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
- used as an expletive to express displeasure
Ancestry of “fanden”, step by step
fanden traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old Norse fendinn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | fendinn | — |
| 2 | Old Frisian | fandiand | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | fandōną | to seek, search for, examine |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pent- | to pass; path |
via West Frisian fännen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Frisian | fännen | tempter |