Orðrótin

Orðrótin is an online etymological resource dedicated to Icelandic word origins, with a focus on roots and morphemes that underlie the language's word formation. It traces roots back to Proto-Nordic and, where possible, to earlier Proto-Indo-European sources, detailing relevant sound changes and semantic shifts.

Each entry connects a word to its underlying root, notes cognates in related Nordic languages, and lists derivatives. Etymologies are supported by scholarly sources such as historical dictionaries, philological studies, and corpora; where a reconstruction is uncertain, the entry presents alternative theories and assigns confidence levels.

The resource is accessible online with a search interface for words, roots, or morphemes, and provides cross-references and schematic representations of root relationships. Data may be downloadable under an open license for research and teaching, subject to attribution and licensing terms.

Orðrótin is developed by a collaboration of Icelandic universities and linguistic institutes, with editorial oversight to ensure scholarly standards. It is intended for students, teachers, lexicographers, and researchers, supporting linguistic analysis, historical study, and cross-linguistic comparison within Nordic languages.

While comprehensive, etymologies reflect ongoing scholarly debate, and coverage is uneven for modern borrowings or contested reconstructions. The project continues to expand with new entries and updated scholarship.