Norway
/ˈnɔːr.weɪ/noun
A country in northern Europe occupying the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Did you know?The name comes from Old English and Old Norse references to the sea route along the Norwegian coast, showing how geography itself became a nation’s identity in words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*nurþrą
“north”
Old English
OE
norþ
“north”
Old Norse
ON
Norðrvegr
“the north way, the sea route along the Norwegian coast”
Old English
OE
Norðweg
“Norway, literally north way”
Modern English
English
Norway
“the country of Norway”