foss
[ˈfɔs(ː)]masculine
The Icelandic word for "waterfall" is foss.
The term refers to a flow of water over the edge of a cliff.
Meaning: flow of water over the edge of a cliff (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word foss is a masculine noun.
When do people say it?
For instance, the famous landmark Gullfoss translates to "Golden Falls" in English.
Did you know?
- If you visit Northern England, you might see the word 'force' used in place names like 'High Force' to describe a waterfall, which shares the same Old Norse roots as the Icelandic foss.
- In Icelandic culture, some waterfalls are tied to folklore involving hidden people or trolls who were turned to stone by the sunlight.
Examples in context
- Ég heimsótti þann fræga foss í gær.I visited the famous waterfall yesterday.
- Hefur þú séð þennan fallega foss?Have you seen the beautiful waterfall?
- Hópurinn stóð frammi fyrir foss.The group stood before a waterfall.
Example conversation
Sigurður and Sigríður are hiking in the countryside.
- SigurðurSjáðu, það er foss þarna!Look, there is a waterfall there!
- SigríðurHann er virkilega háur.It is really high.
- SigurðurVilltu ganga nær fossinn?Do you want to walk closer to the waterfall?
- SigríðurJá, ég vil taka mynd.Yes, I want to take a photo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “waterfall” translations and entries foss, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries foss, CC BY-SA 4.0.
