góðan dag
The Old Norse greeting for the start of the day is góðan dag, "good day". Old Norse had no separate greeting for the morning.
The sagas use the phrase in bjóða góðan dag, "to bid someone good day". Modern Icelandic góðan daginn grew out of it.
Meaning: when seeing someone for the first time in the morning (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of góðan, the masculine accusative singular of góðr (good), and dag, the accusative of dagr (day).
How does it change in a sentence?
Both words stand in the accusative because the phrase is short for "I wish you a good day". góðan agrees with the masculine noun dagr.
Did you know?
- In Old Norse mythology, Dagr was not just a word for 'day' but the name of a personified deity who represents the day and is the son of Night.
- The word góðr not only means 'good' in a moral sense but was frequently used in Old Norse to describe something that is 'fitting' or 'suitable' for the occasion.
Example conversation
Sigrid and Olaf meet in the village square.
- SigridGóðan dag, Óláfr!Good morning, Olaf!
- OlafGóðan dag, Sigríðr.Good morning, Sigrid.
- SigridHeiðr er dagr í dag.It is a clear day today.
- OlafJá, þat er satt.Yes, that is true.
