Skol!

We are using Viking words daily and didn’t even know it: 12 examples

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The English language has adopted words from multiple other languages into its daily lexicon, and Norse is not an exception. Many terms that we use every day come from very similar-sounding counterparts from our Scandinavian friends. The following 12 examples range from the obvious to the surprising ones. Which ones did you already know about?

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Once you see this one, it becomes almost impossible to unsee it: the word used to define the fourth day of the work week, Thursday, has a Norse origin, meaning "Thor’s day."

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In today's world, we usually associate the word "club" with more civilized instruments, like a golf club. But in its origin, the word was associated with heavy things used as beating weapons, a Viking specialty. The word club came from the Old Norse word of the same meaning, "klubba".

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Unsurprisingly, another word that the Vikings gave us is the one used to describe the action of going through a place, stealing things, and causing damage: ransack. This word originates from the Old Norse term "rannsaka".

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A common geographical landscape in England and Scandinavian countries is that shallow water bog with vegetation on its shores. The English word for mire comes from the Old Norse word "myrr".

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The action of throwing an object into the distance is as old as mankind, but the word that the English language uses to describe it stems from the Old Norse word "kasta".

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The word used to describe the action of clipping something, usually with scissors, also has a Norse origin in the word "klippa".

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Violent words are not the only word legacy from the Vikings: the word glitter, used to describe those shiny particles ubiquitous at parties everywhere, comes from the old Norse word "glitra".

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Bags have been around for quite a long time now, but still, the word that the English language has settled on comes from the Old Norse word "baggin".

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While the cakes from centuries past were probably not as decadent and spectacular as their modern equivalents, they still existed. The English word cake originated from the Old Norse word of the same meaning, "kaka".

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A fellow is a person in the same position, involved in the same activity, or otherwise associated with another individual. This household word comes from the Old Norse word "felagi".

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Whether it is justified or not, anger is a feeling that is easy to associate with Vikings, especially because of their cultural depictions and stereotypes. The word anger itself can be traced to the Old Norse word "angr".

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The last entry on our list is the one that describes a married man considered in relation to his spouse. This word originated in a very similar-sounding Norse word: "husbondi".

In the shadows

You’ve been in the dark about these idioms. We’re here to change that!

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The idea of "darkness" is used to describe mystery, risk, or even a little mischief. Have you ever noticed how many idioms there are for darkness? And what about where these sayings come from, or why have they stuck around for centuries? Today, we’ll take a tour through some of the darkest idioms tied to this concept, uncovering their roots and what they still mean in everyday life.

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The phrase "dark horse" first appeared as slang in horse racing, where an unknown competitor could surprise the crowd by winning. Benjamin Disraeli, a British politician and novelist, popularized it in the 1830s. Today, we use it for people who come out of nowhere to impress, whether in politics, sports, or even at a family game night. Are you usually the dark horse?

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This saying goes back to the days when darkness symbolized ignorance. To "keep someone in the dark" meant to deprive them of light and knowledge. It has roots in 17th-century English writing, and it stuck because the image is so simple: if you’re kept from the light, you can’t see the whole picture.

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The idea of something "casting a shadow" goes all the way back to ancient poetry, where shadows represented gloom, doubt, or even bad omens. Shakespeare often used shadow imagery to suggest suspicion or hidden truths. Today, we use this expression to refer to that negative impact, the shadow, that something else may have.

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This expression comes from a French board game called "lourche," popular in the 1500s. To be "left in the lurch" meant being stuck in a hopeless position in the game. English speakers borrowed the phrase, and it evolved to describe abandoning someone when they most needed help. Quite gloomy, don’t you think?

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For centuries, people believed one half of the moon was always hidden from view. That unseen hemisphere became a perfect metaphor for secrets or unknown territory. Even after space exploration revealed more about the moon, the phrase stuck around as a poetic way to describe the mysterious side of things.

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This one has an old-fashioned ring to it. In earlier times, saying you didn’t want someone to "darken your door" meant you didn’t even want them standing at your doorway and blocking the light. But today, it means visiting someone, even if that’s unexpected or undesirable for the homeowner. Remember, text before you darken someone’s door!

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This phrase plays on the simple contrast between safety and danger. The sunny, well-lit side of the street feels safer, while the darker side symbolizes risk and shady dealings. It has been used both literally and metaphorically since the 1800s to refer to the less desirable path.

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The idea of a "black mark" dates back to the 1600s, when a literal black mark might be written beside someone’s name to show disgrace. Over time, it grew into a figure of speech for any stain on reputation. Even now, one mistake can be called a "black mark" against an otherwise good record. This one you might want to get away from, right?

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Black sheep are beautiful, but back in farming days, black wool couldn’t be dyed like white wool, making them less valuable to farmers. By the 18th century, the term had wandered into family life to describe the odd member who didn’t fit expectations. Today, being the "black sheep" often carries a mix of humor and pride.

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Accountants in the past literally used black ink to record profits and red ink to record losses. To be "in the black" meant your books looked good. Red, on the other hand, meant you were in debt. The phrase has been around since the early 20th century and is still shorthand for financial health, especially for businesses.