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🛡️ Fun Fact Friday: Discover the Viking Origins in Our Everyday English!

Ever realize you’re speaking a bit of Viking? That’s right, several everyday English words trace back to the Old Norse language, spoken by the Vikings. Here’s a deeper dive into how these ancient explorers have influenced our language today!

1. Sky – From Old Norse ský, meaning cloud.
2. Window – Derived from vindauga, literally “wind eye.”
3. Egg – Direct from Old Norse egg.
4. Knife – Comes from Old Norse knifr.
5. Husband – From húsbóndi, meaning master of the house.
6. Berserk – Originally berserkr, warriors who fought in a fierce frenzy.
7. Dirt – Comes from drit, which means excrement. Not the cleanest origin, but interesting!
8. Slaughter – From slatra, which meant to butcher.
9. Gift – From the Old Norse gift, which means the same in English.
10. Leg – Also from Old Norse leggr, referring to the limb.

For those interested in learning more Viking words, check out this detailed list: https://lnkd.in/dgDJErTa

🗣️How These Words Entered English: These words came into English during the Viking Age when Norsemen settled parts of the British Isles and interacted with Anglo-Saxon inhabitants. This period of cohabitation led to the blending of languages, with Old Norse vocabulary seeping into English, especially in regions under Norse control. Over centuries, these words became completely assimilated into the English language.

Have a Fun Friday and keep channeling your inner Viking!   ⚔️

📸 Credits: Battle reenactment at Birka Viking village/
visitsweden.com