate car (SKUTBÍLL, langbakur) | langbakur |
| ester (ESTRI) | saltbróðir |
| esterase (ESTRAkljúfur) | saltbróðurkljúfur, þurrhlaupskljúfur |
| esterification (ESTRAmyndun) | saltbróðurmyndun |
| esterify (mynda ESTRA) | mynda saltbróður, þurrhlaup |
| Esther | Ástvör (merely phonetical) |
| ether (diethyl ether: ETER) | rokefni, rokvi |
| Etna (ETNA) | Eldgoðsfjall (in the Ancients' belief home to Vulcanus, God of Fire) |
| etrogen (ESTRÓGEN, brímavaki) | brímavaki |
| Eucharist (kvölðmáltíðarSAKRAMENTI) | kvöldverðarnáðarmeðal |
| euphonium | þungóma horn, þungómungur (The term ‘bariton’ originates from Greek (barútonos = heavy tone.) |
| Euphrates | Frjóæða (The fertile vein) |
| Eurasia | Stórálfa, Svartahafsálfa |
| euro | sambandsdalir (The EEC is commonly referred to as ‘the Community’ or ‘the Common Market’. In Dutch, the expression ‘communautaire goederen’ or ‘gemeenschapsgoederen’ (bandalagsvörur) is used to designate products belonging to the Common Market. The ‘Euro’ can be regarded as being the ‘dollar’ of ‘the Community’) |
| Euro cent (EVRÓSENT) | sambandseyrir (the community’s cent) |
| Europe (EVRÓPA) | kvöldland (German: ‘Abendland’, the opposite of ‘Morgenland’, which designated Asia.) |
| European (EVRÓPSKUR, EVRÓPUmaður) | kvöldlenskur, kvöldlendingur |
| European Economic Community | Efnahagsbandalag Kvöldlands |
| evaporated milk (DÓSAmjólk) | dollumjólk (literal translation) |
| ex-directory (óskráður, með óskráð símaNÚMER) | óskráður, með óskráðri símatölu |
| examimination (gen_list of knowledge: PRÓF) | raun |
| examination paper (PRÓFritgerð) | reynsluritgerð |
| examiner (PRÓFANDI) | reynir (Thanks, Kolur) |
| Excalibur | hringborðssverð |
| excavator (grafari/ skurðgrafa, vélSKÓFLA) | gröfuður/ skurðgrafa, vélreka |
| excel (skara fram úr, gera með GLANS) | skara fram úr, gera með gljáa |
| executioner (BÖÐULL) | banasveinn, drápsþjónn |
| exegesis (TEXTAskýring) | lesmálsskýring |
| exhaust manifold (útblástursgrein, PÚSTgrein) | útblástursgrein |
| exhaust pipe (útblástursRÖR, PÚSTRÖR) | útblásturshólkur |
| exhibitionism (STRÍPALINGUR) | maður með sýnihneigð |
| exhibitionism (STRÍPIhneigð, sýnihneigð) | sýnihneigð |
| exocrine gland (útkirtill, PÍPUkirtill) | útkirtill |
| expense account (KOSTNAÐARreikningur) | útgjaldaröknun |
| expenses (KOSTNAÐUR, útgjöld) | útgjöld |
| expensive (dýr, KOSTNAÐARsamur) | dýr, buddumjaltandi |
| expiate (afPLÁNA, bæta yfir) | bæta yfir |
| expiation (afPLÁNUN, yfirbót) | yfirbót |
| express (hraðsending, hraðPÓSTUR) | hraðsending |
| expressionism (EXPRESSJÓNISMI, tjáSTÍLL) | tjástefna, tjálisterni |
| extension cord (framlengingarSNÚRA) | framlengingarsnæri |
| external (ÚTVORTIS, utanverður) | utanverður (‘útvortis’ is a corruption of the danicised German word, see internal) |
| external student (utanSKÓLAnemandi) | utannemi |
| eye-piece (augngler, augnLINSA) | augngler |
| F-16 (falcon-16) | fálki-16 |
| Fabian | Bauni (The name Fabian is derived from Latin ‘faba’ (baun). The Icelandic ‘Bauni’ sounds like tha second syllable of the name) |
| face cream (andlitsKREM) | smettismjör |
| face powder (andlitsPÚÐUR) | andlitsduft |
| Fahrenheit, degree | smáhitastig (The smallest units of temperature) |
| fair (MARKAÐUR) | boðangur (See 1: ‘boðstóll, sölutorg’. It occurs in the expression: ‘hafa e-ð á boðangri’ (offer for sale, expose for sale) |
| fair ground (MARKAÐSsvæði) | boðangurssvæði |
| Falangists | spænski þjóðherji (þjóðherji = nazi) |
| fall out , radioactive (geislavirkt ofanfall) | geislasnjór |
| fallow deer (DÁDÝR) | ljóshjörtur (Fallow is related to Old Norse ‘Fölur’. The Manx name is ‘feeaih fynn’, from ‘feeaih’ (deer) and ‘fynn’ (blonde, fair (of hair, skin) |
| false bottom (FALSKUR botn, leynihólf) | vangur botn, leynihólf |
| false pretences (FALSKT yfirskin) | vangt yfirskin |
| false start (þjófSTART) | offlýti (Gunnar Davíðsson), svikviðbragð |
| false teeth (FALSKAR tennur, gervitennur) | gervitennur |
| falsetto (FALSETTA) | mjórödd, mjómur (Contraction of mjó- and ómur, formed after the Faroese: mjórödd) |
| fan tan | leirhnappaleikur (This is an intriguing and very ancient Chinese game using porcelain buttons.) |
| farao | ýfilkóngur (scarab-king) |
| farce (FARSI, ærslaleikur/ skrípaleikur) | ærslaleikur/ skrípaleikur, skrípaleikrit |
| farcical (FARSAkenndur, fáránlegur) | fáránlegur |
| farewell party (BLESSPARTÍ, kveðjuhóf) | kveðjuhóf |
| faro | ýfilkóngur (The game was named after the pharaos) |
| farthing | Enskur eyrisfjórðungur (1/4 penny) |
| fascism (FASISMI) | vandstefna (After the word ‘vandsveinn’, the Icelandic word for lictor, a member of an ancient Roman class of magisterial attendants who carried the fasces (vöndur).) |
| fascist (FASISTI) | vandsveinn (The old word for lictor, the roman officer who bore an ax and fasces or rods, as ensigns of his office. The word could serve also serve as the modern designation of ‘fascist’.) |
| fascistic (FASÍSKUR) | vandstefnu- |
| fastidiousness (vandfýsni, GIKKsháttur) | vandfýsni |
| faucet (KRANI, vatnshani) | hani, vatnshani |
| faun | verhafur (Half a man, half a goat (compare ‘verúlfur’ (werewolf) |
| fauna | kviklíf |
| February (FEBRÚAR) | stuttmánuður |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation | Alríkislöggæsla Bandaríkjanna |
| feldspar | brotgrýti (I chose this compound because of the fact that feldspars are known to break very easily and because the names of the two main groups orthoclase (réttbryti) and plagioclase (skábryti) |
| felt-tip(ped) pen (TÚSSPENNI) | flókablekungur |
| fer de lance (LENSUnaðra) | geirnaðra |
| ferret | húsmörður (domestic animal) |
| ferule (REGLUstika, refsistika) | refsistika |
| festival (HÁTÍÐ/ HÁTÍÐISdagur) | dýrdegi |
| feudal (LÉNS-, LÉNSskipulag) | láns-, lánsskipulag |
| feudalism (LÉNSskipulag) | lánsskipulag |
| feudatory (LÉNSmaður) | lánsmaður |
| fez | fata, fötuhattur (German: eimerformiger Hut) |
| fibreboard (trefjaPLATA, spónaPLATA) | trefjaspjald, spónaspjald |
| fibrinase (FIBRÍNstillir) | trafstillir (fibrín = traf, see 5) |
| fibrination (FIBRÍNsmyndun) | trafmyndun |
| fibrine film (FIBRÍNskæni) | trafskæni |
| fibrinemia (FIBRÍNdreyri) | trafdreyri |
| fibrinolysin (FIBRÍNleysir) | trafleysir |
| fiddler (FIÐLARI) | strokmaður, strýkir |
| field glasses (sjónauki, KÍKIR) | sjónauki, fjarsjá |
| field hospital (bráðabirgða(her)SPÍTALI | vígvallarhæli |
| field marshal (herMARSKÁLKUR) | vallarforingi |
| field officer (undirOFURSTI, MAJÓR) | undirefstingi |
| field test (PRÓF (við raunverulegar aðstæður) | útitilraun |
| fiendish (DJÖFULlegur) | helvítlegur, fjandalegur |
| fife (hljóðPÍPA, FLAUTA) | blístra, hljóðhólkur |
| fig (FÍKJA) | vépera (pear-shaped holy fruit) |
| fig tree (FÍKJUtré) | véperutré, blygðunarblöðungur (Tree holding the leaves of shame) |
| fighter plane (orrustuflugvél) | stálörn (stálörn (Many names of fighter-planes are named after birds of prey (F-16 fighting falcon, F-15 Eagle, F-15E strike-eagle, F-117 nighthawk, to name a few of them). This name could be regarded as being too poetic for daily use, but what about ‘skriðdreki’ then) |
| fighter plane (orrustuflugvél) | vélörn (Many names of fighter-planes are named after birds of prey (F-16 fighting falcon, F-15 Eagle, F-15E strike-eagle, F-117 nighthawk, to name a few of them). This name could be regarded as too poetic for daily use, but then what about ‘skriðdreki’). |
| figure-head (stafnlíkan/ TOPPFÍGÚRA) | stafnlíkan/ draumlíkami |
| figured (MYNSTRAÐUR) | vígindaður |
| film (FILMA, himna) | myndskæni, skæni (medicine), þynna, himna (physics) |
| film star (kvikmyndastjarna) | hvítatjaldsgyðja/goð |
| film strip (FILMRÆMA) | myndlengja |
| Financial Times | Breska Fjármálablaðið |
| fine (FÍNN) | 1. smáger, mjór
2. af æðri stétt
3.skrautklæddur
4. ágætur (The word ‘fínn’ and its derivations don’t exist in High Icelandic) |
| finely (hárFÍNT, á fágaðan hátt) | á fágaðan hátt |
| finite verb (sögn í PERSÓNUhætti) | sögn í mannveruhætti |
| Finland (finnland) | Vatnaland, Finnland |
| fire arm (skotvopn, BYSSA) | laufi, skotvopn |
| fire brick (eldfastur MÚRsteinn) | eldfastur veggsteinn |
| fire cracker (kínverji, PÚÐURkerling) | eldkerling |
| fire engine (slökkvibifreið, brunaBÍLL) | slökkvibifreið, brunavagn |
| fire work (skoteldur) | eldblóm (plural) A translation of the Japanese word ‘hanabi’. The word is a combination of "hana", meaning "flower", and "bi"/"hi", meaning "fire".) |
| firkin (KVARTILL, lítil tunna) | kútur (an old synonym) |
| firm (FIRMA, fyrirtæki) | fyrirtæki |
| first lady (forsetaFRÚ Bandaríkjanna) | alríkisfreyja |
| first-aid kit (sjúkraKASSI) | sjúkrabaukur |
| fishing tackle (veiðiGRÆJUR) | veiðiáhöld |
| fistula (FISTILL, PÍPUsár) | sáráll |
| fixer (FIXERbað, festibað, festivökvi) | festibað, festivökvi |
| flaccidity (linka, SLAPPleiki) | linka/ linleiki |
| flag (FLAGG, FÁNI, veifa) | vé, veifa, vindvoð, flökti, stangarklæði (fáni, flagg are loan-words and as a consequence thay can’t exist in High Fronian)
national flagg: þjóðvoð (singular, the nations cloth)
Icelandic flagg: frónbrók (The existing flag with the dannebrog design), þórsfrónvoð (The Icelandic flag with the thunderhammer design) |
| flag pole (FLAGGstöng) | véstöng (Old word) |
| flageolet | flipablístra (Icelandic ‘flipaflauta’) |
| flagman | véberi |
| flail (þreskiÞÚST, ÞÚST) | þusl (see 1), þreskill |
| flamenco | spænskur flakkverjaspor, suðurspænsk hljómlist |
| flamingo | leggálft (After Dutch ‘stelt-zwaan’ (long-shanked bird) |
| flamingo (FLÆMINGI, FLAMINGÓI) | 1) funafugl (the word flamingo is related to English 'flame' and refers to the reddish colour of the bird. The latin name Phoenicopteridae is derived from Phoenix (the fire-bird)
2) leggálft (After Dutch ‘stelt-zwaan’ (long-shanked bird) |
| flange (FLANS, (hjólKRAGI) | (hjól)helsi |
| flannel (FLÓNEL) | loðklæði (See 7) |
| flapjack (PÖNNUKAKA) | hveðnukökur |
| flash cube (FLASSkubbur) | leifturkubbur |
| flash gun (FLASS, leifturljós) | þórsljós, leifturljós |
| flashbulb (FLASSpera) | leifturlaukur (English ‘bulb’ = ‘blómlaukur’) |
| flasher (BLIKKljós) | þórsljós |
| flasher (maður með sýnihneigð, FLASSARI) | sýnifíkill |
| flat periwinkle (þangDOPPA) | þangbobbi (The loan-word ‘doppa’ can be replaced by ‘bobbi’. The species ‘meyjardoppa’ is also named ‘meyjarbobbi’. See 3) |
| flatiron (STRAUjárn) | strokjárn (literal translation of Dutch: ‘strijkijzer’) |
| flautist (FLAUTUleikari) | blístrandi, blístursmaður |
| flavouring (bragðefni/ KRYDD) | bragðefni/ (bragð)skerpir |
| flax (hör, LÍNPLANTA) | hör |
| flea market (flóaMARKAÐUR) | skranboðangur (Dutch: ‘rommelmarkt’ (junk market) |
| flea market (flóaMARKAÐUR) | skranboðangur |
| flex (rafmagnsSNÚRA, raftaug) | raftaug |
| flinch (kveinka sér, VEIGRA sér við, hopa) | kveinka sér, hopa |
| flintlock (tinnuBYSSA) | tinnulaufi |
| flippancy (ósvífni, óskammFEILNI) | ósvífni |
| flirtation (daður, DUFL, fitl) | daður, fitl |
| fliselin (FLÍSELÍN, STRAUstrigi) | strokstrigi |
| flivver (BÍLtík, skrjóður, drusla) | skrjóður, drusla |
| floating-point base (hlaupaKOMMUstofn) | hlaupadepilsstofn |
| flora (FLÓRA, gróðurríki) | rótlíf, gróðurríki |
| florine (FLÓRÍNA) | blómfé, blómgullningur (The golden coins of the florentians became an example in other countries. These coins were named ‘florines’ because they bore the characteristic figure of a lily.) |
| flounce (STRUNSA, rigsa) | rigsa |
| flu (FLENSA) | bölkvef |
| fluid brake (vökvaBREMSA, vökvaHEMILL) | vökvahemill |
| fluid ounce (ÚNSA) | markaráttungur (The eighth part of a ‘mörk’) |
| fluoresce (FLÚRljóma) | glóra (derived from glóra) |
| fluorescence (FLÚRskin) | glór (See 3) |
| fluoridate (FLÚRbæta) | átloftsbæta (drykkjarvatn) |
| fluoride (FLÚORÍÐ) | átloftsbinding |
| fluorine (FLÚR, FLÚOR) | átloft (It is the most reactive and electronegative of all the elements and the most corrosive of all gases and reacts with practically all substances. Because of its high corrosiveness/toxticity, early fluorine chemists died from fluorine poisoning and the element was dubbed "Tiger of Chemistry.") |
| fluorite | glórsteinn (Fluorescence is named after the mineral fluorite (calcium fluoride), which exhibits this phenomenon) |
| flush (sem FLÚTTAR við, jafn) | jafn |
| flute (þverFLAUTA) | þverblístra |
| fluting (RIFFLAR, rásir) | rásir |
| flutist (FLAUTUleikari) | blístursmaður, blístrandi |
| flutterboard (fleytiKORKA) | sundbretta (a rectangular board used by swimmers in practicing leg strokes) |
| fly paper (flugnaPAPPÍR) | flugnableðmi: |
| flying colours (sigurFÁNI) | sigurvoð, sigurvé |
| flying fish (flugfiskur) | vænguggi |
| foam rubber (svampGÚMMI) | frauðtogleður |
| fob chain (ÚRKEÐJA) | stundsjárhlekkir |
| folder (bréfaMAPPA) | skjalabindi |
| folio (ARKARbrot, tvíblöðungur/ bók í arkarbroti) | tvíblöðungur/ tvíblöðungabók |
| folk music (alþýðuTÓNlist) | alþýðuhljómlist |
| follicle (hárSEKKUR) | hárbelgur (German: ‘Haarbalg’) |
| Folsom Man | Frumvestkynningur (the earliest Indian to inhabit North America.) |
| font (skírnarFONTUR/ (fount) LETURgerð) | skírnarsár, stafgerð |
| foolery (ASNAskapur) | eyrjálksskapur |
| fool’s gold (glópagull, kís) | 1) fýri (A derivation of 'fúr', an old word for fire mentioned in the Snorra Edda. The name ‘pyrite’ is derived from the Greek word 'pûr' meaning ‘fire’. This word is related to Icelandic 'fúr'.
