Jomfru

Jomfru is a noun in Norwegian Bokmål and Danish meaning virgin or maiden. It is used to describe a young woman who is unmarried or a person who has not engaged in sexual activity, and it also appears in religious contexts as part of titles such as Jomfru Maria (the Virgin Mary).

The term is historically derived from Old Norse jomfrú, and is cognate with similar forms in Danish and Swedish, reflecting a common Germanic root for ‘maiden’ or ‘virgin’.

In astrology and zodiac contexts, Virgo is rendered as Jomfru in several Nordic languages; the definite form Jomfruen or Jomfrun is used when referring to the sign as a specific entity (the Maiden). In Swedish, the equivalent term is Jungfru (with Jungfrun for the definite form).

Usage across Nordic languages has varied; the term is not common as a modern given name, but appears in historical or religious titles. The word remains a standard part of cultural and linguistic references to 'maiden' or 'virgin' in everyday language and literature.