höfrungur
[ˈhœvruŋkʏr]masculine
The English word dolphin is höfrungur in Icelandic.
höfrungur refers to an aquatic mammal.
Meaning: aquatic mammal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The nominative plural form of höfrungur is höfrungar. When using the accusative singular, the form changes to höfrunga.
Did you know?
- Some scholars suggest the name höfrungur might be a metaphor linking the animal to a goat, comparing its leaping movements to those of a goat.
- While most Germanic languages use a word similar to 'dolphin', Icelandic uses höfrungur, a word that has no relatives in other Nordic languages.
Examples in context
- Sá höfrungur er mjög klár.That dolphin is very clever.
Example conversation
Sigríður and Ólafur are looking at the ocean from a boat.
- SigríðurÓlafur, sjáðu! Þar er höfrungur!Ólafur, look! There is a dolphin!
- ÓlafurJá, hann er svo fallegur.Yes, it is so beautiful.
- SigríðurÉg vona að fleiri komi.I hope more come.
- ÓlafurÉg held að þeir séu hérna.I think they are here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dolphin” translations and entries höfrungur, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries höfrungur, CC BY-SA 4.0.
