hrafn
/r̥ɑvn/masculine
The English word raven is hrafn in Old Norse. Wiktionary also lists korpr.
Meaning: any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Old Norse | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hrafn | /r̥ɑvn/ | masculine |
| korpr | masculine |
The word refers to any of several, generally large, species of birds in the genus Corvus with lustrous black plumage.
Which one should you use?
While both words mean raven, hrafn is the more common general term, whereas korpr is a specific synonym used in poetic or specialized contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun hrafn is masculine. Its plural form is hrafna, and its dative singular form is hrafni.
How do you pronounce it?
/r̥ɑvn/
Did you know?
- The god Odin had two ravens named Huginn and Muninn, which translate to 'thought' and 'memory'. They flew across the world each day to bring him news.
- In Old Norse poetry, the 'raven' was often used as a 'kenning' or metaphor for a soldier or a Viking warrior because they were seen as followers of the battlefield.
- The hrafn bannér, or raven banner, was a legendary flag used by Norse chieftains who believed it brought victory in battle if the bird appeared to flutter.
Examples in context
- Álfrinn sá þennan fræga hrafn á veginum.The elf spotted that famous raven on the road.
- Sá svarti hrafn flýgr.That black raven flies.
- Hrafn sitr í trénu.A raven sits on the tree.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are standing in a field looking at the sky.
- HelgaSé þú þann hrafn!Look at that raven!
- OlafJá, hann er stór.Yes, it is large.
- HelgaHann flýgr yfir fjǫllin.It flies over the mountains.
- OlafHann er mjǫk svartr.It is very black.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “raven” translations and entries hrafn, korpr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
