High Icelandic

In 1992 the Belgian Herman Jozef Braekmans became interested in Icelandic terminological work. During the 90’s, the emphasis in his work lied mainly on the search for native names for the chemical elements and a completely native terminology for chemical compounds. At the end of 1999 he released a small booklet titled “Icelandic Alternatives for the Names of the Chemical Elements”. In 2000 he made contact with the Dutch linguist Fabian Valkenburg, the man behind the Bond tegen Leenwoorden (Union against loan-words), who helped Braekmans construct the website Nýyrðasmiðja Málþvottahús (Neologistic factory: a language laundry). Braekmans tried to find cooperators on the is.islenska newsgroup but most of the people there firmly rejected the idea of purism. In 2003 he decided to present his words as an ultrapurist superset language called Háfrónska (November 2003). Before that he somtimes referred to the language as ofuríslenska or Hypericelandic. In 2005, he asked the Icelandic reverend Pétur Þorsteinsson to take the lead. During the last months of that year Breakmans created an additional web-page about High Icelandic symbolism (see below) The project received some minor media attention in Iceland, but only a few fanatics continue Braekmans' work. The Icelandic television channel Stöð 2 had a small item on the project in November 2005. Although many people see the language as a joke and a mockery of Icelandic language protectionism, Braekmans is dead-serious about it.

An equivalent concept can be seen in the High French (Haut français) project.

Ultrapurism
The emphasis in High Icelandic mainly lies on málgjörhreinsun (ultra purism), the most extreme form of linguistic purism. Again this is a personal term of the creator, signifying that everything that can be expressed by human speech is to be considered a target for puristic intervention, even proper names, geographical names, and names of chemicals. According to Braekmans the first signs of ultrapurism go back to the neologistic excesses of the 19th century Fjölnismenn. In their magazine Skírnir, they translated personal names like 'Robert Peel' and 'John Russell' as Hróbjartur Píll and Jón Hrísill respectively. Also geographical names were translated: Góðviðra (Buenos Aires), Sigurborg (Cairo), Slettumannaland (Poland). In contrast to the existing Icelandic language policy, the removal of latinisms and germanisms in the old language is considered a top priority. In Braekmans opinion, the fact that Iceland has experienced the strongest wave of linguistic purism of all languages, makes it the most characteristic an important element of the language. More so than the old literature (other languages like Tamil also have an impressive literal tradition) and the fact that Icelandic has changed so little during the last millenium (Greek has changed as less as Icelandic during the same period). For this reason, he believes that staunch linguistic purism should be the main value feature in Icelandic society and be pursued.

High Icelandic symbolism
During the last months of 2005 Braekmans and a few neologist poets created Saga Fjallbarnssins ‘The saga of the Mountain child’. In this story the High Icelandic symbolism is explained.
 * 1) Brynfjöregg: The armored fjöregg (vital egg).  A 'vital egg' (fjöregg) is the equivalent of a ‘life-thread’ in Icelandic symbolism.   It is a familiar motif in Icelandic folklore, where one can destroy trolls, giants, etc., by finding where their "life-egg" (fjöregg) is hidden and hurling it at them so that it hits them in the face, or on the temple or nose, or (most frequently) between the eyes or on the forehead. These life-eggs came in a variety of colors,  some were golden.  Many Icelanders still consider their language as the ‘vital egg’ of their culture.  When it breaks, the thing it symbolizes dies.  The High Icelandic ‘brynfjöregg’ is composed of two viking-helmets forming an oval armor around the egg, symbolizing language protection.
 * 2) Fjallbarn: The so-called linguisticly immaculate child of the mountains (Hið slettulausa Fjallbarn) of Fjallkonan (Woman of the mountains), the female incarnation of the Icelandic nation, and Bergrisinn (The Rock-giant), one of the four protectors of Iceland.  In High Icelandic symbolism, a child born on the national holiday and whose mother takes the trouble to make this happen at Thingvellir is called a ‘fjallbarn’.
 * 3) Þórsfrónvé: Thor’s flag of Iceland, an alternate Icelandic flag with the same division of the three colors but with a stylized ‘hammer of Thor’ replacing the Danish Crusaders’ cross.
