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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!

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#1

Penguin (Mörgæs) = Fat + Goose

Penguin (Mörgæs) = Fat + Goose

Mör (fat) + Gæs (goose) = Mörgæs (Penguin)

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    #2

    Zoo (Dýragarður) = Animal + Garden

    Zoo (Dýragarður) = Animal + Garden

    Dýr (animal) + Garður (garden) = Dýragarður (zoo)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This list is so ignorant towards the english words, so I shall have to go through the entire thing. Zoo is short for "Zoological Gardens" "Garð" and "Garden" is just an enclosure, I do believe it can be used for a "fence" in ISL. In the other scandi countries it can mean a "farm".

    #3

    Raccoon (Þvottabjörn) = Washing + Bear

    Raccoon (Þvottabjörn) = Washing + Bear

    Þvottur (washing) + Björn (bear) = Þvottabjörn (raccoon)

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    #4

    Echo (Bergmal) = Rock + Language

    Echo (Bergmal) = Rock + Language

    Berg (rock) + Mál (language) = Bergmal (echo)

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    #5

    Planet (Reikistjarna) = To Wander + Star

    Planet (Reikistjarna) = To Wander + Star

    Að reika (to wander) + stjarna (star) = Reikistjarna (planet)

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    #6

    Wedding (Brúðkaup) = Bride + To Buy

    Wedding (Brúðkaup) = Bride + To Buy

    Brúður (bride) + Að Kaupa (to buy) = Brúðkaup (wedding)

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    #7

    Hippopotamus (Flóðhestur) = Flood + Horse

    Hippopotamus (Flóðhestur) = Flood + Horse

    Flóð (flood) + Hestur (horse) = Flóðhestur (hippopotamus)

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    Jonny Rose
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From Wikipedia: The Latin word "hippopotamus" is derived from the ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος, hippopótamos, from ἵππος, híppos, "horse", and ποταμός, potamós, "river", meaning "horse of the river".

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    #8

    Rainbow (Regnbogi) = Rain + Arch

    Rainbow (Regnbogi) = Rain + Arch

    Regn (rain) + Bogi (arch) = Regnbogi (rainbow)

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    #9

    Arm (Handleggur) = Hand + Leg

    Arm (Handleggur) = Hand + Leg

    Hand (hand) + Leggur (Leg) = Handleggur (arm)

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    #10

    Placenta (Legkaka) = Womb + Cake

    Placenta (Legkaka) = Womb + Cake

    Leg (womb) + Kaka (cake) = Legkaka (placenta)

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    #11

    Quotation Marks (Gæsalappir) = Goose + Feet

    Quotation Marks (Gæsalappir) = Goose + Feet

    Gæs (goose) + Lappir (feet) = Gæsalappir (quotation marks)

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    #12

    Nice Weather To Look At Through The Window (Gluggaveður) = Window + Weather

    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!

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    RebekkaElisabetar
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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)

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    #13

    Match (Eldspýta) = Fire + Piece Of Wood

    Match (Eldspýta) = Fire + Piece Of Wood

    Eldur (fire) + Spýta (piece of wood) = Eldspýta (match)

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    #14

    Bra (Brjóstahöld) = Breast + To Hold

    Bra (Brjóstahöld) = Breast + To Hold

    Brjóst (breast) + Að halda (to hold) = Brjóstahöld (bra)

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    #15

    Inspiration (Innblástur) = Inn + Breeze

    Inspiration (Innblástur) = Inn + Breeze

    Inn (inside/into) + Blástur (breeze) = Innblástur (inspiration)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm almost expiring from this experience. Inspiration. In. Spiration. Breath out, breath in. Respirate.

    #16

    Skeleton (Beinagrind) = Bone + Frame/structure

    Skeleton (Beinagrind) = Bone + Frame/structure

    Bein (bone) + Grind (frame/structure) = Beinagrind (skeleton)

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    #17

    Turtle (skjaldbaka) = Shield + Back

    Turtle (skjaldbaka) = Shield + Back

    Skjöldur (shield) + Bak (back) = Skjaldbaka (turtle)

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    #18

    Idea (Hugmynd) = Mind + Picture

    Idea (Hugmynd) = Mind + Picture

    Hugur (mind) + mind (picture) = Hugmynd (idea)

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    #19

    Cello (Knéfiðla) = Knee + Violin

    Cello (Knéfiðla) = Knee + Violin

    Kné (knee) + Fiðla (violin) = Knéfiðla (cello)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cello is quite the crazy english word. They took the diminutive ending of the italian word and skipped the original word all together. "Viola", violin. "Violone" big violin. "Violoncello" small big violin.