2) hræsnistár (Freyju) (The kenning expression ‘tears of Freyja’ is one of the most popular poetic designations of ‘gold’. Pyrite is called ‘fool’s gold’ because it looks so similar to gold that it deceived many miners. Instead of copying the term (glópagull) we could name it ‘hræsnistár Freyju’ (the crocodile-tears of Freyja) |
| fool’s mate (heimaskítsMÁT) | kóngsdráp fíflanna (fool’s crown-robbery) |
| football (fótBOLTI) | spyrnuknöttur |
| footbrake (fótBREMSA) | fóthemill |
| forcemeat (KRYDDAÐ hakk, FARS) | bragðbætað hakk |
| forecastle (hásetaKLEFI, LÚKAR) | bógklefi (Hungarian ‘orrkabin’ (bow cabin), Italian ‘castello di prua’ (bow’s cabin) |
| foreign ruler | stjúpkóngur, landstjúpi |
| foreplay (forleikur) | inngangskjass |
| fork (GAFALL, matarkvísl, kvísl) | matarkvísl, kvísl, tjúga |
| formal (FORMlegur, háttfastur/ REGLUlegur) | háttfastur/ sniðfastur |
| formal logic (FORMrökfræði) | hugsunarfræði (see ‘3’) |
| formalism (FORMfesta, REGLUfesta) | háttfesta/ sniðfesta |
| formalist (FORMfestumaður) | háttfestumaður/ sniðfestumaður |
| formality (FORMfesta, viðhöfn/ FORMsatriði) | háttfesta, viðhöfn/ siðasakir |
| formalize (gera FORMlegt/ móta) | gera sniðfast/ móta |
| formally (FORMlega) | sniðlega |
| fount (LETURgerð) | stafgerð |
| fountain pen (lindarPENNI, sjálfBLEKUNGUR) | sjálfblekungur |
| fowling piece (fuglaBYSSA) | fuglalaufi |
| fox terrier | refagrefill (The word ‘grefill’ is used for ‘terrier’ in Icelandic. The dog breed thanks its name to its use in fox hunting) |
| foxtrott (FOXTROTT) | refspor |
| frame (RAMMI, uppgjörð) | uppgjörð |
| franciscan (FRANSISKUMUNKUR, gráMUNKUR) | grábróðir |
| frankfurter (vínar)PYLSA | vínarbjúga |
| frankincense | Smyrjólfsilmur (The perfume used by the Egyptians in embalming. The perfume of the god Anubis , the jackal-god (Smyrjólfur)/ jackal = ‘gullúlfur’ or ‘refsbróðir’) |
| fransciscan order (gráMUNKAREGAN) | grábróðerni |
| free (FRÍ-, frjáls) | frjáls- (in all compounds. The prefix ‘frí’ doesn’t exist in Háfrónska.) |
| free kick (FRÍspark, aukaspyrna) | aukaspyrna |
| free port (FRÍhöfn) | frjáls höfn |
| free trade (FRÍverslun, frjáls verslun) | frjáls verslun |
| freehand (FRÍhendis-, adjective FRÍhendis) | laushendis-, adjective laushendis |
| freeman (heiðursBORGARI) | heiðursþegn |
| freemason, masonic (FRÍMÚRARI) | frjálsveggjandi |
| Freemasonry (FRÍMÚRARAREGLA) | veggjandabróðerni |
| freesia | friðreksblóm (The freesia was called after the German Doctor Friedrich Heinrich Theodor Freesia.) |
| freethinker (FRÍhyggjumaður) | frjálshyggjumaður |
| freewheel (FRÍhjóla) | frjálshjóla |
| freezer (frystiKISTA) | frystir |
| freight train (vöruflutningalest) | farmlest |
| freighter (FRAKTskip/ vöruflutningaflugvél) | farmskip/ farmflugvél |
| French (FRANSKA/ adjective FRANSKUR) | frakkneska/ frakkneskur |
| French chalk (FATAkrít, klæðskeraKRÍT) | 1) fatahvít (see chalk)
2) frakkneskur rithallur |
| French fries | jarðeplafingur, jarðeplalengjur (note that ‘jarðepli’ coincidentially sounds very similar too ‘kartafla’). The first neologism is a calque of Dutch ‘aardappelvingers’, occuring in the list of the Dutch neologist Guus Kroonen.) |
| french woman (FRÖNSK kona) | frakknesk kona |
| fresco (FRESKA/ FRESKUmálun) | djúpmálverk/ djúpmálun (deep-painting) |
| fresco (verb mála FRESKU) | djúpmála |
| fresh (FERSKUR, nýr) | þjarfur (Old word, see Íslensk Orðsifjabók), nýr |
| freshness (FERSKLEIKI) | þjarfleiki |
| freshwater (FERSKvatns-) | þjarfavatns- |
| fret (óánægja, ergELSI, ergja) | óánægja, ergja |
| Freudian (FREUDsinni/ adjective FREUDÍSKUR) | Sigmundssinni/ Sigmunds- |
| friar (föruMUNKUR, BETLIMUNKUR) | förubróðir, beiningabróðir |
| friary (MUNKAKLAUSTUR) | bræðrasetur |
| friendship (vinátta, vinSKAPUR) | vinátta |
| frigate (FREIGÁTA) | fylgiherskip |
| frigate bird (FREIGÁTUfugl) | herskipfugl |
| frill (PÍFA, BLÚNDA, skrautborði, laufaborði) | skrautborði |
| frills (óþarfa skraut, KRÚSINDÚLLUR) | óþarfa skraut, skrautindi |
| frilly (BLÚNDUlagður, PÍFU-/ ofskreyttur) | skrautborða-/ ofskreyttur |
| frolic (ærsla, KÁTÍNA, kæta) | ærsla, kæta |
| frond (burknablað/ PÁLMAblað) | burknablað, lófablað |
| frost (a cake: SYKURhjúpa, setja KREM á) | sætungshjúpa |
| frosting (kökuKREM, GLASSÚR, SYKURbráð) | sætungsbráð |
| fructose (ávaxtaSYKUR) | ávaxtasæta |
| fruit salad (ávaxtaSALAT) | ávaxtablanda (Danish ‘blandet frugt’, Dutch ‘gemengd fruit’, German ‘Mischobst’) |
| fruitcake, nutty as a (stórKLIKKAÐUR) | stórgeggjaður (see 4) |
| frying pan (steikarPANNA) | steikarhveðna |
| fuchsia (FÚKSÍA, tárablóm) | tárablóm |
| fuchsine | andgræna (the magenta colour, the opposite of green on the colour-circle) |
| fuck up (KLÚÐRA, klambra) | klambra |
| fuel oil (brennsluOLÍA, svartOLÍA) | brennslueldvi, svarteldvi |
| fugue (FÚGA, stefja) | stefja |
| Fujiyama | Ódáinskeila (Fujiyama means ‘immortal mountain’ and is the most beautiful and symmetrical stratovulcano in the world and sacred to the Buddhists.) |
| Fujiyama | Skáldkeilan |
| full rhyme (alRÍM, alhenda) | alhenda |
| full stop (PUNKTUR) | depill, lokdíll |
| fundamentalist | oftrúarmaður |
| funky | hrynsæll |
| funnel (TREKT/ hella gegnum TREKT) | helliháls, keiluhólkur, gegnumlát/ hella gegnum keiluhólki |
| furlong | arðurfar (furlong = lengd of a furrow (plógfar) |
| G-spot | gleðiblettur |
| Gabriel | Guðþrúðar (Gabriel means 'strong man of God) |
| gadabout (slæpingi, TRALLI) | slæpingi |
| gadget (GRÆJA, tæki) | tæki |
| gadgetry (GRÆJUR, tækjabúnaður) | tækjabúnaður |
| Gaelic (Irish, Manx and Scottish) | Gallverska (Smáraeyska, Manarmál og Hálenska) |
| gaga (KLIKKAÐUR, geggjaður) | geggjaður |
| gage (PANTUR, veð) | veð |
| galactose | heilasæta (other name: ‘cerebrose’) |
| Galapagos islands | Snigileðlueyjar (from Spanish ‘galápago’ (turtle) |
| Galates | Eystrikeltar (The easternmost Celtic tribe) |
| gallantry (RIDDARAmennska) | reiðherjamennska |
| galleon | (spænskt) seglvirki |
| galley (GALEIÐA) | róðrarvirki, þrælæringur |
| galley proof (SPALTAPRÓFÖRK) | fyrsti réttilestur (Faroese: ‘fyrsti rættlestur’) |
| gallivant (vera úti á lífinu, DJAMMA) | vera úti á lífinu |
| gallon | fjórpottur (a pint (in Icelandic translated as 'hálfpottur') is 1/8 gallon) (breskur og bandarískur fjórpottur) |
| gallop (VALHOPP, þverspor) | þverspor |
| gallop (verb VALHOPPA, þverspora) | þverspora |
| galvanic (GALVANÍ, GÖLVUNAR-) | efnaraf- (chemoelectro-, pertaining to or producing electric current by chemical action, "a galvanic cell", "a voltaic (or galvanic) couple".) |
| galvanization (SINKhúða) | rafhúðun |
| galvanize (SINKhúða) | rafhúða |
| gambit (GAMBÍTUR, upphafsleikur) | upphafsleikur |
| game laws (veiðiREGLUR) | veiðilög |
| gamma radiation (GAMMAgeislar) | ofurgeislar |
| gamut (TÓNstigi, SKALI) | hljómstigi |
| Ganesha | Fílshaussgoð |
| Ganges | Bænelfur |
| gangster (glæpamaður, BÓFI) | glæpamaður, hlenni |
| gantry (gálgaKRANI, renniKRANI) | gálgahegri, rennihegri |
| gaol (FANGELSI, steinn) | steinn |
| garage (BÍLskúr/ BENSÍNsala/ BÍLAverkstæði) | vagnskúr/ ökvasala (vökvi + öku-)/ bifreiðaverkstæði |
| garbage can (ruslaTUNNA, sorpTUNNA) | sorpílát (Faroese: ‘ruskílát’) |
| garbage truck (sorpBÍLL) | sorpvagn, sorpbifreið |
| garnet (GRANAT) | eldauga (After the name of its most popular variety: pyrope (Greek for ‘fire eye’.) |
| garret (þakHERBERGI, risíbúð) | þakstofa, risíbúð |
| garter (SOKKAband) | lokalýja (18th century word) |
| gas (lofttegund, GAS/ GAS) | lofttegund loft/ brenniloft |
| gas (verb kæfa með GASI) | lofteitra |
| gas burner (GASeldavél) | logaeldavél |
| gas chamber (GASKLEFI) | köfnunarklefi |
| gas giant (GASrisi) | reikirisi (see ‘Jovian planet’) |
| gas guzzler (BENSÍNhákur) | ökvahákur (vökvi + öku-) |
| gas holder (GASgeymir, GASTANKUR) | brenniloftsgeymir |
| gas main (GASleiðsla) | brenniloftsleiðsla |
| gas mask (GASgríma) | andarsáld, síugríma |
| gas oven (GASofn) | brenniloftsofn |
| gas station (BENSÍNstöð) | ökvastöð (bensín = ökvi), fyllistöð (From synonym ‘filling station’) |
| gas works (GASveita) | brenniloftsveita |
| gaseous (GASkenndur, loftkenndur) | loftkenndur |
| gasify (breyta í gas, framleiða gas úr) | breyta í loft, framleiða loft úr |
| gasket (PAKKNING, vélaþétti) | vélaþétti |
| gasoline (BENSÍN) | ökvi (vökvi + öku-) |
| gasometer (GASgeymir) | brenniloftsgeymir |
| gasser (borhola með jarðGASI) | borhola með jarðlofti |
| gaucho | syðri kúreki |
| gaud (glingur, glys, PRJÁL) | glingur, glys |
| gazelle | klaufdís, þokkageit (the gazelle is graceful in build and sometimes referred to for its elegant dance-like moves) |
| gear (motor)gangskipting, GÍR) | gangskipting |
| gear lever (GÍRstöng) | skiptistöng (German: ‘Schalthebel’) |
| gear shift (GÍRstöng) | skiptistöng (see ‘gear lever’) |
| gear stick (GÍRstöng) | skiptistöng (see ‘gear lever’) |
| gearbox (GÍRKASSI) | tannhjólabaukur (Dutch: ‘tandwielkast’) |
| gearbox extension housing (GÍRKASSAstútur) | stútur tannhjólabauks |
| gecko | sogfætla (sticking toe) |
| gehenna (HINNOMSSONARdalur, Drápsdalur) | Drápsdalur |
| geiger counter | ?????? |
| geisha (GEISJA, JAPÖNSK lagsmær) | morguneysk lagsmær |
| gelatine (GELATÍN, hlaupefni/ soðhlaup) | hlaupefni/ soðhlaup |
| Gemini (Tvíburar) | Þjassaauga* (The eyes of the giant Thiassi. The Old Norse name of this constellation.) |
| gene (GEN, kon) | kon |
| general delivery (biðPÓSTUR) | biðsending |
| generator (rafall/ DÍNAMÓR) | rafall |
| Genesis (fyrsta MÓSEbók, sköpunarsagan) | sköpunarsagan |
| genetic (erfðafræðilegur/ GEN-, GENA-) | erfðafræðilegur/ kon-, kona- |
| Genghis Khan | 1) Stóri Gresjukóngur (Great king of the steppes)
2) Gulserkja-Atli (Atilla of the yellow saracens) |
| gentian (MARÍUvöndur) | meyjarvöndur |
| gentility (FÍNHEIT/ PRÚÐmennska) | ??????????/ göfugmennska |
| gentleman (heiðursmaður, PRÚDmenni) | heiðursmaður, göfugmenni |
| gentlemanly (PRÚDmannlegur, RIDDARAlegur) | göfugmennskur, reiðherjalegur |
| gentleman’s agreement (óFORMlegt samkomulag) | ósniðfast samkomulag |
| gentlewomen (heldri kona/ FRÚ) | heldri kona/ hefðarkona |
| Gents (karlaKLÓSETT) | karlanáðhús |
| geological eras | Würm ice age: þorraöld (þorri = 4th winter-month)
Riss ice age: mörsugsöld (mörsugur = 3th wintermonth)
Mindel ice age: ýlisöld (ýlir = 2nd winter month
Günz ice age: goröld (gormánuður = 1th winter-month)
Pliocene: haustöld (The cooling era before the ice age), kælingaröld
Miocene: sumarloksöld
Oligocene: nýlifssumar
Eocene: nýlifsvor
Paleocene: nýlífsreisn
Cretaceous: miðlífshaust, ritbergsöld
Jurassic: miðlífssumar, eðlamiðöld, risaöld
Triassic: miðlifsvor, þríöld
Permian: fornlífshaust
Carboniferous: kolöld
Devonian: fornlífssumar
Silurian: landlífsvor
Ordovician: fornlífsæska
Cambrian: fornlífsreisn |
