Nynorn Phrases

Linden MacAoidh 2011, with help from Nynorn website for info on Shetlandic Norn. This was written

some years ago & my ideas about Orkney Nynorn have since changed somewhat.

Phrases in Shetland Nynorn, Orkney Nynorn and Caithness Nynorn:

Shetland Norn - English:

hvat hedir/hjedir du? - what are you called?

eg hedi/hjedi Hans - I'm called Hans

hvat er ditt navn? - what's your name?

mitt navn er... - my name is...

Taler du Nynorn? - Do you speak Nynorn?

ja/nei - yes/no

eg er at lere Nynorn - I'm learning Nynorn

eg vil tale Nynorn - I will speak Nynorn

Orkney - English

vat heter þu/du? - what are you called?

eg heti Hans - I'm called Hans

vat ir dit/þit navn? - what's your name?

mit navn ir... - my name is...

talarþu Nynorn? - do you speak Nynorn?

ja/nai - yes/no

eg ir at lere Nynorn - I'm learning Nynorn

eg vil tale Nynorn - I will speak Nynorn

Caithness Nynorn

hwat heter þu/tu - what are you called?

ää hete Hans - I'm called Hans

hwat is tit/þit nawn? - what's your name?

mit nawn is... - my name is...

taleþu Nynorn? - do you speak Nynorn?

ja/nej - yes/no

ää is a lere Nynorn - I'm learning Nynorn

ää will tale Nynorn - I will speak Nynorn

More Shetland Norn phrases (unstandardised)

Hvers hev du dað? How are you

Eg er vel, eg hev dað gott, Eg er søg I am well, I have it good (I'm well), I am sick

Hvarna bu(gir) du? where do you live?

Eg bu(g)i i Lervik, men eg er ur Aberdin I live in Lerwick, but I'm from Aberdeen

Eg er I am

du er(t) you are (singular)

hann er he is

hon er she is

dað er it is

vi er(-u)/(-on) we are

di er(-u)/(-on) you are

de er they are

Eg tink I think

eg tinkti I thought

eg vil tinka I will think

eg vildi tinkt I would think

eg havdi tinkt I had thought

eg hev tinkt I have thought

Eg er en fiskimann frå Shapinsay i Orknøjon, båd min kavar/sukner - I am a fisherman from Shapinsay in

the Orkney Islands, my boat is sinking...

More Orkney Norn phrases (unstandardised)

Virs? hev du/þu/ dað/ það how are you?

Eg er vel, eg hev dað/það gott, eg er søg/søk I am well, I have it good (I'm well), I am sick

Var(na) siter/bur du/þu where do you live?

Eg sit/bur i Lervik, min eg kome frå Aberdin I live in Lerwick, but I'm from Aberdeen

Eg er I am

du/þu er you are (singular)

hann er he is

hon er she is

dað/ það er it is

vi er we are

di er you are

de er they are

Eg tinke I think

eg tinkte I thought

eg vil tinka I will think

eg vilde tinkt I would think

eg havde tinkt I had thought

eg heve tinkt I have thought

Eg er en fiskjemann frå Shapinsay i Orknøjar, min båt kavar/sukner - I am a fisherman from Shapinsay in

the Orkney Islands, my boat is sinking...