    #20

    In Love (Ástfanginn) = Love + Captured

    In Love (Ástfanginn) = Love + Captured

    Ást (love) + Fanginn (captured) = Ástfanginn (in love)

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    #21

    Aquarium (Fiskabúr) = Fish + Cage

    Aquarium (Fiskabúr) = Fish + Cage

    Fiskur (fish) + Búr (cage) = Fiskabúr (aquarium)

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    ChristianWehde
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Same as in german - what else is it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxIi9bob3X4

    #22

    Volcano (Eldfjall) = Fire + Mountain

    Volcano (Eldfjall) = Fire + Mountain

    Eldur (fire) + Fjall (mountain) = Eldfjall (volcano)

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    #23

    Earring (Eyrnalokkur) = Ear + Curl

    Earring (Eyrnalokkur) = Ear + Curl

    Eyra (ear) + Lokkur (lock of hair/curl) = Eyrnalokkur (earring)

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    #24

    Avalanche (Snjóflóð) = Snow + Flood

    Avalanche (Snjóflóð) = Snow + Flood

    Snjór (snow) + Flóð (flood) = Snjóflóð (avalanche)

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    #25

    Lightbulb (Ljósapera) = Light + Pear

    Lightbulb (Ljósapera) = Light + Pear

    Ljós (light) + Pera (pear) = Ljósapera (lightbulb)

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    #26

    Computer (Tölva) = Number + Prophetess

    Computer (Tölva) = Number + Prophetess

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    IðunnGrétarsdóttir
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually a portmanteau/blend word of the Icelandic words for number/s (tala/tölur) and prophetess (völva), not a compound word like the rest

    #27

    Honey Bee (Hunangsfluga) = Honey + Fly

    Honey Bee (Hunangsfluga) = Honey + Fly

    Hunang (honey) + Fluga (fly) = Hunangsfluga (honey bee)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, you icelanders wouldn't know a gnat from a dragonfly. The rest of scandinavia kept this germanic-norse word better than you, for once.

    #28

    Customer (Viðskiptavinur) = Business + Friend

    Customer (Viðskiptavinur) = Business + Friend

    Viðskipti (business) + Vinur (friend) = Viðskiptavinur (customer)

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    #29

    Chickpeas (Kjúklingabaunir) = Chicken + Beans

    Chickpeas (Kjúklingabaunir) = Chicken + Beans

    Kjúklingur (chicken) + Baunir (beans) = Kjúklingabaunir (chickpeas)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One of the mistranslations, probably quite recent. It has nothing to do with chickens. Chickpea, from latin Cicer, pea. So Peapea. Cicer was also slang for testicle.

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    #30

    Music (Tónlist) = Tone + Art

    Music (Tónlist) = Tone + Art

    Tón (tone) + List (art) = Tónlist (music)

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    #31

    Cauliflower (Blómkál) = Flower + Cabbage

    Cauliflower (Blómkál) = Flower + Cabbage

    Blóm (flower) + Kál (cabbage) = Blómkál (cauliflower)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This made the loudest facepalm. What do you suppose "Caul" in Cauliflower is?

    #32

    Handshake (Handaband) = Hand + String/yarn

    Handshake (Handaband) = Hand + String/yarn

    Hönd (hand) + Band (string/yarn) = Handaband (handshake)

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    #33

    Computer (Tölva) = Number + Prophetess

    Computer (Tölva) = Number + Prophetess

    Tala (number) + Völva (prophetess) = Tölva (computer)

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    #34

    Constellation (Stjörnumerki) = Star + Sign

    Constellation (Stjörnumerki) = Star + Sign

    Stjarna (star) + Merki (sign) = Stjörnumerki (constellation)

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    #35

    Saliva (Munnvatn) = Mouth + Water

    Saliva (Munnvatn) = Mouth + Water

    Munnur (mouth) + Vatn (water) = Munnvatn (saliva)

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    #36

    Midwife (Ljósmóðir) = Light + Mother

    Midwife (Ljósmóðir) = Light + Mother

    Ljós (light) + Móðir (mother) = Ljósmóðir (midwife)

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    #37

    Scallop (Hörpuskel) = Harp + Shell

    Scallop (Hörpuskel) = Harp + Shell

    Harpa (harp) + Skel (shell) = Hörpuskel (scallop)

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    #38

    Rocket (Eldflaug) = Fire + To Fly

    Rocket (Eldflaug) = Fire + To Fly

    Eldur (fire) + Að fljúga (to fly) = Eldflaug (rocket)

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    #39

    Donut (Kleinuhringur) = Icelandic Fried Pastry + Circle

    Donut (Kleinuhringur) = Icelandic Fried Pastry + Circle

    Kleina (Icelandic fried pastry) + Hringur (circle) = Kleinuhringur (donut)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You know, it probably didn't have a hole to start with, hence the "nut" part of the name. But if you wanted a larger deepfried cake it made sense to add the hole for even cooking. This word tastes very recent. Kleinur is very recent, and so is the quality of flour you need.

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    #40

    Cookie (Smákaka) = Small + Cake

    Cookie (Smákaka) = Small + Cake

    Smár (small) + Kaka (cake) = Smákaka (cookie)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    With the diminutive "ie", this is the exact same word. Cook(ie), cake(small).

