Icelandic is supposed to be one of the hardest languages in the world. I deconstruct Icelandic compound words and illustrate them.
Many of these words are very literal, yet somehow poetic at the same time. Other times they can be rather random and a little humorous!
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#1 Penguin (Mörgæs) = Fat + Goose
Mör (fat) + Gæs (goose) = Mörgæs (Penguin)
17points
#2 Zoo (Dýragarður) = Animal + Garden
Dýr (animal) + Garður (garden) = Dýragarður (zoo)
15points
#3 Raccoon (Þvottabjörn) = Washing + Bear
Þvottur (washing) + Björn (bear) = Þvottabjörn (raccoon)
15points
#4 Echo (Bergmal) = Rock + Language
Berg (rock) + Mál (language) = Bergmal (echo)
15points
#5 Planet (Reikistjarna) = To Wander + Star
Að reika (to wander) + stjarna (star) = Reikistjarna (planet)
14points
#6 Wedding (Brúðkaup) = Bride + To Buy
Brúður (bride) + Að Kaupa (to buy) = Brúðkaup (wedding)
14points
#7 Hippopotamus (Flóðhestur) = Flood + Horse
Flóð (flood) + Hestur (horse) = Flóðhestur (hippopotamus)
13points
#8 Rainbow (Regnbogi) = Rain + Arch
Regn (rain) + Bogi (arch) = Regnbogi (rainbow)
13points
#9 Arm (Handleggur) = Hand + Leg
Hand (hand) + Leggur (Leg) = Handleggur (arm)
12points
#10 Placenta (Legkaka) = Womb + Cake
Leg (womb) + Kaka (cake) = Legkaka (placenta)
11points
#11 Quotation Marks (Gæsalappir) = Goose + Feet
Gæs (goose) + Lappir (feet) = Gæsalappir (quotation marks)
8points
#12 Nice Weather To Look At Through The Window (Gluggaveður) = Window + Weather
Gluggi (window) + Veður (weather) = Gluggaveður is weather that's nice to look through a window, but not so nice to be in. Like when it looks lovely and sunny but then you go outside and it's actually blistering cold!
8points
#13 Match (Eldspýta) = Fire + Piece Of Wood
Eldur (fire) + Spýta (piece of wood) = Eldspýta (match)
7points
#14 Bra (Brjóstahöld) = Breast + To Hold
Brjóst (breast) + Að halda (to hold) = Brjóstahöld (bra)
7points
#15 Inspiration (Innblástur) = Inn + Breeze
Inn (inside/into) + Blástur (breeze) = Innblástur (inspiration)
7points
#16 Skeleton (Beinagrind) = Bone + Frame/structure
Bein (bone) + Grind (frame/structure) = Beinagrind (skeleton)
7points
#17 Turtle (skjaldbaka) = Shield + Back
Skjöldur (shield) + Bak (back) = Skjaldbaka (turtle)
7points
#18 Idea (Hugmynd) = Mind + Picture
Hugur (mind) + mind (picture) = Hugmynd (idea)
7points
#19 Cello (Knéfiðla) = Knee + Violin
Kné (knee) + Fiðla (violin) = Knéfiðla (cello)
6points
#20 In Love (Ástfanginn) = Love + Captured
Ást (love) + Fanginn (captured) = Ástfanginn (in love)
6points