Language quiz

Here are a few words in Shetland(ic). Do you know or can you guess what they mean?

1. hobrigdi
2. gyoppm
3. penga
4. toosk
5. brunga wheedie

If you don’t know, just make up some possible definitions.

Comments (8)

RauliFebruary 3rd, 2013 at 3:38 pm

I’m guessing #3 is money. Like “pengar” in Swedish.

Chris MillerFebruary 3rd, 2013 at 4:58 pm

Ah! Beat me to it! My guess too for #3.
#4: German? (Cf. Danish Tysk.) Probably not since I doubt it would pop up on a random list of words that are likely part of everyday conversation.

Chris MillerFebruary 3rd, 2013 at 5:07 pm

For a nice poem in Shetlandic, look up ‘Waanderin Fram’ on YouTube.

CharlieFebruary 3rd, 2013 at 8:07 pm

I don’t know any Scots let alone Shetlandic, so these are wild guesses.

1. hobrigdi — Halloween: literally, ‘the day (di) of the kingdom (rig; cf. Ger. Reich; Dutch rijk) of the hobs (hobgoblins)’◂
2. gyoppm — go shopping (a simple contraction)◂
3. penga — coin; small change (cf. E. penny; Swed. pengar)◂
4. toosk — Indian ink (cf. Ger. Tusche; I don’t remember the exact Swedish word, but it was like German)◂
5. brunga wheedie — person with bizarre manners; foreigner (originally, an un-Scottish person who habitually has wheat for brunch, ‘brunch-wheatie’)◂

ChristopherFebruary 4th, 2013 at 2:53 am

1. Harvest day (guess)
2. Some kind of meat (wild guess)
3. Money (Danish “penge”)
4. German is a boring (if likely) choice, so I’ll guess the meaning has changed and it means “nonsense.”
5. Dance the traditional way (wild guess)

SimonFebruary 4th, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Here are the answers:

1. hobrigdi = basking shark
2. gyoppm = an amount of anything which be gathered in both hands
3. penga = money
4. toosk = tuft of hair; matted or tangle mass
5. brunga wheedie = cormorant

YenlitFebruary 4th, 2013 at 6:48 pm

You can see the Scandinavian influence in “hobrigdi” (basking shark)
Danish: brugde
Faroese: brugda; brugða
Icelandic: beinhákarl; barði; beinagráni
Norwegian Bokmål: brugde
Swedish: brugd

Chris MillerFebruary 5th, 2013 at 3:12 am

‘Gyoppm’: I like that! I think I should start using it!