| geomagnetic mapping (segulKORTAgerð) | seguluppdráttargerð |
| geometrical progression (hlutfallsruna/ KVÓTAruna) | hlutfallsruna |
| geopolitics (GEÓPÓLITÍK) | stjórnmálalandafræði (A synonym of political geography. Geopolitics are the analysis of geographic influences on power relationships in international politics.) |
| George | Yrkir (German has 'Jörg', Icelandic has 'jörn', but that's derived from a mainland scandinavian name. The orðsifjabók mentions 'Gyrgir', an old norse equivalent. The name comes from the Greek name Georgios which was derived from the Greek word ‘Georgos’ meaning "farmer, earthworker", itself derived from the elements ge "earth" and ergon "work". the latter 'ergo' is related to Icelandic 'verk', yrkja, Why translating geo, yrkja already means farming and we can derive a soun-simlar name from it: Yrkir) |
| George Cross (GEORGSkross) | Yrkisróða |
| Georgetown | Yrkistún |
| Georgia, Georgian | 1) Yrkisland, Yrkislenskur
2) Reyfisland, Reyfislenskur (The land of the (golden) fleece) |
| Georgia, USA | Yrkisríki |
| Gepides (GEPÍDAR, Gefðar) | Gefðar |
| geranium (GERANÍA, blágresi) | blágresi |
| German (in the sense of ‘teutonic’: GERMANI) | þýðverji (see ‘Germanic’) |
| germanic (language: GERMANSKA/ GERMANSKUR) | þýðneska/ þýðneskur (The term ‘Teutonic’ is synonymous with ‘germanic’. The root ‘teuto’ is related to Icelandic ‘þjóð’ and ‘þýð’. The ‘-neskur’ is employed in order to create a sound-similarity with the ‘n’ in Teutonic.) |
| germinate (SPÍRA, ála, skjóta frjóöngum) | ála, skjóta frjóöngum |
| germination (SPÍRUN, álun) | álun |
| gherkin (smáGÚRKA) | smálurkepli |
| giaour | óserki (arabic name for a non-moslem, especially a christian) |
| Gibberellic acid | fíflagrjónssýra |
| Gibberelline | fíflagrjónsefni (The rice disease “bakanae” (japanese name), translated as “stupid seedling disease” in rice and is caused by the growth hormone of the Gibberella fungus) |
| gibbon | armapi (German ‘langarmaffen’. This species is especially adapted to an arboreal life and has the longest arms in proportion to its body lenght.) |
| Gibraltar | Nörvaskagi |
| Gibraltar, Strait of | Nörvasund |
| gift-voucher (gjafaKORT) | gjafamiði |
| gigahertz | þursundrið (þursund = billion, þurs (Greek gigas) + þúsund) |
| gill | hálfmörk (see 4) |
| gin (einiberjabrennivín) | eini (neuter word derived from 'einir', a short and flexible word) |
| ginger (ENGIFER, DJÖFLArót) | surtsrót (The name ‘djöflarót’ (devil’s root) finds its origin in the strong taste of the root) |
| ginger ale (ENGIFERÖL) | surtsrótaröl |
| ginger beer (ENGIFERbjór) | surtsrótaröl |
| gingerbread (PIPARkaka, hunangskaka) | hunangskaka |
| ginseng (GINSENGrót) | 1) alrúnaflétta (the mandrake of the ivy family)
2) eystri mannrót (more eastern man-root) |
| gipsy (SÍGAUNI, flakkari) | flakkverji |
| giraffe (GÍRAFFI) | 1) gnæfingi
2) gnádýr, hádýr (Giraffes are the closest relatives of the deers in the family of even-toed ungulates. The name hádýr sounds like rádýr, while it literally means ‘high animal’)
3) klaufkóngur (The unrivaled king of the even-toed ungulates (klaufdýr) |
| girl guide (kvenSKÁTI) | ratstúlka (see ‘girl scout’) |
| girl scout (kvenSKÁTI) | ratstúlka (rata = to find the way, the path (pathfinder) |
| give out (KLÁRAST, étast upp) | étast upp |
| gladiolus (GLADÍÓLA, JÓMFRÚLILJA, kesjuLILJA) | kesjulaukblóm |
| glass (gler/ (tumbler) GLAS/ (mirror) SPEGILL) | gler/ (tumbler) (drykkjar)gler/ (mirror) skuggsjá |
| glass blower (GLASblásari, glersmiður) | glersmiður |
| glasshouse (herFANGELSI) | hersteinn |
| glaucoma (GLÁKA) | grænadrer |
| glaze (gljái, GLANS, slikja) | gljái, slikja |
| glee club (KARLAKÓR) | karlasöngflokkur |
| glockenspiel (KLUKKUspil) | dymblun, dinglumdangl |
| gloss paint (LAKKmálning) | glæning (from verb ‘glæna’ (bera gljálakk á), gljámálning |
| gloss paint (LAKKmálning) | glæning (see ‘gloss paint’), gljámálning (literal translation of the English word) |
| glossary (orðaLISTI, GLÓSUR, orðasafn) | orðaskrá, orðasafn |
| glossy (gljáandi, skinandi, GLANS-) | gljáandi, skinandi, gljá-) |
| glove (HANSKI, vettlingur, glófi) | vettlingur, glófi |
| glove compartment (HANSKAhólf) | glófahólf |
| glucose (GLÚKÓSI, ÞRÚGUSYKUR) | grjónsætungur (from synonym ‘corn sugar’) |
| glycemic index (SYKURstuðull) | sætustuðull |
| glycerine | sætukvoða (mentioned in 4). Its discoverer K.W.Scheele (1779)named it ‘ölsüss’ (olíusæta) |
| GMT (staðartími GREENWICH) | staðartími Grænvíkur (Grenewic 964, Grenviz 1086: = ‘Green port or harbour’ from Old English ‘grene’ (grænn) + ‘wic’ (víkur) |
| gnu (GNÝR) | hjartarþjór (Dutch ‘hertestier’) |
| go | ýborð (The wood for the board is traditionally made of the wood of the Kaya-tree (torreia nucifera), the Japanese nut-yew (German: ‘Japanische nußeibe’). The boards of chess and draughts aren’t specifically made from a special wood. Combinations such as Walnut and Aspen or Mahogany and Maple are the most popular.) |
| gobbler (KALKÚNhani) | stórhani (The Persian word was ‘filmurgh’ (elephant-fowl). The turkey is in any case the largest fowl. Note that the Persian word ‘fil’ is the word that was borrowed by the vikings and is still in exclusive use in Iceland.) |
| Godzilla (name of the movie) | Risagrameðlan |
| going price (MARKAÐSverð, gangverð) | boðangursverð, gangverð |
| goldmine (in figurative sense) | Draupnir (Hann hefur fundið Draupni sinn. The ring was a source of endless wealth, since each ninth morning it had spawned eight more gold rings just like itself (but without the spawning ability). Draupnir serkja: bergfíta (petroleum) |
| golf (GOLF, höggleikur) | höggleikur (See Gagnasafn Orðabókar Háskólans) |
| golf club (GOLFkylfa) | hoggleikskylfa |
| golf links (GOLFvöllur) | höggleiksvöllur |
| golf player (GOLFleikari) | höggleiksmaður |
| golgi-complex | flokkunarkorn (The Golgi apparatus sorts out the proteins. It consists of ‘dictyosomes’. The suffix ‘some’ is usually translated as ‘korn’.) |
| gondola (GONDÓLI) | gatnaferja (a ferry boat in ‘streets of water’, as the streets of Venice are often referred to.) |
| gondolier (GONDÓLAræðARI) | gatnaræðandi (street-rowing man) |
| Gondwana | Suður-Alland (South-Pangaea) |
| goodbey (vertu BLESSAÐUR) | vertu sæll |
| goody (sælgæti, NAMMI, mæra) | sælgæti, mæra |
| goof (KLÚÐUR, klambur/ verb: KLÚÐRA, klambra) | klambur/ verb: klambra |
| Google (search engine) | Ginnund (The Internet search engine Google was named after this number. The original founders were going for 'Googol' (see 'Googol'), but ended up with 'Google' due to a spelling mistake on a check that investors wrote to the founders. ) |
| googol (ten to the hundreth power) | ginnund (The term was coined in 1938 by nine-year-old Milton Sirotta, nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner. The meaning of Googol is ’ten to the hundreth power’. I took the old mythological prefix ‘ginn’ (wide, immense) in 'ginnunga-' and added the ‘–und’ (hundred, because the only and most well-known number that is a hundredth power of a natural number is the googol): GINNUND. The choice of the prefix influenced by the word 'ginnungavé', (the universe). The amount of particles in the known universe is in exponential respect closer to a googol than any other number with a popular name.) |
| googolplex (ten to the power of googol) | ofurginnund (see 'googol') |
| goon (RIBBALDI, ribbungur) | ribbungur |
| gooseberry (STIKILSber, garðaber) | garðaber |
| gopher (jarðÍKORNI) | jarðtoskur |
| Gordian knot (GORDÍOShnúturinn) | Frýgverski Hnúturinn |
| Gorgons | Kvengálkn, Naðranornir, Skrímslissysturnar (The Erinyes, related to the gorgons, are called ‘blóðhefðarnornir’ (see 20). The original norns were three systers like the Erinyes and the related gorgons. The word ‘norn’ emphasizes not only the nature of an evil and divine sisterhood but also their number.) |
| gorgonzola | Langbarðagráðaostur (Lombardian blue cheese) |
| gorilla | bjarnapi, þungapi |
| gospel (GUÐSPJALL, fagnaðarboðskapur) | fagnaðarerindi |
| goulash (GÚLLAS, GLÁS) | árhnjárlensk kjötstappa (Hungarian stew) |
| gout (þvagsýruGIGT) | þvagsýruját (The German word ‘Gicht’ originates from ‘gichten’, which has the same origin as ‘játa’. The noun ‘ját’ is feminine like ‘gigt’ and sounds like English ‘gout’, while it is purely Icelandic.) |
| GPO (General post office: aðalPÓSThús) | aðalbauðarhús |
| grade school (barnaSKÓLI, grunnSKÓLI) | barnanámshús, grunnnámshús |
| grail (GRAL) | helgur bolli |
| grain (0.0648 grömm) | korn |
| gram (GRAMM, met) | met |
| Gram stain (GRAMlitun) | fjarblámun gerla |
| gram-negative (GRAMneikvæður) | fjarblámaógjarn |
| gram-positive (GRAMjákvæður) | fjarblámagjarn |
| grammar school (framhaldsSKÓLI, menntaSKÓLI) | framhaldsnámshús, menntanámshús |
| grand duchess (stórHERTOGAynja) | stórkventyggja |
| grand duchy (stórHERTOGAdæmi) | stórtyggjadæmi |
| grand duke (stórHERTOGI) | stórtyggi |
| grand slam (bridge: alSLEMMA) | stóra slagaröð |
| grand slam (tennis: alSLEMMA) | sigraferna (only in tennis) |
| grand vizier (stórVESÍR) | framausturjarl (the second after the Ottoman sultan) |
| grandfather clock (standKLUKKA, gólfKLUKKA) | gólfstundsjá |
| granite (GRANÍT, forngrýti) | harðberg (granite is the hardest of all building stones) |
| granulated sugar (stráSYKUR) | strásæta |
| grape (vínber, ÞRÚGA) | veigaber |
| grapefruit (GREIPaldin) | klasaepli (Unlike oranges or lemons, grapefruit grows in clusters, like grapes, and that's how it got the name grapefruit.) |
| graph (LÍNUrit, GRAF) | ferlisrit (see 7) |
| graph paper (GRAFPAPPÍR, LÍNUritaPAPPÍR) | ferlisritableðmi |
| graphene (GRAFÍN) | netkol (graphene is a 'honeycomb' net of carbon atoms) |
| graphic (GRAFÍSKUR, myndrænn, LETUR-, rit-) | myndrænn, rit- |
| graphic arts (GRAFISK list, dráttlist) | dráttlist |
| graphic symbol (rittákn, LETURtákn) | ritteikn |
| graphite (GRAFÍT, ritblý) | ritkol |
| grapnel (AKKERI, slæðingartæki, stafnljár) | slæðingartæki, stafnljár |
| grate (RIST, rimlagrind) | grind |
| grater (rifjárn, RASPUR) | rífur (See 3), rifjárn |
| grating (málm) grindur, RIST | grind, rimlingur |
| gravy (kjötsafi, kjötSÓSA) | kjötsafi |
| gravy boat (SÓSUskál, SÓSUkanna) | kjötsafaskál, kjötsafakirna |
| grease gun (smurBYSSA, smurSPRAUTA) | smurlaufi |
| greasepaint (SMINK, andlitsfarði) | (andlits)farði, framfarði |
| great seal (ríkisINNSIGLI) | ríkismerki |
| greatcoat (yfirFRAKKI, yfirhöfn) | yfirhöfn |
| Greece (GRIKKland) | Eyjahafsland (See Aegean) |
| Greek (GRIKKI/ GRÍSKUR) | Eyhafskur, eyhafskur maður |
| Greek Cypriot (GRÍSKUR KÝPURbúi) | Eyhafskur Eireyingur |
| Greek-Roman (GRÍSK-RÓMVERSKUR) | Eyhafsk-Sjöhæskur |
| green fingers (GRÆNIR FINGUR) | ræktunarhæfni |
| green pepper (græn PAPRIKA, spánskur PIPAR) | grænt bjölluepli (English: bell pepper) |
