Sjávarmál
Sjávarmál is the term used in Icelandic to describe the specialized vocabulary, expressions, and communicative styles used by seafarers, fishermen, and people who work at sea. It comprises terms for boats, fishing gear, rope work, weather and sea states, navigation, and daily shipboard routines, as well as phrases used in command, signaling, and seamanship tasks. As a nautical cant, sjávarmál serves both practical and social functions: it enables precise, efficient communication under challenging conditions and reinforces shared identity among crews.
Historically, sjávarmál draws on Icelandic with influences from Danish, Norwegian, and English, reflecting centuries of trade,
In contemporary Icelandic, standard language is used in official and educational settings, but sjávarmál remains a
See also: nautical terminology, nautical jargon, Icelandic dialects.