How to Say “Light” in Old Norse

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ljós
The Old Norse word for light is ljós.
ljós is the everyday noun for light, the brightness of the sun, a fire or a lamp.
Meaning: visible light, brightness (noun)

Did you know?

  • While we use 'light' for both weight and illumination in English, the Old Norse ljós is strictly used for brightness and does not mean 'not heavy'.
  • The Proto-Indo-European root of ljós also gave rise to the Latin word 'lux', which is why we use 'lucid' and 'translucent' in English today.
  • In some poetic Old Norse contexts, terms related to ljós were used to describe the sun or even the eyes of a person.

Example conversation

Olaf and Gunnhild are standing outside near a dark building.

  1. Olaf

    Sér þú þetta ljós?
    Do you see that light?
  2. Gunnhild

    Hvar er ljósit?
    Where is the light?
  3. Olaf

    Þat skínn þar.
    It shines over there.
  4. Gunnhild

    Já, ek sé þat.
    Yes, I see it.

Sources

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Rebecca Debbie
Rebecca DebbieHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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