sæll

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Icelandic

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Etymology

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From Old Norse sæll (happy), from Proto-Germanic *sēliz.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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sæll (comparative sælari, superlative sælastur)

  1. happy, content
    Synonyms: ánægður, hamingjusamur, líða vel
    1. fortunate
    2. my dear (used in certain set phrases when addressing someone)
      sonur sællmy dear son
  2. hello (a greeting)

Usage notes

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Sæll is a very common greeting, particularly in formal situations. It inflects with the gender and plurality of the person being addressed (sæll for a man, sæl for a woman and a mixed-gender group, sælir for a group of men, and sælar for a group of women).

In slang, the plural sælir/sælar is occasionally used to address a single person; it is considered a more "cool" and relaxed greeting.

Declension

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Derived terms

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References

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Old Norse

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Etymology

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Inherited from Proto-Germanic *sēliz, from Proto-Indo-European *selh₂- (to calm, quiet, be favourable).

Adjective

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sæll (comparative sælari, superlative sælastr)

  1. happy, blessed, fortunate
    • 800s, Hávamál, verse 69
      Es-at maðr alls vesall, // þótt sé illa hęill,
      sumr es af sonum sæll,
      sumr af frændum, // sumr af fé ǿrnu,
      sumr af verkum vęl.
      Man is not completely wretched, though he of poor health be: someone is fortunate from sons, someone from kinsmen, someone from ample cattle, someone from works done well.

Declension

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Derived terms

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  • ársæll (blessed with good harvests) (especially of a king under whose reign the realm prospers)
  • friðsæll (blessed with peace) (especially of a king under whose reign the realm prospers)
  • orðsæll (blessed with a good reputation)
  • vesæll, vesall (wretched, unlucky)
  • vinsæll (blessed with many friends)

Descendants

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  • Icelandic: sæll
  • Faroese: sælur
  • Norn: sel
  • Norwegian: sæl
  • Old Swedish: sǣll
  • Old Danish: sæll, sææl