    #41

    Cell Phone (Farsími) = To Go + Telephone

    Cell Phone (Farsími) = To Go + Telephone

    Að fara (to go) + Sími (telephone) = Farsími (cell phone)

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    #42

    Grape (Vínber) = Wine + Berry

    Grape (Vínber) = Wine + Berry

    Vín (wine) + Ber (berry) = Vínber (grape)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Used to be the same in old english until 1066 when the normans came, grappling their sword in one hand and gripping their bunches of berries in the other.

    #43

    Graffiti (Veggjakrot) = Wall + Scribble

    Graffiti (Veggjakrot) = Wall + Scribble

    Veggur (wall) + Krot (scribble) = Veggjakrot (graffiti)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Graffiti, scribblings. The term was coined during the excavation of Pompeii, so literally "wall scribbles/drawings"

    #44

    Internet (Veraldarvefurinn) = World + Web

    Internet (Veraldarvefurinn) = World + Web

    Veröld (world) + Vefur (web) = Veraldarvefurinn (Internet)

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    #45

    Dinner (Kvöldmat) = Evening + Food

    Dinner (Kvöldmat) = Evening + Food

    Kvöld (evening) + Matur (food) = Kvöldmat (dinner)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mealtimes are a mess in all sorts of languages. "Dinner" even means to break fast.

    #46

    Furniture (Húsgögn) = House + Data

    Furniture (Húsgögn) = House + Data

    Hús (house) + Gögn (data) = Húsgögn (furniture)

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    RebekkaElisabetar
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    gögn is not meaning data there.. it´s a much older than that and comes from the word gagn (singular : Husgagn) and derives from something being "of use" So something that is of use within the house would be the translation here.

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    #47

    Breakfast Cereal (Morgunkorn) = Morning + Grain

    Breakfast Cereal (Morgunkorn) = Morning + Grain

    Morgun (morning) + Korn (grain) = Morgunkorn (breakfast cereal)

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    #48

    Pirate (Sjóræningi) = Sea + Robber

    Pirate (Sjóræningi) = Sea + Robber

    Sjór (sea) + Ræningi (robber) = Sjóræningi (pirate)

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    #49

    Journalist (Blaðamaður) = Page/newspaper + Man

    Journalist (Blaðamaður) = Page/newspaper + Man

    Blað (page/newspaper) + Maður (man) = Blaðamaður (journalist)

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    #50

    Reflection (Spegilmynd) = Mirror + Picture

    Reflection (Spegilmynd) = Mirror + Picture

    Spegill (mirror) + Mynd (picture) = Spegilmynd (reflection)

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    #51

    Necropants (Nábrók) = Corpse + Pants

    Necropants (Nábrók) = Corpse + Pants

    Nár (corpse) + Brók (pants) = Nábrók (necropants)

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    #52

    Omelet (Eggjakaka) = Egg + Cake

    Omelet (Eggjakaka) = Egg + Cake

    Egg (egg) + Kaka (cake) = Eggjakaka (omelet)

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    #53

    Airplane (Flugvél) = Flight + Machine

    Airplane (Flugvél) = Flight + Machine

    Flug (flight) + Vél (machine) = Flugvél (airplane)

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    #54

    Eggplant (Eggaldin) = Egg + Fruit

    Eggplant (Eggaldin) = Egg + Fruit

    Egg (egg) + Aldin (fruit) = Eggaldin (eggplant)

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    #55

    Menu (Matseðill) = Food + Note/leaflet

    Menu (Matseðill) = Food + Note/leaflet

    Matur (food) + Seðill (note/leaflet) = Matseðill (menu)

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    #56

    Cafe (Kaffihús) = Coffee + House

    Cafe (Kaffihús) = Coffee + House

    Kaffi (coffee) + Hús (house) = Kaffihús (cafe)

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    #57

    Skateboard (Hjólabretti) = To Cycle + Board

    Skateboard (Hjólabretti) = To Cycle + Board

    Að hjóla (to cycle) + Bretti (board) = Hjólabretti (skateboard)

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    RebekkaElisabetar
    Community Member
    8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To cycle? Was this done on google translate? Hjól means wheel, this is a wheel board. "að hjóla" is the term to cycle, but would never be used as a noun. As Reiðhjól refers to Riding wheel (bycicle)

    #58

    Panorama Or Openmindedness (Víðsýni) = Wide + View

    Panorama Or Openmindedness (Víðsýni) = Wide + View

    Við (wide) + Sýn (view) = Víðsýni can mean panorama or openmindedness

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    #59

    Refrigerator (Ísskápur) = Ice + Closet

    Refrigerator (Ísskápur) = Ice + Closet

    Ís (ice) + Skápur (closet) = Ísskápur (refrigerator)

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    Steffen Dahlberg
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It used to be just that, before electricity. In english they called it an "icebox". I guess the name stuck.

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    #60

    Pancake (Pönnukaka) = Pan + Cake

    Pancake (Pönnukaka) = Pan + Cake

    Panna (pan) + Kaka (cake) = Pönnukaka (pancake)

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    #61

    Toothpaste (Tannkrem) = Tooth + Cream

    Toothpaste (Tannkrem) = Tooth + Cream

    Tönn (tooth) + Krem (cream) = Tannkrem (toothpaste)

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