 * 4) Nýyrðaskáld: A nýyrðaskáld (neologist poet) is a native speaker of Icelandic, who differs from a ‘nýyrðasmíður’ (word-builder) in that ‘unlimited purism’ and ‘language protection’ are holy commitments. They wear a blue shirt, a red tie and a characteristic cap, patterned like a viking-helmet with the colors of the Icelandic flag.  Both Icelandic flags are represented because a viking-helmet pattern on a cap always results into an inverted T-shape.  The cap again symbolizes the protection of the language against foreign influence.

General word-list

 * afn: atom, from 'efni' (matter).
 * alsverfir: diamond, from ‘al-‘ (all, pan-) + svarfa (abrade).
 * álftarlúður: saxophone, from ‘álft’ (swan) + ‘lúður’ (horn, trumpet).
 * ástblóm: rose, from ‘ást’ (love) and ‘blóm’ (flower).
 * baðmreyr: bamboo, from ‘baðmur’ (tree) and ‘reyr’ (cane). Named after the Latin name dendrocalamus (literally: tree-cane).
 * barreik: cedar, from ‘barr-‘ (pine-needle) + eik (oak). The oak (refers to strength) of the conifers.
 * baunaystingur: bean-curd (tofu), from ‘baun’ (bean) and ‘ystingur’ (curd).
 * birtusteinn: brilliant (diamond), from ‘birta’ (brightness) and ‘steinn’ (stone).
 * bryngálkn: tank, from ‘bryn-‘ (armored) and ‘gálkn’ (monster). The existing ‘bryndreki’ is a compound with the latinism ‘dreki’.
 * Erlendu-brúða: Barbie doll. The name Barbie is derived from Barbara, which means ‘foreign’ in Greek.
 * bláildishvolf: ozonosphere, composed of ‘blár’, blue and ildi, ‘oxygen’ et ‘hvolf’ (sphere).
 * blandlauf: lettuce, from ‘blanda’ (mix) and ‘lauf’ (leaf).
 * bleðmisbrot: origami, from ‘bleðmi’ (paper, the word 'blað' integrated in the word 'beðmi' (cellulose). Paper is almost pure cellulose.) and ‘brot’ (folding).
 * blístrabelgur: bagpipes, from ‘blístur’ (High Icelandic word for ‘flute’) + belgur (sac).
 * bænahöll: palace of prayer, a cathedral.
 * Brosmærin: Mona Lisa, the ‘smiling maiden'.
 * djúpmálning: fresco, from ‘djúpur’ (deep) + ‘málning’ (painting).
 * dreyradraugur: vampire, from ‘dreyri’ (blood (from a wound)) + ‘draugur’ (ghost).
 * dreyradrotting: Bloody Mary cocktail, from ‘dreyri’ (blood from a wound) + drottning (queen).
 * dúfuþjónusta: air-mail, from ‘dúfa’ (dove) and ‘þjónusta’ (service). Named after the first form of airmail.
 * efstingi: colonel, derived from the adjective ‘efstur’ (the highest). The existing Icelandic word is a germanism: ‘ofursti’, derived from German ‘oberst’ (upper, highest).
 * eindla, eindlingur: quark, the word 'eind is derived from 'einn' (one) and is the equivalent of the English 'particle' and the suffix '-on' in names of particles: e.g. róteind (proton, root-particle), nifteind (sister-particle). The suffix '-la' or '-lingur' is a diminutive prefix.
 * einhnýðingur: dromadare,composed of ‘einn’ (one) and hnúður (hunch).
 * Eirey: Cyprus, composed of ‘eir’ (copper) and ‘ey’ (island). The name of the metal was derived from Cyprus.
 * eirgyllir: zinc, composed of ‘eir’ (copper) and ‘gyllir’ (goldener).
 * eldvaber: olive, composed of ‘eldvi’ (the High Icelandic word for oil, derived from ‘eldur’ (fire) and ‘vökvi’ (liquid) + ber (berry).
 * eyjakirtill, pancreas, from ‘ey’ (island, referring to the islets of Lagerhans) and ‘kirtill’ (gland).
 * eyktla: quarter of an hour, from 'eykt' (period of three hours, or the time needed by the hour-hand to cover a quarter of the dial plate) and '-la', a diminutive suffix, because the same quarter is covered by the minute-hand in a quarter of an hour. The word is shorter than the existing loan-word 'korter'.
 * eyrnaker: amphora, from ‘eyrna-‘ (genitive plural of ‘eyra’ (ear)) + ker (pot).
 * fallréttur: perpendicular, from ‘falla’ (fall) and ‘réttur’ (straight).
