For those who are interested in the history of Norway, Viking culture often serves as being a major factor. An interesting thing to note is that even though most Americans aren’t adept at Norwegian language translation, some of the most popular Viking terms that are relatively well-known in this country actually come from Norway or are borrowed from Norwegian.
What’s even more interesting is that many of these words are used in contexts that have nothing to do with the Vikings whatsoever, including the following:
Thursday
In America, we know Thursday to be the day before everyone’s favorite day of the week, Friday. What many people don’t know, however, is that the word actually derives from the Viking term for “Thor’s Day,” the Norse god of thunder. The term dates back to approximately the 12th century, and it’s not likely that it will disappear anytime soon.
Ugly
No one ever wants to be called ugly, and apparently, neither did the vikings. If a viking was particularly unhappy with another, there’s a good chance he would’ve used the term “uggligr” as an insult. The English and Norse versions both mean basically the same thing, and the fact that it has lived on as an insult in modern culture is really something remarkable.
Window
Most people don’t even bat an eye at where the word “window” actually comes from — they simply know it as the object that it is. A window, however, was referred to in Viking mythology as a “wind’s eye, stemming from the word ‘vindauga.’
Berserk
If someone “goes berserk,” you most likely don’t want to be in the same vicinity as them, and the same could have been said during the time of the Vikings. A Viking that had gone berserk was literally a “warrior frenzied in battle” in the Scandinavian sense, and a force to be reckoned with. As one might expect, today’s meaning is not too dissimilar.
Cake
Everyone loves a good piece of cake on occasion, yet there’s a chance you wouldn’t be eating it if it weren’t for the Norse. “Cake” is actually taken from the Norse word “kaka,” and is one of the most commonly used terms in the dessert world today. While many people would never have expected this sweet treat to have roots in Norwegian language translation, it’s a surprise that makes sense considering the culture.
Traveling to any Scandinavian country can be a great learning experience, but you’ll get much more mileage out of your trip if you incorporate translation into the mix. While English is commonly spoken in countries such as Norway, Norwegian language translation will help you to get a better sense of the culture and perhaps even make you feel less like a tourist. After all, Norwegian is an extremely interesting language, and translation is the best way to get the most out of learning it.
