Røykjavik

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

Adapted borrowing of Icelandic Reykjavík, or a semi-learned borrowing from Old Norse Reykjavík, Røykjavík (“bay of smokes”). From reykja, genitive plural of reykr (“smoke”), and vík (“bay”). Equivalent to røyk +‎ vik (the original genitive plural *røykje- / *røykja- is lost).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²rœʏːçaviːk/

Proper noun

Røykjavik f

1. The capital of Iceland. Official name: Reykjavík
   • 1913 April 23, J. H., “Islandsbrev. Samrøringi i Noreg.”, in Gula Tidend‎^[1]:

     Igaar gjekk det som eld i turt gras yver heile Røykjavik at tyskarar og franskmenner var byrja krig.

     Yesterday, it went like wildfire across Reykjavík that Germans and Frenchmen had gone to war.