| greenback (DOLLARASEÐILL) | dalsmiði, dalsbleðill |
| greengage (GREENGAGE-PLÓMA) | grænheggjungur (After German: ‘Edelpflaume’) |
| greenockite | tálblýsbróðir (The sulphide of Cadmium (CdS), homologous to sphalerite (blende, Icelandic ‘blendi’ or ‘sinkblendi’, High Fronian ‘tálblý’) |
| Greenwich | Grænvík (Grenewic 964, Grenviz 1086: = ‘Green port or harbour’ from Old English ‘grene’ (grænn) + ‘wic’ (víkur) |
| Greenwich meridian (Greenwich-baugur) | Grænvíkurbaugur |
| Gregorian calendar (GREGORÍANSKA tímatalið) | Nýja Tímatalið (After the synonym ‘new style’) |
| grenadine (GRANATeplaSÍRÓP) | kjarneplahlaup (granatepli = kjarnepli), safahlaup |
| Grey Friar (gráMUNKUR) | grábróðir |
| greyhound (langferðaBÍLL) | langferðavagn |
| grid (RIST, grind) | grind, rimlingur |
| grid iron (steikarRIST) | steikargrind |
| griddle (PÖNNUkökuPANNA) | flatkökuhveðna |
| griddle cake (PÖNNUkaka) | flatkaka |
| griffin (flugskrímsli, griffín) | flugskrímsli (composite mythological creature with a lion's body (winged or wingless) and a bird’s head. usually that of an eagle.) |
| grill (GRILL) | (glóðar)grind |
| grillroom | glóðhús |
| grippe (INFLÚENSA, FLENSA) | bölkvef |
| grit (GRÓFUR sandsteinn) | hrjúfur sandsteinn |
| grits (GRÓFmalað (MAÍSkorn) | hrjúfmalað kólfgrjón |
| grog | andablanda, hálfur reyrandi (spirit-mix, half cane-spirits (rhum), rhum diluted with water. After Old Grog, nickname of Edward Vernon (1684–1757), British admiral who ordered that diluted rum be served to his sailors, from grogram (from his habit of wearing a grogram cloak). |
| groom | dróttsveinn (officer of the royal household) |
| gross (heildarupphæð, GROSS) | heildarupphæð |
| groundsel (KROSSfífill) | öldungsfífill (The Dutch name ‘kruiskruid’ (cross-herb) is a corruption of ‘grijskruid’ (gray-herb), which was the Old Dutch name of the plant. It was called after the gray hairs ofthe seeds. Hence the Latin name ‘Seneca’ (old man). |
| groupie (POPPhljómsveitaPÍA) | hljómhetjupíka, baksviðsmella |
| growth rate (hagvaxtarPRÓSENTA) | vaxtarhundraðstala (Like in the English word, the word ‘vaxtar’ is sufficient) |
| gruffly (HÖSTUGlega, með þjósti) | með þjósti |
| GSM | símlingur |
| guacamole (LÁRperumauk) | smjörperumauk ('lár' derives from Latin 'laurus' (laurel). The High Icelandic translation of laurel is 'lofviður' instead of 'lárviður'. |
| guanine | strandtaðsbeiskja |
| guano | strandtað |
| guarana | fjörberjadrykkur |
| guarana plant (kaffiþvottaber) | fjörber |
| guard room (varðHERBERGI, gæsluHERBERGI) | varðstofa, gæslustofa |
| guardian angel (verndarENGILL) | verndarvængálfur |
| guave (GÚAVA) | eldaldin (Orðabanki, nýyrðadagbók) |
| guenons (MARKETTIR) | langrófungar (= cercopithecus, Latin: cerco (tailed) + pithecus (monkey). Guenons have the longest tails of all monkeys) |
| guidelines (viðmiðunarREGLUR) | stefnuvísar |
| guild (GILDI, iðngreinasamtök) | iðerni,iðbróðerni |
| guilder (GYLLINI) | gullinn |
| guildhall (fundarhús gildisbræðra) | iðbróðernishús |
| guinea | breski gullningur (The name of the coin originates from ‘Guinea’, where the gold to make them was first obtained.) |
| guinea fowl (PERLUhænsn) | 1) gylmir (Guinea fowls are used as "watchdogs" on farms (it gabbles loudly at the least alarm). They have a reputation for being the loudest and pushiest fowl. The name ‘gylmir is an old Icelandic ‘fowl-name’ that means ‘the one who crows loud’)
2) stjarnahæna (The pearl could as well have been designated as stars) |
| guitar (GÍTAR) | 1) spónharpa, spónnað (nað is an old synonym of 'harpa', See Íslensk orðsifjabók)
2) glymspónn |
| guitar solo | 1) einleikur á spónhörpu (Sigurður)
2) einleikur á glymspæni |
| guitar, bass | 1) þykkstrengjungur
2) djúpómur / botnómur / stór glymspónn
3) djúpóm spónharpa
4) stór spónharpa |
| guitar, lead | leiðstrengjungur |
| guitar, rhytm | hrynstrengjungur |
| guitarist (GÍTARleikari) | 1) spánhörpumaður
2) glymspónleikandi |
| gulash (GLÁS) | árhnjálensk kjötstappa |
| gulf of Mexico | Hvarfbaugsflói (The only gulf in the world clearly situated on a tropic) |
| Gulf Stream | Flóastraumurinn (see 4) |
| gum (GÚMMI, GÚMMIkvoða, togleður) | togleður |
| gumboot (GÚMMISTÍGVÉL) | togleðurleggskór |
| gun (BYSSA, skotvopn) | laufi, skotvopn |
| gun carriage (fallBYSSUvagn) | stórhleypuvagn |
| gun powder (PÚÐUR, BYSSUPÚÐUR) | eldmjöl, surtsduft |
| gunboat (fallBYSSUbátur) | stórhleypubátur |
| gunlock | skotvopnslás |
| gunman (maður vopnaður BYSSU) | maður vopnaður laufa |
| gunnel (borðstokkur, LUNNING) | borðstokkur |
| gunpoint (BYSSUhlaup, BYSSUkjaftur) | laufahlaup, laufakjaftur |
| gunrunner (vopnaSMYGLARI) | vopnasmygill |
| gunshot (BYSSUskot) | laufaskot |
| gunshy (BYSSUfælinn) | laufafælinn |
| gunsmith (BYSSUsmiður) | laufasmiður |
| gunstock (BYSSUskefti) | laufaskefti |
| guppy | ????? |
| guy (GÆI, náungi) | náungi, karl |
| gypsum (GIFS) | veggsalt (gypsum is a salt in chemical repect and used as a construction material.) |
| Gypsy | flakkverji |
| hadji | bænskautsferð (trip to the pole of prayer) |
| haiku | árstíðarljóð (Each Haiku must contain a kigo, a season word, which indicate in which season the Haiku is set.) |
| hair roller (hárRÚLLA, KRULLUPINNI) | hárvölur, lokkakefli (see 7) |
| half-rhyme (hálfRÍM, skothending, sniðhenda) | skothending, sniðhenda |
| halftone (milliTÓNN) | millihljómur |
| hall of residence (STÚDENTAgarður) | hánemagarður |
| halogen lamp | söltungsljósker (halogen = söltungur see orðaskrá um eðlisfræði og skyldar greinar) |
| halt (STANS, staldur/ STANSA, staldra) | staldur/ staldra |
| Hamite | Kamverji (The descendants of Cham (Kam in Icelandic) |
| hamster | 1) nurldýr, nyrlir (hoarding animal)
2) gúlungur (named after its cheek pouces) |
| hand (hönd, mund) | hönd, mund, raukn (Old word) |
| handball (handBOLTI) | handknattleikur |
| handbrake (handBREMSA) | mundhemill |
| handgun (skammBYSSA, marghleypa) | skammlaufi, marghleypa |
| hangman (BÖÐULL) | drapsþjónn |
| hanseatic leage (HANSAsambabdið) | 1. Garpasambandið (Garpar was the name used in the middle-ages to designate the hanseatic men in Norway and Sweden.)
2. Ljúfbæjarfélag (Lübeck from slavonic name ‘liubice’ (the beloved), related to icel. ‘ljúfur’. The suffix ‘bekkur’ is just a germanization of ‘bice’ in ‘lubice’.) |
| haole | bleikur erlendingur (The native designation of a white foreigner) |
| happy, call oneself (PRÍSA sig sælan) | telja sig heppinn |
| hard copy (útskrift, útPRENTUN) | útrit |
| hard tack (SKONROK, sjómannaKEX) | 1) skipskaka (Also called ‘ship biscuits’)
2) þolbrauð |
| hardliner (HARÐLÍNUmaður) | strangstefnumaður, aðferðarherji |
| harebell (bláKLUKKA) | bládymblingur |
| harmonic (yfirTÓNN/ HARMÓNÍSKUR, hreinhljóma | yfirhljómur/ hreinhljóma |
| harmonium (stofuORGEL) | stofuómvél (see ‘organ’) |
| harpsichord (SEMBALL) | hörpuborð (The word ‘harpsichord’ is a compound of ‘harp’ (harpa) and ‘chord’ (strengur). The word ‘borð’ is added to designate a key board instrument.) |
| hashish | hampkúkur |
| hassock (hnjáPÚÐI) | hnjákoddi |
| hatch (LÚGA, hleri, op) | hleri, op |
| hatchway (LÚGUgat, lestarop) | lestarop |
| hawsehole (AKKERISrauf, festarop) | festarop |
| headcheese (svínaSULTA) | hausmauk |
| headmaster (SKÓLAstjóri) | námshússtjóri |
| headmistress (SKÓLAstýra) | námshússtýra |
| headrest (höfuðPÚÐI, hnakkaPÚÐI) | hnakkaþófi |
| headship (formennska, SKÓLAstjórastaða) | formennska, aðalkennandastaða |
| health store (NÁTTÚRUlækningabúð) | heilsubúð (better a loan-translation from English than using the loan-word ‘náttúra’) |
| heat wave (hitabylgja) | ofhlý (See 3) |
| heavy metal (þungaROKK) | hart stál, stálhljómlist (þungarokk = heavy rock)
death metal (dauðastál)
black metal (svart stál)
thrash metal (höggstál)
speed metal (hratt stál)
industrial metal (iðnaðarstál)
gothic (gotneskt stál) |
| heavy rock (þungaROKK) | stálhljómlist (pejorative: hárahávaði) |
| Hebrew (HEBRESKA; HEBRESKUR) | guðlenska, guðlenskur (derived from Guðland, a reduced version of Gyðingaland) |
| Hebrew (HEBRESKUR) | guðlenskur (derived from guðland, a reduced version of Gyðingaland) |
| hectare (HEKTARI) | teigur (The Icelandic word used in the beginning of the 20th century.) |
| helicon | gormlúður (helix = gormur), risalúður |
| Helios | Eyglór (Greek sun-god. An imitation, inspired by ‘Eygló’, a kenning designating the sun.) |
| helium | kóngsloft (three heavier noble gases can be converted into fluorides, neon and argon into clathrates, but helium is totally inert. It is the noblest of the noble gases, the royal gas (kóngaloft). The use of ‘king’ as a superlative of ‘noble’ isn’t unprecedented in the chemical nomenclature. Think of aqua regia, royal water (kóngavatn). The latter substance was so named by the alchemists because it dissolves gold and platinum, at that time called ‘the royal metals’. Another characteristic of helium is its nuclear stability. The most abundant isotope He 4 has magic numbers for protons and neutrons. The only other gas possessing this property is oxygen (O-16), but this element is most unnoble in chemical respect. Helium is a royal gas both in its chemical and nuclear properties. The Dutch dictionary mentions the synonym ‘zonnegas’ (sólarloft), a native equivalent of the standard term. It is true that most of the helium in our solar system is found in the sun’s interior, but hydrogen is still the most abundant solar gas. |
| helium star | kóngsloftsblossi |
| Hellene (HELLENI, Forn-Grikki) | háeyhafskur |
| Hellenic (HELLENSKUR, forngrískur) | háeyhafskur |
| Hellenistic (HELLENÍSKUR, síðgrískur) | háeyhafskur (háeyhafska menningin) |
| helter skelter | rennigormur |
| Henry (HINRIK) | Heimrekur |
| herb (KRYDDJURT) | bragðurt |
| Hercules | Seifbjörn (son of Zeus) |
| heroine (HERÓÍN) | dirfskubeiskja (An alkaloid (beiskja) that makes people feel heroic. Some jumped of a building supposing they could land safely on the ground like Superman.) |
| hertz (rið á SEKÚNDU) | rið, rið á stundarkorni
gigahertz (nínúllungsrið) |
| hessonite | sælbarkarsteinn (In the industry it is commonly known as cinnamon stone) |
| hi-fi (hágæðahljómtæki, GRÆJUR) | hágæðungur |
| hide (old English unit of measure) | hýteigur (A hide is an Old English measure of land reckoned as sufficient to support a free family with dependants. The word is related with Icelandic ‘hý-‘ in ‘hýbýli’. The word ‘teigur’ is used in Icelandic units of square measure: e.g. vallarteigur) |
| hierarch (æðstiPRESTUR, trúarleiðtogi | allsherjargoði, trúarleiðtogi |
| hierarchy (KLERKAveldi) | hirdaveldi, bergaveldi |
| high commissioner (sendiHERRA) | sendidrottinn |
| high resolution (FÍNgerður, FÍNleysin) | 1) háleysinn (better a loan-translation from English than adopting ‘fínn’.)
