heill
The Old Norse way to say "hello" is heill.
In Old Norse, greetings often function as wishes for the person's well-being or health.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word heill literally means "healthy", "whole" or "lucky".
Did you know?
- Because heill is an adjective meaning 'healthy', its form changes based on who is being greeted. A man was called heill, a woman heil, and a group heilir.
- In Old Norse culture, a greeting like heill was not just a polite gesture but a way to acknowledge a person's 'luck', a vital spiritual force in the Viking Age.
Examples in context
- Heill þú, vinr minn.Hello, my friend.
- Heill ok sæll!Hello and be healthy!
Example conversation
Helga and Ivar meet on a path.
- HelgaHeill, Ivar!Hello, Ivar!
- IvarHeill, Helga!Hello, Helga!
- HelgaHvert ferr þú?Where are you going?
- IvarEk ferr heim.I am going home.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry heill, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
