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| 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 |
3) Íslensk Orðabók handa skólum og almenningi, ritstjóri: Árni Böðvarsson, Bókaútgáfa Menningarsjóðs, Reykjavík, 1988
