Archive for 'Icelandic culture'
Jæja. Posted by hulda on Sep 15, 2016
There’s an Icelandic word that can be used to react to almost any situation: jæja. It can probably best be translated as “really now” or “well then”, just a declaration of whatever emotion you’re currently feeling that you can’t or don’t want to put in exact words. The recipient will immediately know what you’re thinking about…
Nananananananana LEÐURBLÖKUMAÐURINN Posted by hulda on Sep 8, 2016
One of my favourite things about Icelandic is that there’s usually an Icelandic word for anything and everything. Icelandic did at one time steal and borrow from other languages just like almost every other language in the world does, most notably Danish and then later on English, but today extra effort is put to keeping…
6 steps to Icelandic autumn Posted by hulda on Sep 1, 2016
Today is the first of September, which means autumn is nearing. In Iceland summer will still continue for a while, to the 28th October to be exact. That will be the first day of winter, or Skammdegi (= short days), meanwhile feel free to enjoy the end of summer that still lives up to its…
Kilroy may have been here too. Posted by hulda on Aug 11, 2016
When thinking of Iceland-specific things a guestbook is probably not the first thing that comes to mind, yet the way Icelanders approach the idea is so Icelandic I almost didn’t realize there was anything unusual about it until a friend pointed it out in her blog. Icelandic guestbooks are more than just a list of…
Whose child are you? Posted by hulda on Jul 7, 2016
“From which family are you?” The question shook me awake from my afternoon slumber on the bus on my way home. It wasn’t addressed to me, but it’s such a rare thing to hear nowadays that it managed to find its way to my consciousness (and after a workday spent on my feet very few things…
Vikings attacked England. Posted by hulda on Jun 30, 2016
Iceland has certainly made an impression in the world of football in the past few weeks and especially with the game against England this Monday. To set the mood for Sunday’s game against France I’m going to introduce you to some Icelandic football facts and vocabulary, so here we go! Fótbolti (M) vs. knattspyrna (F)…
Sons of Iceland. Posted by hulda on Jun 23, 2016
Football fever is at record heights right now, but along has come an interesting side feature: if Icelanders try to watch the games in any other language than Icelandic they immediately get a bit confused listening to the announcers. The foreign announcers don’t call the players by their own names! This is due to the…