2) smákornótt (pixel is ‘myndkorn’ in High Icelandic)
3) myndskarpur |
| high school (framhaldsSKÓLI) | framhaldsnámshús |
| high society (FÍNA fólkið, fyrirfólkið) | fyrirfólkið |
| highball (VISKÍ, KONÍAK (blandað vatni) | skyndimilska (The quick cocktail, same idea as ‘fast food’ (quickly made). A highball is a quickly poured drink served in a highball glass with liquor and water or soda. The phrase 'highball' comes from the practice of placing a ball on a tall pole in a railway station to signal a train that it was running behind schedule. The reason why the name was attached to the drinks is because the highball is a drink quickly made, with at most one liquor, one mixer, and only a single garnish.) |
| Himalayas | 1) Heimþaksfjöll (world-roof mountains) (The highland of Tibet is often referred to as ‘the roof of the world’. The term Austurheimsalpar (The Asian alps) would also be possible. The himalayas belong to the ‘alpine-type belts’)
2) Gnáfjöll, Gnæfagnípur (The highest peaks) |
| Hinayana | Litlivagninn (The word means ‘Lesser Vehicle’ in Sanskrit) |
| Hindu (HINDÚI/ HINDÚAtrúar-) | stéttatrúarmaður |
| Hinduism | stéttatrú (The caste system, which hierarchically arranges the groups of Hindu society on the basis of relative purity, has been identified by some scholars as the central unifying institution of Hinduism. The caste system is THE characteristic of Hinduism) |
| Hip (RÓSaldin, hjúpaldin) | hjúpaldin |
| hip waders (klofhá STIGVÉL) | vöðlur (see 1) |
| hippie (HIPPI) | hæringi (thanks Kolur), blómungi (after the term 'flower-power'). |
| hippocampus (sæhestur (biol.), DREKI (anat.) | 1) marfákur
2) gálkn (anatomical term) |
| Hippocratic oath | Jóvaldseiðurinn (Hippocrates = Jóvaldur) |
| hipster (STÆLGÆI) | tískutáningur |
| Hiroshima | Stórhólmur ((Hiro means 'large' and 'shima' means 'island') |
| Hispaniola | Spáney |
| hit and run driver | slysstrokumaður |
| hit parade (vinsældaLISTI) | vinsældaskrá |
| hitchhike | þumla (From Faroese ‘tumla’) |
| hitchhiker | þumlandi (From Faroese ‘tumlari’) |
| Hitler greeting | sigheilsa |
| Hitler jugend | Ungþjóðherjarnir |
| hoard (HAMSTRA, nurla (saman) | nurla (saman) |
| hockey (HOKKÍ) | hækjuleikur |
| hockey-player | hækjuleikmaður |
| holebi (ókynvís??????) | ógagnkynhneigður (The term ‘holebi’ is an acronym for ‘homo-lesbian- bisexual’) |
| holiday (helgidagur, FRÍdagur, (Britain) sumarfrí) | helgidagur, leyfi (Britain) sumarleyfi |
| holiday camp (ORLOFSbúð) | leyfisbúð |
| holiday maker (ORLOFSgestur, maður í sumarFRÍI) | leyfisgestur |
| holiday pay (ORLOFSfé) | leyfisfé |
| holiday resort (ORLOFSstaður) | leyfisstaður |
| hollyhock (vetrarstokkRÓS) | vetrarstokkblóm |
| Holy Communion (people: ALTARISganga) | brauðviðtaka |
| Holy Communion (priest: ALTARISSAKRAMENTI) | Berging, Þjónustun |
| Holy Grail | helgibolli |
| Holy Saturday (laugardagur fyrir PÁSKA) | sorglaugardagur |
| Holy See (PÁFAdómur, PÁFAstóll) | helgistóll |
| Holy Writ (heilög ritning, BIBLÍAN) | Ritningin |
| Home Seretary (innanríkisráðHERRA) | innanríkisráðdrottinn / ráðfreyja |
| homeopath (HÓMÓPATI, smáskammtalæknir) | smáskammtalæknir |
| homeopathy | smáskammtalækningar |
| Homeric (HÓMERSKUR, HÓMERS) | Hómars (This old Icelandic name of a sea-king differs so little from the Greek name that we can use it to designate the Greek poet.) |
| homiletics (PREDIKUNARfræði) | stólræðufræði |
| homily (HÓMILÍA, PREDIKUN, stólræða, húslestur) | stólræða, boðræða, húslestur |
| homily book (HÓMIÍUbók) | húslestrarbók, stólræðubók |
| homing pigeon (bréfdúfa) | burðardúfa (carrier-pigeon) |
| honeycomb (gataMYNSTUR) | gatavígindi |
| honour roll (heiðursLISTI) | heiðursskrá |
| hookah (vatnsreykjarPÍPA) | reykkælir (Thanks, Kolur) |
| hooping cough (KÍGhósti, soghósti) | soghósti |
| hoot (ugluvæl/ FLAUT, blístur) | ugluvæl/ blístur |
| hoot (verb: væla/ FLAUTA, blístra, PÍPA) | væla/ blístra |
| hooter (SÍRENA, BÍLFLAUTA) | vagnshorn (Swedish: ‘bilhorn’) |
| hop (HUMALL) | brugghampur, ölurt |
| hopscotch (PARÍS, PARADÍSARleikur) | reitastökk (Great word from Kolur!) |
| hornet (VESPA, geitungur) | geitungur |
| horoscope (stjörnuspáKORT, ævisjá) | ævisjá |
| horse chestnut (hestaKASTANÍA) | hestahnot (Dutch: ‘wilde kastanje’ (wild chestnut) |
| horse-radish (PIPARrót) | hestarætla |
| horsebox (hestaflutningaKERRA) | hestaflutningavagn |
| Horus | Fálkaröðull (The sun-god depicted as a falcon) |
| hose (vatnsSLANGA; SPRAUTA á, SPÚLA) | áll; skvolgra (old synonym of 'skola' put in a new meaning) |
| hospital (SPÍTALI, sjúkrahús) | sjúkrahús |
| host (obláta) | hleifingur, bergibrauð, helgihold |
| hot dog (PYLSA (í PYLSUbrauði) | grjúpan (old word) |
| hot-dog stand (PYLSUvagn) | grjúpansvagn |
| hotel (HÓTEL, gistihús) | gistihús |
| hotel manager | risnustjóri |
| hotelier (HÓTELhaldari) | löðuður (old word for host), löðunautur |
| Hottentots | Tungusmellar (The were named after the click-sounds in their language) |
| hour (KLUKKUSTUND) | tólftungur (twelfth part of a dial) |
| hourglass (stundaGLAS) | sandsjá |
| hourly (á KLUKKUtíma fresti) | á stundarfresti, á tólftungsfresti |
| house estate (íbúðabygging, bæjarBLOKK) | íbúðabygging |
| House of Lords (LÁVARÐARdeild (breska þingsins) | hleifvarðardeild (breska þingsins) |
| houseman (læknaKANDIDAT) | læknisefni |
| housing (drifhús, HÁSING) | drifhús |
| Hudson Bay | Vesturinnhaf (second largest and most western inland see) |
| Huguenots | Huginssinnar (The spelling Huguenot may have been influenced by the personal name Hugues, "Hugh". A leader of the Geneva movement was one Besançon Hugues (d. 1532) |
| hulk | grænjötunninn |
| Human Genome Project | Mannerfðaverkefnið |
| Humboldt current | Húnbaldursstraumurinn (Humboldt is derived from ‘húnn’ (a bear-cub) + ‘baldur’ (brave) |
| humming-bird | dvergfugl, býfugl (calque of French neologism: ‘oiseau abeille’. The bird was named after its bee-like humming sound and for its sucking the nectar from flowers) |
| humorist (GRÍNISTI, SPAUGARI) | skapglæðir (Thanks, Kolur) |
| humpbacked (með herðaKISTILL/ hryggknýttur) | hryggknýttur, með hnúsk, kryppu, bakhnúsk |
| hunger strike (HUNGURVERKFALL) | kröfufasta, mótmælasultur (translation of the Faroese neologism ‘mótmælissvøltur’, matarneiting (hungurverkfall is a too literal translation of English ‘hungerstrike’) |
| hurray (HÚRRA) | ??????? |
| hurricane lamp (stormLUKT) | stormljósker (A synonym of ‘hurricane lantern’. An oil lamp with a glass chimney and perforated metal lid to protect the flame from high winds.) |
| husky (ESKIMÓAhundur, sleðahundur) | sleðahundur |
| hutch (KANÍNUbúr) | grafhérabúr (grafhéri = rabbit) |
| hyacinth (gem) | tinfrændablóm (zirconium = tinfrændi, hyacinth = goðaLILJA. The stone was named after the flower.) |
| hyacinth (HÝASINTA, goðaLILJA) | goðalaukblóm |
| hyaena (HÍENA) | hræúlfur (Hyena’s are wild dog-like carnivores, particularly noted for their scavenging habits. The large mammalian predators will only occasionally feed on carrion. Although hyenas belong to a seperate group, there is a tendency in the nomenclature to compare them to wolves.) |
| hybrid (kyn)blendingur, BASTARÐUR) | (kyn)blendingur |
| hydrangea (HORTENSÍA, hindarblóm) | hindarblóm |
| hydroxide | vetnildi |
| hyena (HÍENA) | see ‘hyaena’ |
| hymn (SÁLMUR/ syngja SÁLM) | lofsöngur/ lofsyngja |
| hymnal (SÁLMAbók) | lofsöngvabók |
| hymnist (SÁLMAskáld) | lofsöngvakáld |
| hyperborean | nyrðrimaður |
| hypermarket (stórMARKAÐUR) | stórboðangur |
| hypermarket (stórMARKAÐUR) | stórboðangur |
| hyperventilation | ildisáfall (rapid shallow breathing that provides the body with an excess of oxygen and a deficit of carbon dioxide.) |
| hyssop (ÍSÓPUR) | guðskoss (God + ‘lip-flower’. Because of the healing properties of the ‘hyssopus officinalis’, people named it after the holy biblical plant, which was a completely different species.) |
| Iberian peninsula (ÍBERÍSKUR skagi) | Vesturskaga (The westernmost peninsula in the ancient world.) |
| ice tea (ÍSTE) | íslaufsoð |
| ice-hockey (ÍSHOKKÍ) | ískylfuleikur |
| ice-hockey player (ÍSHOKKÍleikari) | ískylfungur |
| ice-lolly (frostPINNI, ísPINNI) | ískefli (English: ‘ice-sucker’, French: ‘sucette glacée’, Faroese ‘sodavatnsísur’) |
| icebox (kæliKASSI) | kælibaukur |
| ichneumon fly (sníkjuVESPA) | sníkjugeitungur |
| icing (kökuKREM) | sætuglerungur (Dutch: ‘suikerglazuur’) |
| identification (PERSÓNUstaðfesting) | einstaklingsstaðfesting |
| identification papers (PERSÓNUskilríki) | einstaklingsskilríki |
| ideogram (myndLETURStákn, myndstafur) | myndstafur |
| idiocy (fávitaháttur, ASNAskapur) | fávitaháttur, eyrjálksskapur |
| idle wheel (millitannhjól, FRÍhjól) | millitannhjól, frjálst hjól |
| Ido | nývonarmál (An artificial language constructed by the French Esperantist Louis de Beaufront. Ido takes its name from an Esperanto suffix meaning ‘derived from’, actually: ‘derived from Esperanto’.) |
| idolatry (PERSÓNUdýrkun) | mannverudýrkjun, einstaklingsdýrkun |
| ignition key (SVISSlykill) | kveikjulykill |
| ill-bred (illa upp alinn, óKURTEIS) | illa upp alinn, óháttvís |
| ill-mannered (DÓNAlegur, óKURTEIS) | drjónalegur, þjösnalegur, óháttvís, ódróttvanur |
| ill-treatment (misþyrming, SLÆM meðferð) | misþyrming, ill meðferð |
| immodesty (óKURTEISI, ósómi, DÓNAskapur) | óháttvísi, ósómi, drjónaskapur |
| immure (FANGELSA, byrgja inni) | byrgja inni |
| imp (púki, óþekktarangi, PRAKKARI) | púki, óþekktarangi |
| impact printer (höggPRENTARI) | höggritfarg |
| imperial (KEISARAlegur, heimsveldis) | hákónglegur, hákónga-, heimsveldis |
| imperial gallon (bresk GALLON) | breskur fjórpottur (see ‘gallon’) |
| imperial topaz (keisaraTÓPAS) | hákóngstindri |
| impersonal (óPERSÓNUlegur) | óeinstaklingsbundinn, tilþrifalítill, ósérstæður |
| impersonate (TÚLKA, herma eftir) | herma eftir |
| impersonation (TÚLKUN, persónugerving) | manngerving |
| impertinence (ósvífni, DÓNAskapur) | ósvífni, drjónaskapur |
| impolite (óKURTEIS, DÓNAlegur) | óháttvís, drjónalegur |
| impoliteness (óKURTEISI, DÓNAskapur) | óháttvísi, drjónaskapur |
| impressionism/ ist (IMPRESSJÓNISMI/ ISTI | blælist, blælistar- |
| in round figures (í heilum tölum, rúmt REIKNAÐ) | í heilum tölum, rúmt raknað |
| incence (reykELSI) | guðsilmur |
| inch (þumlungur, TOMMA) | þumlungur |
| inch rule (TOMMUstokkur) | þumlungsstokkur |
| incubator (útungunarvél, hitaKASSI) | útungunarvél, hitabaukur |
| indelicacy (óKURTEISI) | óháttvísi |
| indelicate (óKURTEIS, GRÓFUR, ruddalegur) | óháttvís, hrjúfur, þjösnalegur |
| India (INDland) | Stéttaland |
| India paper (BÍBLÍUPAPPÍR) | ritningarbleðmi |
| India rubber (hráGÚMMI) | hrátogleður |
| Indian (INDIÁNI) | 1) Vestkynningur (in General)
2) Rauðskinni
3) Fjaðraherji (North America) |
| Indian (INDverskur/ INDverska /INDverji) | stéttlenskur/ stéttlenska/ Stéttlendingur |
| Indian corn (MAÍS) | kólfgrjón |
| Indian ink (TÚSS, TEIKNIBLEK) | dráttblek (drawing ink), sótvatn (soot-water) |
| Indian languages (INDIÁNAmál) | 1) Vestkynningamál (general)
2) Rauðskinnamál (North America) |
| Indian race | Vesturkynið |
| Indian reservations (verndarsvæði INDIÁNA) | verndarsvæði rauðskinna, fjaðraherja |
| indigo (INDÍGÓblár litur/ adjective dimmFJÓLUblár) | háblámi/ háblár (‘High’ is to be interpreted as the blue with the HIGHER frequence, the higher position in the spectrum and it refers to the valuability of indigo as a dye-stuff.) |
| indisposition (SLAPPleiki) | þrekleysi |
| individually (hver fyrir sig, PERSÓNUlega) | hver fyrir sig, einstaklingslega |
| Indo-European languages | Stéttlensk-kvöldlenska tungumálin |
| Indo-Iranian | Stéttlensk-háverska tungumál |
| Indonesia (INDÓNESÍA) | Austureyjar (The most important of the Eastern islands) |
| Indonesian (INDÓNESÍSKUR/ INDÓNESÍUmaður) | Austureyskur, Austureyingur |
| Indus river (INDelfur) | Fimmfljótamóðir (The Indus receives its most notable tributaries from the Punjab (= Land of Five Rivers, translated in Icelandic as Fimmfljótaland, see 3) to the east, including the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers.) |
| inert gas (EÐALGAS, óvirkt GAS) | göfgiloft |
| inexpiable (óafPLÁNANlegur) | óyfirbætanlegur |
| influenza (FLENSA, kvefPEST) | bölkvef |
| informal (óFORMlegur) | ósniðfastur |
| inject (SPRAUTA, dæla) | dæla, spýta inn |
| ink bottle (BLEKBYTTA) | blekhús |
| ink-jet printer (BLEKdæluPRENTARI) | úðaritunarvél |
| inkpad (BLEKPÚÐI, STIMPILPÚÐI) | blekkoddi, slagmerkiskoddi |
| inner tyre (slanga (í hjólbarði) | hjólkur (hjól + hjólkur, torus, cylindrical wheel). The word is used as the equivalent of 'torus' and 'doughnut'. |
| inspector (lögREGLUvarðstjóri) | löggæsluvarðstjóri |
| interdict (FORBOÐ, bann) | bann |
| interest rate (vaxtarPRÓSENTA, vextir) | vextir |
| interior decorator (InnanhússARKITEKT) | stofuhönnuður |
| Interlingua (artificial language) | 1) Almál (like Alnet)
2) Beygingarlaus Sjöhæðska (Latine sine flexione) |
| intern(e) (læknaKANDIDAT) | læknaframbjóðandi |
| internal (in Icelandic ‘innvortis’) | innanverður (‘innvortis’ is a corruption of the danicized German word) |
| Internationale | Rauði Söngurinn |
| internet (alnet, INTERNET, netið) | netið |
| interplanetary (milli PLÁNETA) | millihnatta- |
| interpret (TÚLKA) | málferja, þýða, snara á |
| interpretation (TÚLKUN) | málferja, þýðing |
| interpreter (TÚLKUR) | málferjumaður (language ferry-man), þýðandi |
| Interpreting service | málferjuþjónusta |
| intone (gefa TÓNINN/ mynda TÓNN) | gefa hljóminn, mynda hljóm |
| invoice value (REIKNINGSverð) | röknunarverð |
| iolite | gaupusteinn (also called ‘lynx sapphire’) |
| ion (JÓN, fareind, rafi) | rafi |
| Ionic | jónverskur |
| Ionic order (JÓNÍSKUR byggingarSTÍLL) | sniglasúlulist |
| ionosphere (JÓNhvolf, rafhvolf) | rafhvolf |
| iota (JÓTA) | hálf-i, litlistafur (Small as a ‘iota’) |
| Iraki (ÍRAKI/ (lang.) ÍRAKSKA/ adj. ÍRAKSKUR) | tvífljótaserki/ tvífljótalenska/ tvífljóta- |
| Iran (ÍRAN) | Háverjaland (Iran means ‘land of the aryans’. The Indo Iranian word ‘arya’ means ‘noble’. The High Icelandic word ‘háverji’ is used as an equivalent for ‘Aryan’ and ‘Iranian’. See ‘Arian’) |
| Iranian (ÍRANSKUR/ ÍRANI) | háverskur/ Háverji |
| Iraq (ÍRAK) | Tvífljótaland |
| Ireland (Írland) | Smáraey (The shamrock clover is the national symbol of ireland. Ireland and Scotland are often called ‘land of clover’.) |
| iridescence | 1) ásbrúarskin (ásbrú is an old kenning for rainbow) 2) litbrigði |
| iridium (IRIDÍN) | litagull (A pun on the word 'hvítagull' (platinum), the element situated next to platinum on the periodic system. The element was named after the Latin word for rainbow (iris; iridium means "of rainbows") because many of its salts are strongly colored.) |
| Irish (ÍRSKUR, (lang.) ÍRSKA) | smáreyskur, smáreyska |
| Irish coffee (ÍRSKT KAFFI) | smáreyskt kyrgi |
| Irishman (ÍRI) | smáreyingur |
| Irishwoman (ÍRSK kona) | smáreyjsk kona |
| iron (STRAUJA, PRESSA) | strjúka (In Dutch the equivalent verb ‘strijken’ means ‘to fiddle’ as well as ‘to iron’. So this could also work in Icelandic.) |
| iron out (STRAUJA úr, jafna) | stjúka úr (Dutch: ‘eruit strijken’)/ jafna) |
