útnyrðingur

Faroese

Etymology

This term is believed to come from the Vikings of West Norway, who settled the Faroe Islands from ca. 825. It means "off north" and reflects to the fact, that in northwest is only open sea (from a Western Norwegian viewpoint). The opposite term is landnyrðingur "landward north" and reflects to the fact, that in northeast is only land. Compare útsynningur (southwest, "off south") and landsynningur (southeast, "landward south"). This is remarkable, for it gives a proof, that a considerable part of the first settlers came from West Norway, where such a perception makes sense, whereas from a Faroese point of view, there is no such direction as "landward" (apart from distant Iceland in the northwest, Scotland in the south and Norway in the east).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈʏtnɪrɪnɡʊr]

Noun

útnyrðingur m (genitive singular útnyrðings, uncountable)

1. northwest
2. northwest wind

Declension

m6s	singular
	indefinite	definite
nominative	útnyrðingur	útnyrðingurin
accusative	útnyrðing	útnyrðingin
dative	útnyrðingi	útnyrðinginum
genitive	útnyrðings	útnyrðingsins

Derived terms

• í ein útnyrðing úr Føroyum - in the northwest off the Faroes
• hann er útnyrðingur - "he is northwest" (the wind comes from northwest)
• In the village of Hattarvík
  • hann er sum útnyrðingur - "he is like northwest" (he is not a morning person)

Related terms

• útnorður (adjective)

See also

• (compass points)

útnyrðingur	norður	landnyrðingur
vestur		eystur
útsynningur	suður	landsynningur

Further reading

• "útnyrðingur" at Sprotin.fo