kjánahrollur

Icelandic

Etymology

From kjáni (“silly person”) +‎ hrollur (“shivering”), approximately “shivering from seeing someone make a fool of themselves”.

First seen on print in 1999, becoming widespread after ca. 2010.

Noun

kjánahrollur m

1. to cringe from embarrassment, shivering from secondhand embarrassment

   Ég fæ svo mikinn kjánahroll við að horfa á vini mína í karókí. ― I cringe from secondhand embarrassment when watching my friends performing at karaoke bars.

Synonyms

• aulahrollur (less common)
• aumingjahrollur (less common)

Related terms

• mér hryllir við
• pínlegt
• vandræðalegt
• kjánalegt