 * fílstrokharpa: double-bass, from ‘fíl’ (elephant) + strokharpa (violin).
 * fjórborð: backgammon, from ‘fjórir’ (four) and ‘borð’ (board). The backgammon board is divided into four parts.
 * fjóreind: alpha-particle, from fjórir (four) and ‘eind’ (particle).
 * fjörveig: whiskey, from ‘fjör’ (vigor, live) and veig (wine, alcoholic beverage). The Gaelic name means ‘water of life’.
 * flatmót: stencil, from ‘flatur’ (flat) + mót (mold).
 * flatverplaborð: domino, from ‘flatverpill’ (domino-stone, from ‘flatur’ (flat) + ‘verpill’ (die)) + borð (board).
 * framandloft: xénon, composed of ‘framand’ (strange) et ‘loft’ (air).
 * frumgormar: DNA, from ‘frum’ (original) + ‘gormar’ (plural of ‘gormur’ (spiral, helix)).
 * freyðikyrgi: cappucchino, composed of the verb ‘freyða’ (foam, lather) and ‘kyrgi’ (The High Icelandic word for ‘coffee’, derived from ‘korgur’ (coffee grounds).
 * funafugl: flamingo, from funi (flame) and fugl (bird).
 * gatnaferjumaður: gondolier, from ‘gatna’ (genitive plural of ‘gata’ (street)) + ferjumaður (ferryman).
 * geimgat: black hole, from 'geimur' (space, universe) and 'gat' (hole).
 * geymslustöpull: silo, from ‘geymsla’ (storage) + ‘stöpull’ (tower).
 * ginnungahvellur: Big Bang. The old prefix 'ginnunga' means both 'big' and 'at the beginning of time' and is one of the most suitable prefix to coin a native Icelandic term for the 'Big Bang'.
 * glaðlauf: chervil, from khairéphyllon, rejoicing leaf.
 * gljábeðmi: cellophane, from gljá- (luster) and ‘beðmi’ (cellulose).
 * Gnáfjöll, Gnæfagnípur: Himalayas, composed of ‘gnár’ (surpassing) and ‘fjöll’ (mountains).
 * gnálendisjöfur: Dalai Lama, from ‘gnálendi (highest highlands, Tibet) and jöfur (king).
 * gnæfingi: giraffe, from 'gnæfur' (jutting out above the rest).
 * grjúpranda: sponge cake, from ‘grjúpur’ (porous) and ‘randa’ (pie).
 * grjúpungur: sponge, from ‘grjúpur’ (porous).
 * Guðbrynmey: Jeanne d’Arc, composed of Guð- (‘God-‘, prefix in Icel. pers. names) + bryn- (‘armored’, prefix in Icel. pers. names) + -mey (‘maiden’, suffix in Icel. fem. pers. names).
 * Guðmey: Mary, from 'Guð' (God and prefix in Icelandic proper names) and '–mey' (virgin and suffix in Icelandic proper names).
 * Guðshersir: Bishop, from ‘guð’ (god) and ‘hersir’ (a noble-man comparable to a count).
 * haðarrúnir: Braille, from 'Höður' (the blind god in Nordic mythology) and 'rún' (rune).
 * háfaðir / hámóðir: abbot / abbess, from hár (high) and ‘faðir / móðir’ (father / mother). Only a compound with ‘hár’ yields trisyllabic compounds like existing loan-words. Other solutions like ‘ýfirmóðir / systrastýra’ are too long.
 * hákóngur: emperor, composed of ‘hár’ (high) and ‘kóngur’ (king).
 * Heimsósæð: Amazone, from ‘heimur’ (world) + ósæð (estuary artery, aorta).
 * Helgi Smári: Patrick, from 'Helgi' (proper name meaning ‘holy’) and 'Smári' (an Icelandic proper name meaning ‘clover’). The clover was the symbol of St Patrick and Ireland.  It symbolized the holy trinity.
 * hetjusæla: héroïne, composed of ‘hetja’ (héros) and ‘sæla’, a word which is sometimes used as the second element in names of hard drugs, e.g. ‘alsæla’ (XTC).
 * Hlautland: Mexico, composed of ‘hlaut’ (sacrificial blood) and ‘land’ (land, country).
 * hljóðla: yodel, from 'hljóða' (cry) with the verbal prefix –la which has a repetitive function and refers to the alternation of high falsetto and low chest notes.
