systir
The Old Norse word for sister is systir.
systir is a noun used to refer to a woman or girl who has the same parents as another person.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of systir is systur.
Did you know?
- Old Norse poets used 'kennings', which are metaphorical compound words. A sister might be described through complex imagery involving the home or kinship rather than just using the word systir.
- In some Norse legal contexts, the rights of a systir to inherit property were significantly different from those of a brother, reflecting the gendered legal structures of the Viking Age.
- The word systir shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'sister' and the Latin 'soror'. Both descend from the Proto-Indo-European word *swésōr.
Examples in context
- Hún er systir mín.She is my sister.
- Hver er systir þín?Who is your sister?
Example conversation
Erik and Sigrid are sitting by a hearth.
- ErikErt þú systir hans?Are you his sister?
- SigridJá, ég er systir hans.Yes, I am his sister.
- ErikÞá er þú góð systir.Then you are a good sister.
- SigridTakk fyrir, Erik.Thank you, Erik.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries systir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
