If the Vikings had their own alphabet (known as the runic alphabet ), they also had their own cipher and number . Their own calendar too, with their own seasons and holidays .
Here is what you will find in this article :
Viking numbers
In the Viking writings, it is sometimes possible to find numbers noted in the form of runic inscription. Of symbol therefore. However, this remains very rare and it is more common to find the digits and numbers written in whole words .
List of cardinal numbers in the Vikings:
French number | Viking cipher |
1. a |
well |
2. two |
to see |
3. three |
þrír |
4. four |
fjorir |
5. five |
fimm |
6. six |
sex |
7. seven |
jau |
8. eight |
atta |
9. nine |
níu |
10. ten |
you |
11. eleven |
ellifu |
12. twelve |
tólf |
13. thirteen |
þrettán |
14. fourteen |
fjortan |
15. fifteen |
fimtan |
16. sixteen |
sextan |
17. seventeen |
sjautan |
18. eighteen |
atjan |
19. nineteen |
nitjan |
20. twenty |
tuttugu |
21. twenty one |
tuttugu ok ein or ein ok tuttugu |
22. twenty-two (etc. for 23-29) |
tuttugu ok tveir or tveir ok tuttugu |
30. thirty |
þrír tigir |
100. cent |
tíu tigir |
110. one hundred and ten |
ellifu tigit |
120. one hundred and twenty |
hundrað |
200. two hundred |
hundrað ok atta tigir |
240. two hundred and forty |
tvau hundrað |
1200. one thousand two hundred |
þúsund |
List of ordinal numbers in the Vikings:
French | viking |
1st. first |
fyrstr |
2nd. second or second |
annarr |
3rd. third |
þriði |
4th. fourth |
fjórði |
5th. fifth |
fimmti |
6th. sixth |
setti |
7th. seventh |
sjaundi |
8th. eighth |
atti or attundi |
9th. ninth |
niundi |
10th. tenth |
tiundi |
11th. eleventh |
ellifti |
12th. twelfth |
tólfti |
13th. thirteenth |
þrettandi |
14th. fourteenth |
fjórtandi |
15th. fifteenth |
fimtandi |
16th. sixteenth |
sextandi |
17th. seventeenth |
sjautandi |
18th. eighteenth |
atjandi |
19th. nineteenth |
nitjandi |
20th. twentieth |
tuttugandi |
21st. twenty first |
tuttugandi ok fyrstr or fyrstr ok tuttugandi |
30th. thirtieth |
þritugandi |
The importance of the number 9 among the Vikings
Among the Viking peoples, the number 9 is undoubtedly the most significant. Indeed, it represents the 9 kingdoms that make up the world according to Norse mythology : Asgard, Midgard, Jötunheim, Svartalfheim, Niflheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Muspellheim, Helheim.
But that's not all. The number 9 also refers to the 9 days and 9 nights that the God Odin spent hanging from a tree .
To the 9 steps taken by Thor before dying during his fight against the Midgard Serpent during Ragnarök.
Like the 9 mothers who gave birth to Heimdall and the 9 daughters of the giant Aegir . And much more…
The Viking Calendar
The Vikings also lived on a year with 12 months , but on the other hand had only two seasons : summer and winter. Each of these two seasons consisted of 6 months. Summer obviously corresponded to the production period, and winter (cold season) to the consumption period.
List of months of the year in the Vikings:
French month | Viking month | Meaning |
January |
Orri |
Month for a fertility deity |
FEBRUARY |
Goi |
Month for a fertility deity |
March |
Einmánuðr |
Cuckoo month and sowing time |
April |
Gaukmánuðr |
cuckoo month and sowing time |
May |
eggtid |
time for eggs or roast meat |
June |
Solmánuðr |
month of the sun or month of sowing |
July |
Heyannir |
hay / hay |
August |
Kornskurdarmánuðr |
harvest month |
September |
Haustmánuðr |
autumn month |
October |
Gormánuðr |
slaughter month |
November |
Frmanuðr |
frost month |
December |
Hrutmánuðr |
month of ram |
And among the Vikings as among all peoples today, certain calendar dates are to be remembered and celebrated. One thinks in particular of the winter solstice , where the Vikings used to celebrate Jol / Yulle . On this day, Scandinavians celebrated fertility and renewal . After Christianization, the Viking peoples replaced this holiday with Christmas celebrations .
The days of the vikings
The days are called " dagr " among the Vikings. Which literally means "sunny time". In general, a Viking's day begins at 5 a.m. and ends around 10 p.m. And this even when the sun barely rises during the day… And yes, in the Scandinavian countries, the sun barely sets for six months, and hardly rises for another six months.
Just like us, the Vikings had the seven days of the week . Each of their names originates from the names of great deities of Norse mythology.
List of days of the week in the Vikings:
French day | viking day | Meaning |
Monday |
Mánudagr |
moon day |
Tuesday |
Tysdagr |
Day of Tire |
Wednesday |
Odinsdagr |
Odin 's Day |
THURSDAY |
Thorsdagr |
thor day |
Friday |
Frjadagr |
Freya 's Day |
SATURDAY |
Laugardagr |
Laundry and Bath Day |
Sunday |
Sunndagr |
sun day |
The hours among the Viking peoples
The Viking peoples had real experience in astronomy . And for good reason, it was by observing the sun and the stars that the Viking peoples more or less deciphered the time.
The star Arcturus is the day star . At the end of winter and in spring, in Scandinavia, it is still visible just before sunrise, and indicates its arrival. The star Vega, on the other hand, is the southern star . During the summer, it is visible at midnight.
Each day, which lasts 24 hours , is divided into 8 distinct parts . And each of them has a very specific name.
List of hours at the Vikings:
French time | Viking Time |
Noon (12:00 p.m.) |
Hadegi |
15 hours |
Eykt |
16 hours |
Midr aptann |
21 hours |
Nattmal |
Midnight (00:00) |
Midnatt |
3 hours |
otta |
6 hours |
Rismal |
9 hours |
Dagmal |
8 comments
Bonjour,
J’aimerais également trouver la traduction d’une date (29/08/2020) en vieux Futhark ou en Viking. Est-ce possible?
Bonjour
Comment écrire
29 05 2006 en chiffre nordique
Merci pour votre réponse
Bonjour, j aimerais me faire tatouer 2 dates
Le 4-2-2015 et le 11-9-2021 en rues viking, pourriez vous m aider? Merci
Bonjour, je voudrais me faire tatouer une date en runes (05/01/2023), pouvez-vous m’aider?
Merci, Julie
Bonjour, mon petit fils est décédé le 15 novembre à 22 ans, je voudrais tatouer sa date de naissance 04/07 /2000 sur mon bras, mais je ne trouve pas les chiffres en viking. Il aimait dire dans les moments difficiles :je suis un viking. Merci de votre aide