 * hljómkvörn: street organ, from ‘hljómur’ (sound, tone) and ‘kvörn’ (grinder). A street organ is also called ‘grind organ’.
 * Hlynland: Canada, from 'hlynur' (maple) and 'land' (country). The country is named after the maple-leaf in the flag.
 * hnossgarn: silk, from ‘hnoss’ (treasure, gem) + ‘garn’ (yarn).
 * hvellrisi: supernova, from hvellur (bang) and ‘risi’ (giant, giant star).
 * hættuhjól: roulette, from ‘hætta’ (risk) + hjól (wheel).
 * Ilbláland: south africa, composed of Il- (sole) and ‘Bláland’ (Africa or Ethiopia).
 * jarlsteinn: corundum (also sapphire), from ‘jarl’ (earl, the second after the king in medieval Scandinavia) + steinn (stone).
 * kjálkagálkn: crocodile, from 'kjálki' (jaw) and 'gálkn' (monster). The crocodile has the strongest jaws of all living carnivores and its distant ancestor, deinosuchus had the strongest jaws of any animal known to science regardless of time period.  The word has an internal rhyme.  Other High Icelandic synonyms are 'brynmerill' (from 'bryn-', armor and 'merill', from 'mara', float just under the water-surface), 'bakkaskrímsl' (from 'bakki', bank (of a river) and 'skrímsl' (monster)), 'nykureðla' (from 'nykur', hippopotamus and 'eðla', lizard).
 * knattblekungur: ballpoint, composed of ‘knöttur’ (ball) and ‘blek’ (ink) + suffix ‘-ungur’.
 * Njóla og Dagbjartur: Yin and Yang. The feminine personal name ‘Njóla’ means ‘night’ and masculine personal name ‘Dagbjartur’ means ‘brightness of day’.
 * kóngaborð: chess, from 'kóngur' (king) and 'borð' (board).
 * kóngssteinn: diamond, from ‘kóngur’ (king) + steinn (stone).
 * kroprann: mosque, derived from the verb ‘krjúpa’ (kneel). The second element ‘rann’ is an old word for ‘house’.
 * kyrgisbeiskja: caffeine, from ‘kyrgi’ (coffee, derived from ‘korgur’) and ‘beiskja’ (bitter, alkaloid).
 * kæliblöðungur: peppermint, composed of the verb ‘kæla’ (cool, refresh) and ‘blöðungur’, derived from ‘blað’ (leaf).
 * Langahaf: atlantic Ocean, composed of ‘langur’ (long) and ‘haf’ (sea). The atlantic is the longest sea.
 * laufsoð: tea, from ‘lauf’ (leaves) + soð (broth).
 * leggskó: boot, from ‘leggur’ (leg) + ‘skór’ (shoe).
 * lífssáld: natural selection, from ‘líf’ (life) and ‘sáld’ (sieve). Natural selection is ofter compared to an imaginary ‘sieve’.
 * líft: oxygen, the word ‘líf’ integrated in ‘loft’ (air). The name originates from the term ‘vital air’, a word coined by the British chemist Robert Boyle.
 * limskylmingar: karate, from limur (limb) and ‘skylmingar’ (fencing). The use of these two words is an alternative way to express meaning of the japanese word: ‘art of the empty (unarmed) hand’.
 * lofsveigur: laurel wreath. From ‘lof’ (praise) and ‘sveigur’ (wretah).
 * lofviður: laurel, composed of ‘lof’ (praise) and ‘viður’ (tree, wood).
 * Miðvesturfljót: The Midwest River, the Mississippi.
 * mjólkurbaun: soybean, from ‘mjólk’ (milk) + ‘baun’ (bean).
 * mjólkurhnot (or ‘loðhnot’): coconut, from ‘mjólk’ (milk) and ‘hnot’ (nut) or ‘loð’ (hair, fur) and ‘hnot’ (nut). The compound ‘coconut milk’ translates as ‘hnotumjólk’ or ‘loðhnotumjólk’.
 * mógætisranda: chocolate pie, from ‘mógæti’ (chocolate) and ‘randa’ (the purely icelandic word for ‘pie’).
 * Morguneyjar: The Morning-Islands, Japan.
 * mundhemill: hand brake, from ‘mund’ (old word for hand) + hemill (brake).
