eldfjall
[ˈɛlt.fjatl̥]neuter
The English word 'volcano' is translated into Icelandic as eldfjall. Wiktionary also lists eldstöð.
Meaning: mountain containing a magma chamber (noun)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| eldfjall | [ˈɛlt.fjatl̥] (narrow) | neuter |
| eldstöð | [ˈɛl(t).stœːð] (narrow) | feminine |
The term is used to describe a mountain containing a magma chamber.
What does it mean word for word?
The word eldfjall is a compound formed from eld (fire) and fjall (mountain).
Which one should you use?
While eldfjall refers to the physical mountain, eldstöð is used when referring to a volcanic center or a volcanic system.
How does it change in a sentence?
eldfjall is a neuter noun, while eldstöð is a feminine noun.
Did you know?
- The word eldstöð literally translates as 'fire station', though it refers to a volcanic center rather than a building for firefighters.
- Because of the frequent activity, Icelanders often refer to specific volcanoes by name, such as Hekla, which has historically been called 'the doorway to Hell' in folklore.
- If you want to talk about a volcanic eruption specifically, you might use the word eldgos. This combines eld (fire) with gos (an outburst or gush), capturing the violent nature of the event better than the English 'eruption'.
Examples in context
- Við skoðum þetta eldfjall.We are looking at this volcano.
- Hvað heitir þetta eldfjall?What is the name of this volcano?
Example conversation
Kristín and Ólafur are looking at a map of Iceland.
- KristínSjáðu þetta eldfjall hér.Look at this volcano here.
- ÓlafurEr það virkt eldfjall?Is it an active volcano?
- KristínJá, það gosir oft.Yes, it erupts often.
- ÓlafurVið eigum að fara þangað.We should go there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “volcano” translations and entries eldfjall, eldstöð, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries eldfjall, eldstöð, CC BY-SA 4.0.
