Old Norse Translator — Free English to Viking Language Converter
The Old Norse Translator converts modern English into authentic Old Norse — the language of the Vikings, Eddas, and sagas. Includes runic output options for Elder Futhark and Younger Futhark runes.
Common English → Old Norse Words
| English | Old Norse | Elder Futhark |
|---|---|---|
| King | Konungr | ᚲᛟᚾᚢᚾᚷᚱ |
| Warrior | Vígamaðr | ᚹᛁᚷᚨᛗᚨᚦᚱ |
| Sword | Sverð | ᛋᚹᛖᚱᚦ |
| Shield | Skjöldr | ᛋᚲᛃᛟᛚᛞᚱ |
| Wolf | Úlfr | ᚢᛚᚠᚱ |
| Raven | Hrafn | ᚺᚱᚨᚠᚾ |
| Father | Faðir | ᚠᚨᚦᛁᚱ |
| Mother | Móðir | ᛗᛟᚦᛁᚱ |
| Brother | Bróðir | ᛒᚱᛟᚦᛁᚱ |
| Friend | Vinr | ᚹᛁᚾᚱ |
| Honor | Sómi | ᛋᛟᛗᛁ |
| Death | Dauði | ᛞᚨᚢᚦᛁ |
| Love | Ást | ᚨᛋᛏ |
| Hello | Heill | ᚺᛖᛁᛚᛚ |
| Goodbye | Far vel | ᚠᚨᚱ ᚹᛖᛚ |
| Strength | Styrkr | ᛋᛏᛁᚱᚲᚱ |
| Dragon | Dreki | ᛞᚱᛖᚲᛁ |
| Battle | Bardagi | ᛒᚨᚱᛞᚨᚷᛁ |
What Is Old Norse?
Old Norse was a North Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age (c. 800–1150 AD). It is the ancestor of modern Icelandic, Faroese, Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish. Most surviving literature — the Eddas and Icelandic Sagas — is written in Old West Norse.
Old Norse vs Elder Futhark vs Younger Futhark
Old Norse language – The spoken and written language of the Vikings.
Elder Futhark – The older 24-rune alphabet used across Germanic peoples before c. 700 AD.
Younger Futhark – The simplified 16-rune alphabet used during the Viking Age for Old Norse inscriptions. Most runestones use Younger Futhark.
Translating Your Name into Old Norse
Our tool maps modern English names to their Old Norse equivalents — for example, Eric → Eiríkr, William → Vilhjálmr. For tattoos, we recommend using the runic script output, as Viking-era inscriptions were carved in runes, not Latin letters.
What Are Kennings?
A kenning is a compound poetic expression used in Old Norse and Old English poetry — e.g., 'whale-road' (sea), 'sword-sweat' (blood), 'raven-feeder' (warrior). Our tool includes a kenning reference guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What language did the Vikings speak?
The Vikings spoke Old Norse, a North Germanic language, in regional dialects.
Is Old Norse the same as Icelandic?
No, but Icelandic is the closest living language to Old Norse.
What is the difference between Old West Norse and Old East Norse?
Old West Norse was spoken in Norway and Iceland, Old East Norse in Sweden and Denmark. Most sagas are in Old West Norse.
Can I translate my name into Old Norse for a tattoo?
Yes, our tool provides authentic Norse equivalents and runic script options.
What is a kenning in Old Norse?
A kenning is a two-word poetic metaphor — e.g., 'whale-road' = sea. Common in Skaldic poetry.
Which rune alphabet did Vikings actually use?
Vikings used the Younger Futhark (16 runes). Elder Futhark predates the Viking Age.
Is this Old Norse translator free?
Yes — completely free, no account required.
Can I use this for creative writing and worldbuilding?
Absolutely. Authors and game designers use it for authentic Old Norse dialogue and names.