 * Múspellsmilska: Molotov cocktail. The word 'milska' designated a mixture of mead and beer in Old Icelandic and is the most suitable word for 'cocktail'.  The prefix 'Múspell' refers to 'Múspellsheimur', the burning world of 'Surtr', the fire-giant.
 * námshöll: university, from ‘nám’ (study) and ‘höll’ (palace). The word is an extrapolation of ‘námshús’ (school).
 * netskeyti: e-mail, from ‘net’ (net) and ‘skeyti’ (telegram, fast message).
 * niftungur: beta-particle, derived from 'nifteind' (neutron).
 * nýgarn: nylon, because it was the first truly synthetic fiber, developed in the modern ("NÝtísku") age.
 * Nykrafljót: river of hippopotamuses, the Nile.
 * orðaborð: scrabble, from ‘orða-‘ (genitive plural of ‘orð’) + ‘borð’ (board).
 * rákakóngur: tiger, from 'rák' (stripe) and 'kóngur' (king).
 * ratstrákur, rati: boy scout, from ‘rata’ (find one’s way, compare ‘path-finder’) + strákur (boy).
 * rauðgulur: orange, from ‘rauður’ (yellow) + ‘gulur’ (yellow).
 * Rauðheimur: Mars, from ‘rauður’ (red) and ‘heimur’ (world).
 * rauðuþeyti: mayonaise, from ‘rauða’ (yolk) and ‘þeyti’ (emulsion).
 * reiðherji: knight, from ‘reið-‘ (riding) + herji (warrior).
 * (reyk)horn: (smoking-) pipe, from ‘reykur’ (smoke) and ‘horn’ (horn).
 * reyklauf: tobacco, a loan-translation of the Tamil compound: ‘pugaiyilai’, which consists of ‘pugai’ (smoke) and ‘ilai’ (leaf).
 * reyksæla: nicotine, from 'reykur' (smoke) and 'sæla' (happiness, bliss; the word is used in names for different drugs, e.g alsæla (extacy).
 * reyrandi: rhum, from ‘reyr’ (cane) and ‘andi’ (spirit, compare ‘vínandi’ (alcohol)).
 * Roðlandur: Brazil, from ‘roða’ (redden) and ‘land’ (country). Brazil is derived from Portuguese brasil, meaning ember-colored.
 * Roðaborg: Brasilia, from ‘roða’ (redden) and ‘borg’ (town).
 * sandblómsfræ: sesame-seed. The Icelandic name for plants in the sesame family is ‘sandblómaætt’ (Íslenskar lækningajurtir 1992)
 * sálstafur: Psi, from ‘sál’ (psyche) and ‘stafur’ (letter).
 * sigðir: scimitar. This old icelandic word means ‘sword’ and was derived from ‘sigð’ (sickle)
 * sjáaldursbeiskja: atropine, from ‘sjáaldursjurt’ (atropos belladona, so-named because atropin widens the pupils) and 'beiskja' (from beiskjuefni, alkaloid)
 * Sjöhæðir: 'Seven-Hills', Rome.
 * skálpeldur: mustard, composed of ‘skálpur’ (siliqua, a term used for the typical bean-pod of plants in the Brassica family) and ‘eldur’ (fire).
 * skítskeyti: spam, from ‘skít’ (shit) and ‘skeyti’ (telegram, fast message).
 * skotmjöl: gun-powder, from ‘skot-‘ (shooting) + mjöl (flour).
 * skyppill: kangaroo, from the verb ‘skoppa’. The word sounds like ‘skippy’, the nick-name of the kagaroo, but is a purely Icelandic word.
 * Smáraey: Ireland, from ‘smári’ (clover) + ‘ey, eyja’ (island).
 * snæverji (also ‘nyrstingi’ and ‘Eiríks-Lappi’): eskimo, from ‘snær’ (snow) and ‘-verji’ (suffix in names of people).
 * sómaherji: honorable warrior, a samurai.
 * spjaldaleikur: card-game, from ‘spjald’ (card) + leikur (game).
 * spjaldefni: cardboard, from ‘spjald’ (card) + ‘efni’ (matter).
 * sprettvagn: sportscar, from ‘sprettur’ (sprint, burst of energy) + vagn (cart, but sometimes used in the meaning of ‘car’).
 * stálmannsstefna: stalinism. The name Stalin means ‘man of steel’ (Icelandic: stálmaður, stálmanns- in compounds).