| ironing board (STRAUbretti) | strokbretti (Dutch: ‘strijkplank’, strijken = strjúka) |
| irregular (of verbs) | sérbeygjandi |
| irregular (óREGLUlegur) | óskipulegur, háttlaus |
| irregularity (REGLUleysi, óREGLA/ ójafna) | óskipuleiki/ háttleysi/ ójafna |
| irritate (ergja, skaprauna, PIRRA/ erta) | ergja, skaprauna/ erta |
| irritation (ergja, skapraun, PIRRINGUR/ erting) | ergja, skapraun/ erting |
| isinglass (MARÍUgler) | meyjargler |
| Isis | Smyrðlinga-Frigg |
| Islam | serkjatrú, sandverjatrú |
| Islamic | serkjatrúar- |
| Islamic fundamentalism | serknesk oftrú |
| Islamic fundamentalist | ofserki, oftrúarserki |
| isotope (ÍSÓTÓP, samsæta) | samsæta |
| Israel (ÍSRAEL, gyðingaland) | Guðland |
| Israeli (ÍSRAELI; adjective: ÍSRAELSKUR) | guðlendingur, guðverji; adjective: guðlenskur, guðverskur (gýðingur is used for 'Jew') |
| italic (skáLETRAÐUR) | skástafa- |
| italicize (SKÁLETRA, PRENTA með skáLETRI) | skástafa |
| Italy, Italian (ÍTALÍA/ ÍTALSKUR/ ÍTALI) | Valland/ vallenska/ Vallendingur (Valland is an old name for France or Italy) |
| Itsy-bitsy (PÍNKUlítill, obbolítill, afarlítill) | afarlítill, ofboðlítill |
| J (JOÐ) | hálf-i (j is a semivocal) |
| jack (lifting jack: TJAKKUR, lyfta/ stungutengill) | lyfta/ stungutengill |
| jack (lifting jack: TJAKKUR, lyfta/ stungutengill) | hefja; stungutengill |
| jack up (TJAKKA, lyfta) | lyfta |
| jack-in-the-box (KASSAtrúður) | öskjufífl |
| jackal (SJAKALI, refsbróðir, gullúlfur) | gullúlfur, refsbróðir |
| jackass (ASNI/ flón, kjáni) | eyrjálkur, þverhestur/ flón, kjáni |
| jackboot (hnéSTÍGVÉL, reiðiSTÍGVÉL) | hnéskór, reiðskór |
| jacket (JAKKI) | hrauð (old name for 'armour' mentioned in the 'Þulur' related to Old English 'hréða' (fur). |
| jade | eystristeinn (No other material is so closely identified with far east (chinese) culture than jade. In no other region of the world has this obdurate material been worked with such skill in such a long and unbroken tradition. It is commonly called ‘the stone of china’) |
| jade (colour) | eystrigræna |
| jaguar (JAGÚAR) | blettakóngur (= spotted king. The largest and strongest of the spotted kats, the spotted king. The word 'king' refers to the lion, the 'king of animals'.) |
| jail (FANGELSI/ verb: hneppa í varðhald) | haftahús/ verb: hneppa í varðhald |
| jailbird (TUGThúslimur, FANGI) | haftahúslimur, viðskiptavinur steinsins |
| jailbreak (flótti úr FANGELSI) | flótti úr varðhaldi |
| jalopy (BÍLgarmur, drusla) | akgarmur, drusla |
| jam (ávaxtaSULTA, ávaxtamauk, aldinmauk) | aldinmauk, ávaxtamauk |
| jamboree (SKÁTAmót) | ratmannamót (boy scout, path-finder = ratstrákur) |
| Jan Mayen island | Surts-Svalbarði (Surtr’s Spitzbergen, the northernmost volcanic island) |
| january (JANÚAR) | 1) hliðmánuður (After the god Janus, the god of doors and gateways. The door of a new year)
2) nýársmánuður |
| Japan (JAPAN) | Morguneyjar (Morning Islands) |
| japan (JAPANLAKK) | eystrigljái |
| japan (verb: LAKKA með JAPANLAKKI) | mála með eystrigljái |
| japanese | Morguneyingur/ morguneyskur/ morguneyska (islands of the rising sun (chinese ‘jih pun’ sunrise, orient, Japanese ‘nippon’ (ni, sun, pon ‘origin’) |
| jasmine (JASMÍNA) | ilmdís (Jasmine is the most widely used fragrance element in many of the more sensual and exotic perfumes. Jasmine is often called ‘the love-perfume) |
| Jasmine (proper name) | Ilmdís |
| jasper (JASPIS) | freyjusteinn (Jasper is known as a fertility stone) |
| jass (DJASS, JAZZ) | hljómspuni (black improvisation, from ‘spuna’ (improvisation)
Free jazz = frjáls spuna |
| jeans (GALLABUXUR) | kúrekabrók (Faroese: ‘cowboybuksur’, Servo-croatian: ‘farmerke’, Finnish: ‘farmarihousut’ (farmer-trousers). |
| jeep (JEPPI) | hrjúfreið |
| Jehova | gyðingaguð, Eyvéi |
| Jehova’s witness (vottur JEHÓVA) | guðsvottur |
| jelly roll (RÚLLUTERTA með SULTU) | maukvöðla |
| Jericho (JERÍKÓ) | 1) Jórgarður (Three Icelandic names of important cities are compouds with ‘jór’ (Jórvík, Nýja Jórvík, Jórsalir). We only missed a compound with ‘-garður’. Jórgarður fits Jericho (not far from Jórsalir) very well.)
2) Lágborg (The lowest-lying city on earth) |
| jeroboam (KAMPAvínsflaska) | kóngsmæna (The bottle is called in allusion to Jeroboam, first king of the northern kingdom of Israel who led Israel into sin (10th century BC). |
| jerry-builder (klastrari, FÚSKARI) | klastri |
| Jersey (JERSEY) | Jófleifsey (Jófleifur is the High Icelandic equivalent of Julius. The name comes from ‘caesarea’, the roman name of the island.) |
| jest (SPAUG, grín/ verb: SPAUGA, grína) | grín, grína |
| jesuit (JESÚÍTI, KRISTMUNKUR) | róðubróðir |
| jet (þrýstistútur, TÚÐA/verb: spýta(st), SPRAUTA(ST) | þrýstistútur/ spýta(st) |
| Jew (gyðingur, JÚÐI) | gyðingur |
| jib (FOKKA, framsegl/ BÓMA) | framsegl/ baðmur (Dutch: ‘boom’ is used in the meaning of ‘tree’ and ‘boom’. The English word is derived from the Dutch word ‘boom’ (tree), which is related to Icelandic ‘baðmur’.) |
| jib boom (klýfurBÓMA) | klýfurbaðmur |
| jiffy (augnaBLIK) | andartak, augnabragð |
| jigsaw puzzle (PÚSLU, raðSPIL) | raðleikur |
| jinn | millivættur, þjónustuandi (See 2) |
| jitterbug (TJÚTT) | villisveifla (the wild swing, Italian ‘ballo frenetico’ (ofsafenginn dans) |
| jitters (taugaspenna, SKREKKUR, skjálfti) | taugaspenna, skjálfti |
| jive (sveifla/ (dance) DJÆF) | sveifla/ (dance) sveifla |
| Joan of arc | Guðbrynmey |
| jockey (veðreiðaKNAPI) | veðreiðamaður |
| John Doe (meðaljón, ótiltekin PERSÓNA) | meðalmenni, ótiltekin mannvera |
| joiner’s bench (HEFILbekkur) | lokarbekkur |
| joint (MARÍJÚANASÍGARETTA) | hampvindlingur |
| joint account (sameiginlegur BANKAreikningur) | sameiginlegur sjóðsröknun |
| jojo | klifursnúður (calque of Dutch ‘klimtol’ (climbing top) |
| joke (BRANDARI, skrýtla, fyndni) | fyndni, hláturkveikir, skrýtla |
| joker (BRANDARAkarl/ JÓKER) | fyndnikarl, skrýtlukarl/ in cards:skratti, skrattaspjald |
| jolly boat (JULLA, skipskæna) | skipskæna |
| Jolly Roger (sjóræningjaFLAGG) | hauskúpuvoð (German: ‘Totenkopfflagge’) |
| Jordan | 1) Lágáin (the lowest river in the world)
2) Skírnarfljótið
3) Guðselfur |
| Jordan (JÓRDANÍA) | Lágárland (Named after the Jordan (Lágá), the lowest river in the world) |
| Jordanian (JÓRDANSKUR/ JÓRDANI) | lágárlenskur/ Lágárlendingur |
| joss stick (REYKELSISstöng) | guðsilmsstöng |
| jotter (minnisbók, minnisBLOKK) | minnisbók |
| joule | orkueining |
| Jovian planet | reikirisi (large Jupiter-like planets) |
| judo | mjúkvígi (Judo means ‘the soft way’) |
| juggernaut (stóri vöruflutningaBÍLL) | stór vöruvagn |
| Julia, Juliana | Jófleifa (see ‘Jófleifur) |
| Julian calendar | jófleifstímatalið |
| Julius | Jófleifur (The origin of the name was ‘descendant of Jupiter’. The Icelandic form of Jupiter (Jófur) is a adaptation of the variant ‘Jove’. The Icelandic ‘Leifur’ means descendant.) |
| July (JÚLÍ) | Jófleifsmánuður (Julius = Jófleifur (descendant of Jove, Jupiter) |
| jump cables (STARTKAPLAR, tengiKAPLAR) | tengitaugar (In háfrónska ‘kapall’ is replaced by simply ‘taug’. The latter word is used in the meaning ‘nerve’, which are kind of electric cables) |
| jump rope (SIPPUband, snú-snúband) | snú-snúband (see 2) |
| jump rope (verb: SIPPA, vera í snú-snú) | vera í snú-snú/ snú-snúa |
| jump start (setja í gang með STARTKÖPLUM) | setja í gang með tengitaugum |
| jumper (GOLFTREYJA) | höggleiksstakkur |
| jumping jack (SPRELLIkarl, spriklgosi) | spriklgosi |
| June (JÚNÍ) | algyðjumánuður (named after Juno (queen of the gods), compare ‘alfaðir’, the nick-name of Óðinn) |
| jungle | synonym of ‘frumskógur’: grænavíti |
| junk (DJÚNKA) | ??? |
| junk food (SJOPPAmatur) | 1) fyllifæði (Dutch : ‘vulvoer’ = filling food)
2) skranmeti (Swedish : ‘skräpmat’ = junk food) |
| junkie (DÓPISTI, fíkill) | fíkill, eiturþræll |
| junoesque (of a woman : glæsilegur, tígulegur) | algyðjulegur (Juno, Hera and Frigg are ‘algyðjur’) |
| Jupiter | Jófur ((From Latin Iupiter, which was from ‘dyeu-pater’, composed of the elements ‘dyeus’ (see ZEUS) and pater “father”. The adjective ‘jovian’ originates from ‘JOVE’, derived from the stem of ‘Iupiter’. This was another name of the Roman god Jupiter. The Icelandic equivalent could be ‘Jófur’, with the ‘f’ from ‘faðir’ instead of the ‘p’ of ‘pater’ in ‘jupiter’.). The name of the Greek equivalent ‘ZEUS’ was icelandicised to ‘SEIFUR’, but the name of his Roman equivalent was left unaltered, although the name JOVE can easily be adapted to Icelandic.) |
| Jurassic park | risaeðlagarður |
| jute | baststrigi (See ‘Íslensk-Ensk Orðabók til að hafa við höndina by Arngrímur Sigurðsson) |
| K2 (the world's second highest peak) | jarlstindur (an 'earl' ranked second after the king. Mount Everest is the King peak) |
| Kaaba | Verpilhof |
| Kabuki | karlaleiklist (feature of the kabuki art, and perhaps the most significant and in keeping with the kabuki spirit of unusualness, is the fact that it has no actresses whatsoever.) |
| kaffir | suðursvertingi (a member of a group of southern African Bantu-speaking peoples. The name is chiefly applied in South Africa) |
| Kamasutra | Ástarritningin |
| kamikaze (SJÁLFMORÐSFLUGMAÐUR) | hrapherji |
| kangaroo (KENGÚRA) | skyppill (from ‘skoppa’). The international pet-name of the kangaroo (skippy) is a derivation of the verb ‘to skip’, which is cognate with the Icelandic ‘skoppa’. The addition of the ‘-ill’-suffix causes the stem vowel ‘o’to change into ‘y’ (skyppill = he, who skips) resulting in a word sounding very similar to ‘skippy’. The diminutive ‘skypplingur’ could be used to designate the wallaby) |
| kaolin (KAOLÍN) | skartleir |
| kapok | snæullartré (Kapok is nick-named ‘vegetable down’. The African name is ‘sneeu’ (snow), because it falls like snow from the trees (fill the words ‘kapok’ and ‘sneeu’ in your search bar) |
| karaoke (KARAOKE) | lagvísir (Nýyrðadagbók) |
| karate (KARATE) | limskylmingar (Karate means ‘way of the empty hand. It could be traslated as ‘fence without a sword’) |
| karma | sjálfsköp (see 1) |
| kayak (KAJAK, húðkeipur) | keipull (old word), húðkeipur |
| kefir (KEFÍR) | kornaystingur (named after the kefir grains (kefirkorn) |
| keg (kaggi, kútur, KVARTIL) | kaggi, kútur |
| keilubiljarður | knattborðskeila |
| Kelvin scale | raunhitakerfi (raunhitastig = degree Kelvin) |
| Kent (Kent) | Jótbretland (Britain of the Jutes) |
| kepi (FRÖNSK hermannahúfa) | frakknesk herhúfa |
| kerbstone (KANTsteinn) | randsteinn |
| kerosine (steinOLÍA, ljósOLÍA) | þotumeti |
| kestrel (TURNfálki) | klía (The ‘orðsifjabók’ mentions ‘klí’, an onomatopoeia for the the sound of a kestrel. The High Icelandic name of this species is a derivation of this word. It can be compared with ‘kría’ (Sterna Paradisaea), which was also derived from an onomatopoeia of this bird’s sound.) |
| ketchup (TÓMATSÓSA) | rauðaldinshlaup |
| kettle drum (ketilTRUMBA, PÁKA) | ketilbumba, slagketill |
| kevlar | bryntrefja |
| keynote (grunnTÓNN) | grunnhljómur |
| khaki (KAKÍefni/ brúndrappaður litur) | hervoð/ ryklitt klæði/ ryklitur (Hindi ‘khaki’ = ‘dust-colored’, from. ‘khak’ = dust, from Persian) |
| Khephera | Ýfilröðull (the scarab sun-god) |
| khmer, Red Khmer | Kambverji, Blóðkambverjar (Kambverji can also be used for ‘Cambodian’) |
| kick-starter (fótSTARTARI, ræsifetill) | ræsifetill |
| kid (verb: PLATA, þykjast, leika á/ grínast) | þykjast, leika á/ grínast |
| kid glove (geitarskinnsHANSKI) | geitarskinnsglófi |
| kid gloves, handle with (taka á með silkiHÖNSKUM) | taka á með hnossgarnsvöttum |
| kilobyte (kílóbæti) | minnisþúsund (a data-kilogram/ corresponds more or less with half a page of text.) |
| kilocalorie (stór hitaeining, stórKALÓRÍA) | stór hitaeining (See 5) |
| kilocycle (KÍLÓrið) | þúsundrið |
| kilogramme (KÍLÓGRAMM) | fjórmörk |
| kilolitre (KÍLÓLÍTRI) | vatnslest (hydrotonne) |
| kilometre (KÍLÓMETRI) | röst (This word was used in the beginning of the 20th century) |
| kilotonne (KÍLÓTONN) | þúsundlest (based on the example ‘hitaeining’ (calorie) and ‘stór hitaeining’ (kilocalorie) |
| kindergarten (leikSKÓLI, forSKÓLI) | leiknámshús, fornámshús |
| king cobra (risagleraugnaSLANGA) | risaspónsnókur (Dutch: ‘lepelslang’ (spoon-snake). Not all cobra’s have ‘glasses’) |
| king pin (SPINDILBOLTI, stýrisvölur) | stýrisvölur |
| kings’ evidence (vitni KRÚNUNNAR) | 1) dróttvitni
2) kollbaugsvottur |
| kitchen apron (eldhúsSVUNTA) | eldhússveipa |
| kitchen sink (eldhúsVASKUR) | uppþvottalaug |
| kitchen tissue (eldhúsPAPPÍR) | eldhúsbleðmi (literal translation of English word) |
| kite (flugDREKI) | loftgálkn |
| kiwi (KÍVÍfugl) | loðfugl (the hairy bird). In Icelandic ‘strútungur’ is possible. It is the smallest bird in the ratite family.) |
| kiwi fruit (KÍVÍÁVÖXTUR) | loðber (existing Icelandic word, unfortunately not in the dictionaries and seldomly used in every-day speech) |
| Klingon (KLINGONESKUR) | Geimhýnska (klingon = geimhúni) Like the Huns of ancient Earth, the Klingons, were ruthless, living only for conquest and domination. Other Star Trek terminology: Romulans (Geimsjöhæðungar), Vulcans (Oddeyrungar) |
| knee breeches (hnéBUXUR, hnébrækur) | hnébrækur |
| knickerboxers (pokaBUXUR) | pokabrók |
| knight (in chess: RIDDARI) | reiðherji |
| knight (RIDDARI/ slá til RIDDARI) | reiðherji/ slá til reiðherji |
| knight errand (farandRIDDARI) | farandreiðherji |
| Knight Templar (MUSTERISRIDDARI) | hofreiðherji |
| knighthood (RIDDARAtign/ RIDDARAstétt/ RIDDARAmennska) | reiðherjatign/ reiðherjastétt/ reiðherjamennska |
| knightly (RIDDARAlegur) | reiðherjalegur, reiðherja- |
| knight’s cross (RIDDARAKROSS) | reiðherjaróða |
| knitting (prjónLES) | prjónvörur |
| knob (húnn, hnappur, hnúður, TAKKI) | húnn, hnappur, hnúður |
| knock (högg, BANK/ verb: slá, berja, BANKA) | högg, bang/ verb/ slá, berja, banga |
| knock back (drink quickly: skella/STURTA í sig) | skella í sig |
| knockout (rot/ DÚNDUR-, þrumu-) | rot/ þrumu- |
| kohlrabi (hnúðKÁL) | hnúðskálpurt (The word ‘skálpungur’ means ‘plants bearing a siliqua’ (Icelandic ‘skálpur’), a kind of pod characteristic of the plants of the Cruciferaceae (Brassica). |
| Koran (KÓRAN) | Serkjaritningin, Sandverjabók |
| Korea (KÓREA) | Árróarland (Japanese ‘Chosen’ (cho sun ‘land of the morning calm’) |
| Korean (KÓRESKUR, KÓREUmaður, KÓRESKA) | árróar-, Árróarmaður, árróarmál |
| Kremlin (KREML) | Rauðvirki (The kremlin (from Russian ‘kreml’’ = fortress) is often referred to as the ‘red fortress’. The palace was made of red bricks. There are other constructions in the world that were named ‘red fortress’, but the Kremlin is the most populare of them all, hence the High Icelandic name ‘rauðvirki’.) |
| krypton (KRYPTON) | stikuloft (because The SI standard definition of the length of the metre was based on a certain amount of wavelengths of the orange-red emission line emitted by krypton-86 atoms.) |
| Ku Klux Klan | hvíthettungar |
| kundalini | snákeldur (In some Tantric forms of Yoga, the kundalini is thecosmic energy that is believed to lie within everyone, pictured as a coiled serpent lying at the base of the spine.) |
| kung fu | yrmildalandsvígi, (Nowadays, the term kung fu is a collective name for the chinese fighting arts.
