Viking Motto in Old Norse

According to a definition, motto is a short expression of a guiding principle. Mottos in ancient languages have always been popular, since they express such principles with authority and wisdom of the ancients. User friendly interface below helps to create online mottoes in Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. Catchy phrases that can be created using this tool may be also interpreted as Viking slogans or even battle cries. Such a motto would adorn a weapon as an inscription or shock enemies when shouted during a reenactment of a Viking battle.

If you would like to write your motto with runes, follow this tutorial:
How to Write in Old Norse With Runes

1. (noun) and (noun)
E.g.: blood and death

  and  




2. (noun) is (noun) to (noun)
E.g.: man is wolf to man

  is    to  



3. from (noun), (noun)
E.g.: from suffering , wisdom

from    ,  



4. (noun) (verb)
E.g.: time flies



5. (noun) is in (noun)
E.g.: gladness is in battle

  is in  



Based on the Latin motto generator, with the author’s kind permission.

Waiver of Liability

Keep in mind that computer generated texts should be used with caution for any permanent use like tattoos or engravings. This tool is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind.

165 comments… add one
  • jess

    I was looking to translate the following into old norse and runes can anyone assist?

    embrace love scatter kindness

    • Randið

      The “Old Norse” that is used in this translator is similar to Icelandic (that’s the language I used to make my motto), so “Embrace Love, Scatter Kindness” would be “Faðma ást, Dreifa góðvild” which is pronounced “Fah-fth-mah owst, Dreefuh gofth-vild” in Icelandic.
      -Randið (Rahn-difth)

    • Viking Rune

      Hello Jess. To write it in runes, use our guide on How to write in Old Norse with runes.

  • Ann Petersen

    My brother requested that the runic inscription “God, Country, Duty, Honor – The Sentinel Never Sleeps” be inscribed on his tombstone. How would I go about finding the runic inscription? Thank you for any direction.

    • Randið

      You can go to the Runes translator on this website- https://www.vikingrune.com/rune-converter/
      There you can translate your phrase into a couple different forms of Runes. I suggust, for a more classic look, trying the Anglo-Saxon, Elder Futhark or Long Branch Runes (there’s more than one font choice).
      If you would like to go one step further, you can translate your phrase into Icelandic, Norwegian, Sweedish, or Danish (I suggest Icelandic for it’s the most similar to Norse) for a more viking-ish look.
      Hamingjusamur þýða!
      -Randið (Rahn-difth)

  • Sanna

    Hi. I’m trying to translate Always Yours in to futhark, could you please help me? Would mean the world to me if I could get that engraved to my husbands wedding ring. Thank you!

  • Erik Johanson

    I have often heard the phrase “Never be more than two steps from your sword”
    Do you know if this is indeed attributable to an old Norse proverb? Or is it just hear-say?
    Thanks
    and
    Cheers

  • Chris Newport

    I have a translation request – happily, it does not concern a tattoo. I’m designing a image of the sword Excalibur and I’m trying to be as close as I can get to what it would have probably looked like based upon my research.

    In the stories, one of them at least, the blade was marked ” in the oldest language on the earth; ” “Pick Me Up” and on the outer side, “Cast Me Away.”
    It seems best to me to put that in the oldest form of runes we understand. Any ideas on how to say this in Runic?

    The scabbard- the magical part will have to have some charm upon it in sign , runes, or stones; for conveience sake I’m thinking signs. As long as Arthur had the scabbard, he could not be wounded but it was stolen by Morgana and never recovered. Any assistance you can give is appreciated.

    Chris Newport

  • Levi

    I’m wanting “Death is certain life is not”. Would this be correct?
    dauði er víss líf er ekki Please help if you can. It’s a tattoo idea based off of Norse Mythology and has a raven taking a fallen one to Valhalla.

    • Randið

      Your translation was close- It translated to “Death is dead, Life is not.”
      The actual translation would be “dauðinn er víst, lífið er ekki”, you were pretty close though (Happens when one uses Google Translate :þ).
      hamingjusamur þýða!
      -Randið (Rahn-difth)

  • Salvador

    how do you write “vísdómr” in futhark? Colud you help please

  • chase

    i want to get a tattoo that say no sacrifice no victory but i cant translate it.

    • Viking Rune

      You have to study Old Norse to do that, Chase.

  • Celestial

    I’ve been trying to make a full sentence in Old Norse (Fire and chaos cleanse what order and ice make), but I don’t know the words for what, rule, cleanse, or order. Please, please help me!

    • Viking Rune

      Hello. Translation is not simply putting translated words together. It requires grammar as well :)

  • Svetlana Sonday

    Gleði ok vísdómr, Vikingar!

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