 * strirningur: Pound Sterling. The English ‘sterling’ is a diminutive of ‘star’, like ‘stirningur’ in Icelandic.
 * stundsjá: clock, from stund (hour, moment) and sjá (-scope).
 * suðstrengjungur: sitar (Indian instrument), from ‘suða’ (hum) + ‘strengur’ (string).
 * surtsblóð: tabasco, from ‘Surtr’ (fire-giant of Múspellsheimr) and ‘blóð’ (blood).
 * Systurvetrarbrautin: Andromeda Nebula, from ‘systur’ (sister) et ‘vetrarbraut’ (galaxy).
 * sætungur: sugar, from ‘sætur’ (sweet).
 * Þakland: 'roof-land', Tibet
 * Þorrifljót: Rio de Janeiro, from ‘þorri’ (January) and ‘fljót’ (river)
 * tíðniafstæði: Doppler effect, from 'tíðni' (frequency) and 'afstæði' (relativity). Alternatively the Doppler-effect could be called ‘frequency-relativity’.
 * toglúður: trombone, from ‘toga‘ (pull) and ‘lúður’ (horn, trumpet).
 * tyngla: uvala, diminutive from ‘tunga’ (tongue).
 * töggur: caramel (old neologism).
 * úlnungur: wrist-watch, from ‘úln’ in ‘úlnliður’.
 * vandsveinn: fascist, the same word is used for a lictor, a Roman official who bore an ax and fasces or rods, as ensigns of his office.
 * vélag: sect, the word ‘vé’ (sanctuary) integrated in the word ‘félag’ (society).
 * veltafugl: dodo, from Dutch walgfogel, from ‘velta’ (wallow) and ‘fugl’ (fowl).
 * Verblaka: Batman, from ‘ver’ (man) and ‘-blaka’ used in names of different bat-species (leðurblökur).
 * verhafur (but also ‘klaufvættur’ and ‘bósapúki): satyr, from ‘ver’ (man) and ‘hafur’ (buck).
 * verulíki: virtual reality. The ending ‘-leiki’ in  ‘veruleiki’ (reality) is replaced by ‘líki’ which is equivalent with English suffix ‘-oid’.
 * Vindís: Venus. The Icelandic ‘vinur’ and Latin ‘Venus’ are related.
 * vængálfur: angel, from ‘vængur’ (wing) and ‘álfur’ (elf).
 * yrmildi: caterpillar, the word ‘ormur’ (worm) molded after ‘fiðrildi’ (butterfly).
 * ýborð: go (chinese board-game), from ‘ýr’ (yew) and ‘borð’ (board). Traditional go-boards are made from the Japanese nut-yew.
 * ýtglíma: sumo, from ‘ýta’ (push, shove, thrust) + glíma (wrestling).
 * þengisblár: violet, from ‘þengi’ (iodine) and ‘blár’ (blue).
 * þjálefni: plactic, from ‘þjall’ (flexible) and ‘efni’ (matter)
 * þjóðherji: nazi. In this construction, the suffix ‘herji-‘ (militant) replances the suffix –verji in ‘þjóðverji’ (German).  The first element ‘þjóð’ also means ‘nation’.
 * Þurrgarður: Sahara, comosed of ‘þurr’ (sec, aride) and ‘garður’ in the old meaning of ‘world’ (e.g. ‘Miðgarðr’).
 * öskungur: human being, from Askur, name of the first man in Nordic mythology.
 * ökvi: gasoline (vökvi (liquid) + öku- (driving)

Native names of large numerals

 * miklund: million. From 'mikil-hund-rað'.  The adjective 'mikill' is a translation of Greek 'megas', which is the Greek etymological and semantical equivalent.
 * þursund: billion. From 'þurs-hund-rað'.  The word 'þurs' means 'giant' and is a translation of 'giga-' (which is related to English 'giant'.)

The names of the following three magnitudes of thousand are coined by employing 'þús-' (from þúsund, denoting a thousand units) and 'þurs-' (from þursund, denoting a billion units): þús-þursund (thousand times a billion), þurs-miklund (A billion times a million) and þurs-þursund (a billion times a billion).

For numbers larger than 1018 the formula 'X-mælt þúsund' is employed. The origin of this method can be found in the Íslensk Orðsifjabók (Icelandic etymological dictionary), where the entry 'kvinkvilljón' (1030) is explained as 'fimmmælt milljón'.