Etymology Explorer › Norwegian Nynorsk

Where does “fanden” come from?

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

fanden (Norwegian Nynorsk): used as an expletive to express displeasure

Definitions

  1. used as an expletive to express displeasure

Ancestry of “fanden”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsefendinn—
2Old Frisianfandiand—
3Proto-Germanicfandōnąto seek, search for, examine
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpent-to pass; path

Words derived from “fanden”

  • faen
  • bry seg faen om
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pent- →