Old Norse Pronunciation Guide §Vowels
haf ‘sea’
a ‘-a-’: ‘ar’ in part, only shorter
Closelangr ‘long’
a ‘-ang-’: ‘ou’ in pout
Closehagi ‘pasture’
a ‘-agi-’: ‘ie’ in pie
Closehárr ‘high’
á: ‘ou’ in pout
Closeverri ‘worse’
e ‘-e-’: ‘e’ in pet
Closeengi ‘none’
e ‘-eng- -egi- -egj-’: ‘a’ in pate
Closesegir ‘says’
e ‘-eng- -egi- -egj-’: ‘a’ in pate
Closelét ‘let’
é: ‘ye’ in yes
Closelið ‘troop’
i ‘-i-’: ‘i’ in pit
Closehringr ‘ring’
i ‘-ing-’: ‘ea’ in peat
Closehlíð ‘hillside’
í: ‘ea’ in peat
Closelof ‘praise’
o ‘-o-’: ‘aw’ in paw, only shorter
Closebogi ‘bow’
o ‘-ogi-’: ‘oi’ in point
Closesól ‘sun’
ó: ‘oa’ in coat
Closesumar ‘summer’
u ‘-u-’: No equivalent in English, but something between French pu and peu.
Closeungr ‘young’
u ‘-ung-’: ‘u’ in put, only longer
Closehugi ‘mind’
u ‘-ugi-’: See ‘g’ in consonants.
Closebúa ‘dwell’
ú: ‘u’ in put only longer.
Closespyrja ‘ask, find out’
y: Same as i: like ‘i’ in pit.
Closesýr ‘sow’
ý: Same as í: like ‘ea’ in peat.
Closehræddr ‘afraid’
æ: Same as œ: like ‘i’ in bite .
Closeœpa ‘cry out’
œ: Same as æ: like ‘i’ in bite .
Closegøra ‘do’
ø: Same as ǫ: no real equivalent, but a bit like the ‘u’ in purr, only shorter; or like French peur.
Closeǫl ‘ale’
ǫ ‘-ǫ-’: Same as ø: no real equivalent, but a bit like the ‘u’ in purr, only shorter; or like French peur.
Closelǫgin ‘the law’
ǫ ‘-ǫgi-’: Same as au: no real equivalent in English, but like French œil.
Closehaust ‘autumn’
au: No real equivalent in English, but like French œil.
Closeheimr ‘world, home’
ei: ‘a’ in mate.
Closeheyra ‘hear’
ey: Same as ei: ‘a’ in mate.
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Old Norse Pronunciation GuideConsonants
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