18Kviews
Funny Literal Translations Of Icelandic Words
18Kviews
Icelandic is supposed to be one of the hardest languages in the world. I deconstruct Icelandic compound words and illustrate them.
Many of these words are very literal, yet somehow poetic at the same time. Other times they can be rather random and a little humorous!
More info: Instagram
#1 Penguin (Mörgæs) = Fat + Goose
Mör (fat) + Gæs (goose) = Mörgæs (Penguin)
#2 Zoo (Dýragarður) = Animal + Garden
Dýr (animal) + Garður (garden) = Dýragarður (zoo)
#3 Raccoon (Þvottabjörn) = Washing + Bear
Þvottur (washing) + Björn (bear) = Þvottabjörn (raccoon)
#4 Echo (Bergmal) = Rock + Language
Berg (rock) + Mál (language) = Bergmal (echo)
#5 Planet (Reikistjarna) = To Wander + Star
Að reika (to wander) + stjarna (star) = Reikistjarna (planet)
#6 Wedding (Brúðkaup) = Bride + To Buy
Brúður (bride) + Að Kaupa (to buy) = Brúðkaup (wedding)
#7 Hippopotamus (Flóðhestur) = Flood + Horse
Flóð (flood) + Hestur (horse) = Flóðhestur (hippopotamus)
#8 Rainbow (Regnbogi) = Rain + Arch
Regn (rain) + Bogi (arch) = Regnbogi (rainbow)
#9 Arm (Handleggur) = Hand + Leg
Hand (hand) + Leggur (Leg) = Handleggur (arm)
#10 Placenta (Legkaka) = Womb + Cake
Leg (womb) + Kaka (cake) = Legkaka (placenta)
#11 Quotation Marks (Gæsalappir) = Goose + Feet
Gæs (goose) + Lappir (feet) = Gæsalappir (quotation marks)
#12 Nice Weather To Look At Through The Window (Gluggaveður) = Window + Weather
Gluggi (window) + Veður (weather) = Gluggaveður is weather that's nice to look through a window, but not so nice to be in. Like when it looks lovely and sunny but then you go outside and it's actually blistering cold!
Nice weather to look at through the window? Window weather actually means that the weather looks nice through a window and only through a window (as it might for example be bone chillingly cold outside, but sunny)
#13 Match (Eldspýta) = Fire + Piece Of Wood
Eldur (fire) + Spýta (piece of wood) = Eldspýta (match)
#14 Bra (Brjóstahöld) = Breast + To Hold
Brjóst (breast) + Að halda (to hold) = Brjóstahöld (bra)
I don't think anybody uses the word Brjóstahöld, we use Brjóstahaldari but the meaning is basically the same
#15 Inspiration (Innblástur) = Inn + Breeze
Inn (inside/into) + Blástur (breeze) = Innblástur (inspiration)
#16 Skeleton (Beinagrind) = Bone + Frame/structure
Bein (bone) + Grind (frame/structure) = Beinagrind (skeleton)
#17 Turtle (skjaldbaka) = Shield + Back
Skjöldur (shield) + Bak (back) = Skjaldbaka (turtle)
#18 Idea (Hugmynd) = Mind + Picture
Hugur (mind) + mind (picture) = Hugmynd (idea)
#19 Cello (Knéfiðla) = Knee + Violin
Kné (knee) + Fiðla (violin) = Knéfiðla (cello)
Add New Image
About the author
Popular on Bored Panda
![6 Mind Controlling Parasites That Are Worse Than Venom [video]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/THUMB-5bc9e87b1d7d4__300_185.jpg "6 Mind Controlling Parasites That Are Worse Than Venom [video]")
![6 Mind Controlling Parasites That Are Worse Than Venom [video]](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/THUMB-5bc9e87b1d7d4__300.jpg "6 Mind Controlling Parasites That Are Worse Than Venom [video]")
What do you think ?
4,7,8,15,20,21,42,43,44,48,51,57, 58,59 is the same in hungarian
This is my new favourite thing on the internet!!! ^^
This is so crazy and Werid but even I would like to learn icelandic cuz I love Sigur Rós and I don't understand the pronounciation and lyrics hehe https://www.boredpanda.com/i-deconstruct-and-illustrate-funny-icelandic-words/
4,7,8,15,20,21,42,43,44,48,51,57, 58,59 is the same in hungarian
This is my new favourite thing on the internet!!! ^^
This is so crazy and Werid but even I would like to learn icelandic cuz I love Sigur Rós and I don't understand the pronounciation and lyrics hehe https://www.boredpanda.com/i-deconstruct-and-illustrate-funny-icelandic-words/