Shaolin Kung fu = hofvígi (After the Shaolin temple. The Shaolin were Taoist monks who refined the Chinese fighting arts.) |
| kuru | hlátursýki, mannæturiða (cannibal-scrapie, ‘riða’ (scrapie) is used as a general term for ‘prion diseases’, because it was the first word for such a disease in Icelandic.) |
| kwashiorkhor (PRÓTÍNvaneldi) | hvítuvaneldi (The condition in children was first described in 1932 and was termed kwashiorkor, meaning "deposed child" (deposed from the mother's breast by a newborn sibling. Potbelly is one of the main characteristics.) |
| kyphosis (herðaKISTILL, kryppa, beyla, hnúskur) | kryppa, krungur, beyla, hnúskur |
| Labrador dog | marklandshundur |
| lace (BLÚNDA; verb: brydda með BLÚNDU) | hlað; verb: brydda með hlaði |
| lacquer (LAKK/ verb: LAKKA) | gljákvoða, glæni/ gljáhúða, glæna (an existing neologism) |
| lacy (BLÚNDU-, kniplinga-) | skrautborða- |
| ladies’ room (kvennaKLÓSETT, kvennasnyrting) | kvennasnyrting |
| lady (hefðarkona, DAMA, FRÚ) | hefðarkona, göfugfreyja |
| lady in waiting (hirðDAMA) | dróttfreyja |
| ladybird (MARÍUbjalla) | meyjarbjalla |
| Ladyship (lafði) | hleifdeigja (The literal construction of the Anglo-saxon word ‘hlæfdige’ (hleif + deigja) see ‘1’) |
| lady’s mantle (MARÍUstakkur) | meyjarstakkur |
| lady’s smock (hrafnaKLUKKA) | hrafnadymblingur (bjalla is used in botanical and a zoological names) |
| lager (LAGERöl, ljóst öl) | ljóst öl |
| lama (BÚDDHAMUNKUR) | heimþaksbróðir, þaklandsbróðir (Þakland = Tibet) |
| lamaism (LAMAtrú) | Þaklandstrú (Þakland = 'roof-land'), heimþakstrú |
| lamaist (LAMAtrúarmaður) | þaklandstrúarmaður (Þakland = Tibet) |
| laminated wood (KROSSviður, samlímdur viður) | þverviður (German: ‘sperrholz’), samlímdur viður |
| lamp (LAMPI, LUKT, skjögtari) | lýsill, ljósald |
| lamp-black (KINROK, reykjarsalli) | 1) bleksót (A black colloidal substance consisting wholly or principally of amorphous carbon and used to make pigments and ink.)
2) reykjarsalli |
| lamplight (LAMPAljós) | ljósaldsbirta |
| lamplighter (LUKTARkarl, kveikjari) | ljóskerkarl (German: ‘laternenanzünder’), kveikjari |
| lampshade (LAMPASKERMUR) | ljóshlíf (spanish: ‘quebra-luz’ (break the light), Italian ‘paralume’ (protecting against the light) |
| lance (LENSA) | darr |
| lancer (LENSURIDDARI) | 1) darri (The addition of 'reið' or 'riddari' isn't absolutely necessary. In English the word is merely a derivation from 'lance' without reference to the mounted state)
2) reiðdarri (Thanks, Kolur!) |
| landgrave (landGREIFI) | landhersir |
| landing craft (landgönguPRAMMI) | landgöngufar (Faroese: ‘landgongufar’) |
| landscape architecture (landslagARKITEKTÚR) | landslagshönnun (synonym: ‘landscape design’) |
| languid (magnlaus, SLAPPUR, daufur) | magnlaus, daufur |
| languorous (magnlaus, SLAPPUR, daufur) | magnleus, daufur |
| lanoline (LANÓLÍN, ullarfeiti) | (hreinsað) ullarvax (purified form of wool grease or wool wax (sometimes erroneously called wool fat) |
| lantern (LUKT, ljósker) | ljósker |
| lantern-jawed (kinnfiskasoginn/ með SKÚFFU) | kinnfiskasoginn/ með stallkjafti |
| lanternslide (skuggamyndaPLATA, skyggna) | skyggna |
| lanyard (SNÚRA/ dragreipi, falur) | snæri/ dragreipi, falur |
| lapel (KRAGAhorn, jakkahorn) | helsuhorn (kragi is ‘helsa’ in Háfrónska) |
| lapis lazuli (ASÚRsteinn/ colour: ASÚRblár litur) | heiðblámasteinn (The word ‘Lazuli’ stems from the Persian word ‘Lazhward’ meaning ‘sky’/ colour: heiðblámi) |
| lapse of the pen (PENNAglöp, ritvilla) | fjaðarglöp, ritvilla |
| lapwing (VEPJA, ísakráka) | ísakráka |
| larch (LERKI, LERKIviður, barrfellir) | barrfellir |
| larkspur (RIDDARAspori) | reiðherjaspori |
| larva (LIRFA) | yrmla, ormungi (from Faroese ‘ormvera’)
1) of flies: víur (ví = egg of a fly), maðka
2) of gnats: mýjur
3) of moths and butterflies: yrmildi
4) of beetles: bjöllungar |
| larval stage (LIRFUstig) | yrmlastig |
| laryngoscope (barkakýlisSPEGILL) | barkakýlissjá |
| lasagna (lagbaka) | lagbaka (Nýyrðadagbók Íslenskrar Málstöðvar) |
| laser (LEYSIR, LJÖRVI) | ljörvi (from ‘ljós’ (light) and ‘örvi’ (stimulation) |
| laser beam (LEYSIgeisli) | ljörvageisli |
| laser printer (geislaPRENTARI) | ritljörvi |
| last rites (síðustu SAKRAMENTIN) | síðustu náðarmeðulin |
| latch (loka, snerill, KLINKA) | loka, snerill |
| latchkey (KLINKUlykill, útidýralykill) | húslykill (Dutch: ‘huissleutel’) |
| lathing (MÚRhúðunarnet) | vegghúðunarnet |
| Latin (LATÍNA/ RÓMÖNSKUR) | sjöhæ(ð)ska, sjöhæskur |
| Latin (maður af RÓMÖNSKU þjóðerni) | maður af sjöhæ(ð)sku þjóðerni |
| Latin America (RÓMÖNSK AMERÍKA) | Sjöhæ(ð)ski Vesturheimurinn |
| Latin church (RÓMVERK-KAÞÓLSKA KIRKJA) | sjöhæski sóknin |
| latin languages (RÓMÖNSK tungumál) | sjöhæska tungumálin |
| latinate (LATÍNUskotinn) | sjöhæskuskotinn |
| latinist (LATÍNUmaður) | sjöhæskumaður |
| latinize (snúa á LATÍNU) | snúa á sjöhæsku |
| latitudinal (breiddar-, breiddarGRÁÐU-) | breiddar, breiddarstigs- |
| latitudinarian (FRÍhyggjumaður) | frjálshyggjumaður |
| latitudinarianism (FRÍhyggjustefna) | frjálshyggjustefna |
| latrine (KAMAR, náðhús) | náðhús |
| Latvia (LETTland) | lýðverjaland (the word is related to the German ‘leute’) |
| Latvian (LETTI/ LETTneska/ LETTneskur) | lýðverji, lýðverska, lýðverskur |
| laud (lofa, hrósa, PRÍSA) | lofa, hrósa |
| laudanum | draumdropar (opium drops) |
| laughable (hlægilegur, SPAUGIlegur) | hlægilegur |
| laughing gas (hláturGAS, glaðloft) | glaðloft |
| launder (þvo og strauja) | þvo og strjúka (see ‘iron’) |
| laundry basket (þvottaKARFA) | þvottalaupur |
| Laurasia | Norður-Alland (North Pangea) |
| laureate (LÁRviðarskáld/ adj. LÁRviðarKRÝNDUR) | lofsveigskáld/ lofsveigaður |
| laurel (LÁRviður/ LÁRviðarsveigur) | lofviður/ lofsveigur |
| lav (baðHERBERGI, baðstofa) | baðstofa (see ‘bathroom’) |
| lavatory pan (KLÓSETTskál) | náðskál |
| lavender (ljósFJÓLUblár) | lofnarblómsblár (Lavender = lofnarblóm) |
| law list (lögmannaLISTI) | lögmannaskrá |
| lawn tennis (TENNIS (leikinn á grasvelli) | grasspaðaleikur |
| lawrencium (chem. LÁRENSÍN) | lafransblý (named after the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which was in its turn named after Ernest Orlando Lawrence. The Icelandic equivalent of the name Lawrence (derived from Latin Laurentius) is Lafrans (as in Lafransmessa). |
| lax (SLAPPUR, linur/ kærulaus) | linur/ kærulaus |
| laxiti (SLAPPleiki, linka) | linka |
| lead on (PLATA, blekkja, villa um fyrir) | blekkja, villa um fyrir |
| leads (blýlistar, blýRAMMAR) | blýlistar |
| lean-to (BÍSLAG, skúr/ hálfþak) | skúr/ hálfþak |
| Lebanese (LÍBANI/ LÍBANSKUR) | barreiklendingur, barreiklenskur |
| Lebanon (LÍBANON) | 1) Barreikarland (Needle-oak-land, Cedar-land)
2) Sættarland (Sætt = Sidon) |
| lecithine | ýrublómi (this term comes from Greek ‘lekithos’ (yolk). It is the prime emulsifying agent (ýruefni) in yolk. A term like ‘blómafleytir’ could cause confusion. Lecithine could be regarded as the emulsifying (part of the) yolk (blómi) |
| lectern (in a church/ LEKTARI, ræðuPÚLT) | skáborð, ræðuborð |
| lecturer (fyrirlesari, LEKTOR) | fyrirlesandi |
| lecturership (LEKTORSstaða) | fyrirlesandastaða |
| ledger (höfuðbók, KLADDI) | höfuðbók |
| leech (IGLA, blóðsuga) | blóðsuga |
| leek (blaðlaukur, PÚRRA) | blaðlaukur |
| legal holiday (lögskipaður FRÍdagur) | lögskipað frjálsdegi |
| legate (LEGÁTI/ sendiherra) | sendifaðir/ sendidrottinn |
| legend (skýringarTEXRI) | skýringalesmál |
| lei (in Hawai: blómsveigur, KRANS) | blómsveigur |
| leisure (tómstund, FRÍstund) | tómstund |
| lemon (SÍTRÓNA/ (tree) SÍTRÓNUtré) | gulaldin/ gulaldintré |
| lemon squash (SÍTRÓNUsvaladrykkur) | gulaldinsvaladrykkur |
| lemon squeezer (SÍTRÓNUPRESSA) | gulaldinfarg |
| lemonade (LÍMÓNAÐI, SÍTRÓNUdrykkur) | gulaldingos, gulaldinsdrykkur |
| lemur (LEMÚR, refapi) | refapi |
| Lena (Siberian river) | Norðurkóngelfur (Largest river of the north) |
| leninism, leninist | Valdimarsstefna/ Valdimarssinni (Vladimir Ilich Lenin) |
| lens (LINSA/ (eye) augasteinn) | sjóngler (the lens was called after a bean)/ augasteinn |
| lent (PÁSKAfasta/ langafasta) | vorjólafasta/ langafasta |
| lentil (LINSUBAUN/ LINSUbaunaJURT) | flatbaun (Faroese ‘flatbøn’)/ flatbaunaurt |
| Leo (ljónið, ljónsmerki/ ljón) | gramdýr (see ‘tyrant’) |
| leonine (ljónslegur, ljón-) | gramdýrslegur, gramdýrs- |
| leopard (HLÉBARDÍ, PARDUSdýr) | snarköttur (the leopards are the fastest felines) |
| leopardess (HLÉBARÐAynja) | snarlæða (leopards are the fastest felines) |
| lesbian (LESBÍA/ adj. LESBÍSKUR) | kynhverf kona/ adj. kynhverf |
| lesbianism | kynsystraást |
| lesson (kennslustund, LEXÍA) | læring, kennslustund, námshluti |
| letter (bókstafur, LETUR) | bókstafur, stafur |
| letter (BRÉF) | 1) bleða (in Polish the word for blað, “list” is used in the meaning of letter. Blað is used as paper in newspaper, why could’t we use bleða for bréf?.)
