Etymology Explorer › Norwegian Nynorsk

Where does “bry seg faen om” come from?

bry seg faen om (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk faen, from Norwegian Nynorsk fanden, from Old Norse fendinn, from Old Frisian fandiand, from Proto-Germanic fandōną, from Proto-Indo-European pent- — to pass; path.

bry seg faen om (Norwegian Nynorsk): to not give a damn, not care a damn

Definitions

  1. to not give a damn, not care a damn

Ancestry of “bry seg faen om”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskfaenthe Devil, Satan; devil, bastard; damn, shit,...
2Norwegian Nynorskfandenused as an expletive to express displeasure
3Old Norsefendinn—
4Old Frisianfandiand—
5Proto-Germanicfandōnąto seek, search for, examine
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpent-to pass; path
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pent- →