Beauty in Old Norse

A look at the words for "beautiful" in Old Norse (fríðr, fagr, and vænn) and how they're used in that language.

Dr. Jackson Crawford is Instructor of Nordic Studies and Nordic Program Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder (formerly UC Berkeley and UCLA). He is a historical linguist and an experienced teacher and translator of Old Norse, Modern Icelandic, and Norwegian.

Logos by Elizabeth Porter (snowbringer at gmail).

[Virginia-ersi]

A fascinating talk Dr. Crawford, a really unexpected face of norse sensibility that shows, even more, the richness of that culture. Thanks, highly appreciable.

[rafaelsemedo]

Nice video, Jackson. Very glad to hear of your upcoming Hávamál book. Seems promising!

[theworstguitarever]

The knowledge on here is amazing.I want to find classes to take like this

[WickedNPC]

Since my name is Frida, I found this topic particulary interesting.

[daniellebryan]

I can imagine the sagas being taken differently if every woman was described as "the most average looking woman in all of Iceland". XD

[desiree]

i'm a huge fan of your videos! thank you so much for teaching us about old norse :)

[abbydabbs]

Old Norse literature: “ALL WOMEN ARE QUEENS!”

[MrJbot]

Right now I'm readying the Study Havamal with 3 translations. I'll be sure to pick up your translation this September!

[eleventylevity]

5:00 She has real big hair. Sounds like Texas in the 80's.

[natemarx]

This is your most fascinating lecture, Dr. Crawford!

[syntaxerror]

"Fager" is probably the most obvious older word for beautiful in Swedish. I don't know when it saw its decline in popular usage, but let's say a hundred years ago. Because of its somewhat dated usage, it comes a cross as a bit poetic today (at least in my mind). "Vän" in the sense Dr. Crawford is talking about has also fallen out of popular usage (if possibly for no other reason than that it is spelled exactly the same as "vän" with a different meaning and pronounciation which means "friend"). "fríðr", I don't recognize in Swedish. I'm thinking "fridfull", in other words ("full of peace"), but I'm think I'm off there. (Of course, there is a sort of beauty in being peaceful, but reasonably, also an ugly person can look peaceful.)

[ExplorUranus]

Nice bear head rock, in the background.

[lionheart]

I am extremely interested in the modern day translation in the different words describing beauty in old norse. Swedish, norwegian, danish and icelandic. It would be very nice to see the potential evolution from old norse to the modern scandinavian languages. Ty and have a nice day.

[guyh.]

Great as usual Doc! Wish I was in the position to take classes from you!

[juliaconnell]

thank you always Dr Crawford, most interesting, as usual. what about the term for fair/white - as applied especially to Baldr - I can't remember it, but it doesn't seem to be covered here

[sirnilsolav]

Fagr means fair so it could be that they are said to be beautiful and fair, which would be a way to say they are light-skinned or has blond hair.

Old Norse doesn’t have a word for blond so they would either say fair or golden-haired.

At least that is my understanding

[Hvitserk]

The word "friðr" ("fred" in modern Norwegian and meaning "peace") is no longer used in modern Norwegian to describe a person. However, the term "fagr" ("fager" in modern Norwegian) is used and means "beautiful" (though it is a somewhat old-fashioned). The term "vænn" is no longer used in the meaning of "kind" or "good", but rather as a "venn" ("friend" - which also makes good sense)... :)

[MushVPeets]

1:50 Am I right in guessing that this 'varðisk' is linked to our modern verb "ward(ed)"?

[einarhornraiser]

I would assume "sterkr" is cognate with modern Norwegian "sterk" and "fagr" is cognate with modern Norwegian "vakker". My wife and I have been studying Norwegian for about a year now and it's quote interesting to see how much of Old Norse is quite similar to modern Norwegian.

[justinalvarado]

I am really interested in finding old Christian texts written in younger futhark. I’m interested in finding inscriptions in old Norse containing Christian ideas or references. Does anyone know of any such resources where I can see this?