2) tilrit |
| lettering (áLETRUN, áritun) | áritun |
| letterpress (LETURPRENTUN/ PRENTmál) | stafafargritun/ fargritmál |
| lettuce (SALAT/ SALATblöð) | blandlauf (named after its being a main ingredient in vegetable-mixes or salads) |
| letup (rénun, lát, STOPP) | rénun, lát |
| Leviathan | Sækölski (Satan of the sea), Jörmungandur gyðinga (jormungandr of the Jews) |
| Levis | kúrekabrók (loan-translation of the identical Faroese word) |
| liana (klifurPLANTA, vafPLANTA) | apareipi, vafurt, klifururt |
| libel (ÆRUmeiðing, níð) | meiðing (ærumeiða can be reduced to ‘meiða’), níð |
| liberal education (almenn háSKÓLAmenntun) | almenn hámenntun |
| library (bókasafn/ bókaHERBERGI) | bókasafn/ bókastofa |
| librettist (TEXTAhöfundur (ÓPERU) | lesmálshöfundur (söngleiks) |
| libretto (TEXTI (að ÓPERU) | lesmál (að songleik) |
| licence plate (BÍLNÚMER/ NÚMERSPLATA) | vagnstala/ töluskildi |
| licorice (LAKKRÍS, LAKKRÍSPLANTA) | sætræti/ sætrót |
| liege lord (LÉNSHERRA) | lánsdrottinn |
| liege man (LÉNSmaður) | lánsmaður |
| life belt (björgunarBELTI, lífBELTI) | björgunargjörð, lífgjörð |
| life jacket (björgunarVESTI) | sundvesl (‘vesl’ is purely icelandic sound-similar and related to ‘vesti’) |
| life style (lífSTÍLL, lífsMÁTI) | lífsháttur |
| lift (lyfting; (device) LYFTA; verb: lyfta, hefja | lyfting, hafning; (device) hefja (The purely Icelandic 'lyfta' is replaced by 'hefja' because it resembles the English word to an unaceptable extent. High Icelandic ultrapurism implies that purity is NOT sufficient. Maximal deviation from the vocabulary of international languages is the rule); verb: lyfta, hefja) |
| liftboy (LYFTUvörður, LYFTUdrengur) | hefjuvörður, hefjudrengur (We should let our Icelandic words sound as different as possible from their English equivalents!) |
| liftman (LYFTUvörður) | hefjuvörður |
| light bulb (glóLAMPI, ljósaPERA) | ljósapera |
| light emotting diode (ljóstvistur, ljósDÍÓÐA) | ljóstvistur |
| lighter (SÍGARETTU)kveikjari) | (vindlinga)kveikir |
| lighter (vöruflutningaPRAMMI) | vöruferja (The English word is less transparent) |
| lignite (brúnkol, surtarbrandur) | surtarbrandur, mókol |
| lilac (LILLAblár litur) | dísablár (after ‘dísarunni’) |
| lily (LILJA) | laukblóm, leykla (All the plant species having ‘laukur’ in their names are all lilies. The flower-bulb (blómlaukur) is a characteristic of the lilies.) |
| Lily (proper name: LILJA) | Leykla (from Laukur) |
| lily of the valley (dalaLILJA) | dalaleykla, dalalaukblóm |
| lima bean (smjörbaun, LIMAbaun) | smjörbaun |
| lime (óslökkt KALK) | hvítsteinn (Latin: ‘Terra alba’) |
| lime kiln (KALKbrennsluofn) | útglóðunarofn (From Faroese: ‘útgløðing’. The term originally applied to the formation of calx. When calcium carbonate, Ca(HCO3)2, is heated it decomposes into the calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide. This process is known as ‘calcination’. Now the term is used for any heating of solid material to drive off volatile components.) |
| limerick (LIMRA) | hlymrekur (The real Old Norse name) |
| limestone (KALKsteinn) | hvítsteinn (see ‘lime’) |
| limousine (glæsivagn, LÚXUSbifreið) | glæsivagn |
| limp (máttlaus, SLAPPleiki) | máttlaus |
| limpid (KRISTAL)tær, gegnsær) | (hagal)tær, gegnsær |
| limy (KALKkenndur, KALK-) | hvítsteinkenndur, hvítsteins- |
| line (LÍNA, strik/ LÍNUstrika) | ferill (in maths, a written line), lengja (of a text)/ verb: strika (never ‘lína’ in Háfrónska!) |
| line drawing (strikTEIKNING) | strikamynd, strikauppdráttur |
| line man (LÍNUmaður) | þráðamaður (also called 'cable man')/ randstriksmaður (American football) |
| line of fire (skotLÍNA, eldLÍNA) | skotsvæði |
| line of sight (sjónLÍNA, bein LÍNA) | sjónöxull (See 3) |
| line spacing (LÍNUþéttleiki) | lengjuþéttleiki |
| linear (strikaður, LÍNU-) | strikaður |
| linear equation (LÍNUleg jafna) | ferilsjafna |
| linen (hör, LÉREFT, LÍN, TAU) | léreft, hör |
| linen basket (þvottaKARFA) | þvottalaupur |
| linesman (LÍNUmaður) | randstriksmaður |
| linga (LINGA) | veldisvölsi (in Hinduism, the phallus, symbol of the god Shiva, worshipped as an emblem of generative power.) |
| liniment (nuddOLÍA, nuddvökvi) | nuddkvoða, nuddvökvi |
| links (GOLFvöllur) | höggleikvöllur |
| linoleum | 1) hörkvoðuvoð (linseed oil = hörkvoða + voð ‘cloth’)
2) létteikarvoð (From Dutch kurkzeil = cork-sail, cork-cloth)
3) mylsnaleður (Frederick Walton, a rubber manufacturer, patented linoleum in England in 1863 to replace a costly rubber composition called Kamptulicon. He got the idea from the LEATHERY skin of oxidized linseed oil that forms on paint.) |
| linotype (LÍNUsetjari) | lengjusetjandi |
| linseed oil (hörfræOLÍA, LÍNOLÍA) | höreldvi |
| lint (LÍNskaf, sáraLÍN) | sáraléreft |
| lion (ljón) | gramdýr |
| lion-hearted (hugaður sem LJÓN) | hugaður sem gramdýr |
| lioness (ljónynja) | gramlæða |
| lion’s share (bróðurPARTUR) | bróðurhluti |
| lipase (LÍPASI, fitukljúfur) | fítukljúfur |
| lipid (LÍPÍÐ, fitungur) | fitungur |
| liqueur (LÍKJÖR) | ilmandi (sweet odour spirits), ilmveigar (fragrant spirits) |
| liquorice (LAKKRÍS) | sætræti (The Greek name glykyrrhiza, of which the word licorice is a corruption, means ‘sweet root’. Some languages, like Hungarian simply calqued the original compound: ‘édesgyökér’, édes (sweet) + gyökér (root). The best option in my opinion is a loan translation. The result ‘sætræti’ possesses the typically icelandic internal rhyme and sounds somewhat similar to ‘sælgæti’.) |
| list (LISTI , skrá) | skrá |
| list price (verðLISTAverð, skráð verð) | skráð verð |
| litany (LITANÍA, bænasöngur) | bænasöngur |
| litchi | hnotuber (After the two names: ‘litkaber’ and ‘litkahneta’. They are often referred to as litchi nuts because of the nut-like husk, especially when dried) |
| litchi tree (LITKAtré) | hnotuberjatré |
| lithium (LIÞÍN) | sálmálmur (Lithium salts have a remarkable ability to affect the mind by altering the chemical state of nerve cells in the brain. The carbonate and acetate are prescribed for manic depression and help to limit the extremes of mental state that are a feature of this condition. The sulfate and chloride are more often prescribed as straight anti-depressants. The bromide finds use as a sedative. Lithium is the metal of the psyche.) |
| lithograph (steinPRENTUÐ mynd/ verb: steinPRENTA) | steinritsmynd/ verb: steinrita |
| lithographer (steinPRENTARI) | steinritunarmaður |
| lithographic (steinPRENTS-, steinPRENTUNAR) | steinritunar- |
| lithography (steinPRENTUN, LITÓGRAFÍA) | steinritun |
| litmus (LAKKMÚS) | skófblámi, litmosi (Old Norse word) |
| litmus liches | blámaskóf, litmosi |
| litmus palper (LAKKMÚSPAPPÍR) | skófblámalengjur |
| litre (LÍTRI) | pottur (Early 20th century Icelandic name) |
| litterbin (ruslaKARFA, rusladallur) | rusladallur |
| little slam (hálfSLEMMA) | hálf slagaröð |
| liver sausage (lifrakæfa/ lifrakæfuPYLSA) | lifrakæfa/ lifrakæfubjúga |
| livestock (búPENINGUR, búfé) | búfé |
| llama (LAMAdýr) | 1) hnúðleysingi (related to the camel but without a hunch)
2) burðarsauður (the sheep-like animal used as a beast of burden)
3) siggfé (The llama belongs to an distinct group of sheep-like cameloids (Dutch: ‘kameelschaap’ (Camel-sheep). The German term ‘schwielensohlen’ designates the extreme callosity of the feet, which is an adaptation to the rough environment. |
| loaded (with money: fjáður, MÚRAÐUR) | fjáður |
| loaf sugar (molaSYKUR) | molasæta |
| localism (hreppaPÓLITÍK) | hreppastjórnmál hreppastjórnun |
| lockjaw (tetanus: STÍFKRAMPI, stjarfi) | stjarfi |
| locknut (öryggisró, KASTALAró) | öryggisró |
| loco (brjálaður, KLIKKAÐUR, geggjaður) | brjálaður, geggjaður |
| lodgings (leiguHERBERGI) | leigustofa |
| loft (þakHERBERGI) | þakstofa |
| logarithm (LÓGARÍTMI, LOGRI) | hlutfallsvísir |
| loincloth (lendaskýla, MITTISskýla) | lendaskýla, miðjuskýla (mitti = miðja) |
| lollipop (sleikibrjóstSYKUR) | sleikibrjóstsæta |
| long dozen (BAKARADÚSIN, BAKARAtylft) | brauðmannstylft |
| long johns (síðar nærBUXUR, föðurland) | síð nærbrók, föðurland |
| longitude (hnatt)lengd, lengdarGRÁÐA | (hnatt)lengd, lengdarstig |
| look after (líta eftir, gæta, PASSA) | líta eftir, gæta |
| looking glass (SPEGILL, skuggsjá) | skuggsjá, horfgler (translation of ‘looking glas’) |
| loony (geggjaður, KLIKKAÐUR) | geggjaður |
| loose change (reiðufé, skiptiMYNT) | smáfé, kringlungar |
| lord | hleifvörður (The Anglo saxon ‘hlæfweard’, guardian of the bread) |
| lordly, lordship | hleifvarðarlegur, hleifvarðartign |
| lorgnette (LONNÍETTUR, skaftgleraugu) | skaftgleraugu |
| lorry (vöru(flutninga)BÍLL, TRUKKUR) | vöruvagn |
| lotion (húðKREM, smyrsl, áburður) | húðáburður, smyrsl, áburður |
| lotus sit (LÓTUSstaðan) | vatnaleyklustaðan |
| lotus, sacred | hnotuvatnaleykla (nelumbo nucifera), the sacred lotus (The flower carries seeds that look like nuts) |
| lotus-eater (LÓTUSæta) | svefnurtaæta (The Greeks called several non-narcotic plants lotos, but the name may have been used in this case for the opium poppy, the ripe seed pod of which resembles the pod of the true lotus.) |
| loudspeaker (HÁTALARI, gjallarhorn, gellir) | gjallarhorn, gellir |
| louse up (KLÚÐRA) | klambra |
| lout (BÚRI, durgur, RUSTI, ruddi) | þjösni, durgur, ruddi |
| loutish (BÚRAlegur, durgslegur) | durgslegur |
| love (ást, elska, KÆRleikur) | ást, elska |
| love affair (ástarÆvintýri, ástarsamband) | ástarsamband, ástarupplifun |
| love bird (dvergPÁFI, manfugl) | dvergtrjálundi |
| love token (tryggðaPANTUR, ástarmerki) | tryggðateikn, ástarmerki |
| loveless (ástkaldur, KÆRleiksnauður) | ástkaldur |
| Low Church (LágKIRKJAN) | Lágsóknin |
| Low Churchman (LágKIRKJUmaður) | Lágsóknarmaður |
| low cost (KOSTNAÐARlítill, ódýr) | ódýr |
| Low Latin (KLAUSTRALATÍNA) | bræðrasjöhæska |
| Low Mass (lágMESSA, lesMESSA) | 1) lesþjónusta (Flemish dialect: ‘leesdienst’ (reading-service)
2) lestíð ('tíð' is an old synonym of 'mass') |
| low resolution (GRÓFgerður, GRÓFleysinn) | stórkornótt |
| Low Sunday (fyrsti sunnudagur eftir PÁSKA) | fyrsti sunnudagur eftir vorjóla |
| lozenge (TÍGULL/ háldTAFLA, hóstabrjóstSYKUR) | þekill/ hálslyfber, hóstasætindi |
| lubricant (smur(NINGS)OLÍA, KOPPAfeiti) | smureldvi, smurfeiti |
| lubricator (smurSPRAUTA, (person) smyrjari) | smurlaufi, (person) smurmaður |
| Lucifer (LÚSIFER) | Ljósberi (translation of the name) |
| luck (LUKKA, heppni, lán, gæfa) | heppni, lán, gáfa |
| luck out (bjargast fyrir slembiLUKKU) | bjargast fyrir slembiheppni |
| lucky luke (LUKKU LÁKI) | Heppinn Kúrekinn |
| Lucy (female australopithecus) | Ljósey kvensunnapi |
| lug (bis, BAKS/ verb: drasla, bisa) | bis: verb: bisa, drasla |
| lugger (LOGGORTA) | ráseglskip (from ‘lugsail’ = ‘rásegl) |
| lumber room (ruslaKOMPA) | ruslastofa |
| lumen (unit of luminous flux) | ljóman |
| lump sugar (molaSYKUR) | molasæta |
| lupine (LÚPÍNA, úlfabaunir) | úlfabaunir |
| lurch (velta, SLINKUR) | velta |
| lute (LÚTA) | ljóðspónn |
| lutenist (LÚTUleikari) | ljóðspónsleikmaður |
| lutheran | Ljóðarssinni |
| lutheranism | Ljóðarstrú (The name is derived from the Germanic elements liut "people" and heri "army", corresponding with Old Norse ‘ljóður’ and the ending ‘arr’. The Icelandic ‘lýður’ cannot be considered as being the equivalent of ‘Luther’ for it lacks the suffix ‘heri’.) |
| lux (LÚX) | birtustig |
| luxurious (LÚXUS-, íburðarmikill/ munaðargjarn) | íburðarmikill/ munaðargjarn |
| luxury (LÚXUS-, munaður, óhóf) | munaður, óhóf |
| lyre (LÝRA) | ljóðharpa (The Icelandic ‘ljóðrænn’ means ‘lyrical’, which comes from ‘lyre’) |
| lyrebird (LÝRUfugl, hörpufugl) | hörpustél, hörpufugl |
| lyric (LÝRÍSKUR, ljóðrænn) | ljóðrænn |
| lyricism (ljóðræna, ljóðrænn STÍLL) | ljóðræna |
| lyricist (songwriter : (söng)TEXTAhöfundur) | (söng)þættahöfundur |
| lyrics (söng)TEXTI | söngrit |
| Mac Donalds | Mög Heimvalds From the Gaelic name ‘Domhnall’ |
