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Aes/Aesir: Singular and plural of what Asgardians call themselves. Before the founding of Asgard, it was merely an Old Vanir term for “warrior(s).” (I’m aware that the correct Old Norse singular is áss, but that seems like it’d be too distracting to an English-speaking audience, and I like this alternative some other fic writers have come up with.)
Afi: Icelandic/Old Norse for Grandpa
Amma: Icelandic/Old Norse for Grandma
Pabbi: Icelandic/Old Norse for Papa
ástin mín: Icelandic/Old Norse term of endearment that translates to “my love.” Can be used by romantic partners or platonically by parents to refer to their kids.
-barn: suffix indicating a child of unknown gender (I’ve looked very hard for a definitive answer about how to do this and got nowhere, so this is my best guess)
-born: suffix indicating all children of the named parent (e.g. Odinsborn, Volstaggsborn)
Alfr/Alfar: Elf/Elves
Ljosalfr/Ljosalfar: Light Elf/Light Elves. They gave themselves this designation to distinguish themselves from the Dark Elves, who are the same species but corrupted by dangerous magic.
Dokkalfr/Dokkalfar: Dark Elf/Dark Elves
Dvergr/Dvergar: Dwarf/Dwarves. Their original homeworld was Dvergverden until it was taken over by the Dokkalfar and renamed Svartalfheim. Many Dvergar were slaughtered in the Dokkalfar War and the survivors were forced to flee to Nidavellir.
Eldthur/Eldthursar: singular/plural terms for Fire Giants of Muspelheim. The only allies they ever had were the Dokkalfar, which cost them any goodwill they might have gained from the other races. They share common ancestry with the Jotnar but the divisions there run even deeper than between the Ljosalfar and Dokkalfar.
Jotun/Jotnar: preferred singular/plural terms for the inhabitants of Jotunheim.
Hrimthur/Hrimthursar: singular/plural species name for Frost Giants. More specific but less preferred than Jotun/Jotnar because of the shared root with Eldthur/Eldthursar.
Frjosalfr/Frjosalfar: Colloquial singular/plural term for those of mixed Ljosalfar/Jotnar parentage. Translates to “ice elf/elves.”
Sidhe: The faerie peoples of Ildathach, Alfheim’s moon. They are divided into the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
Tuatha Dé Danann: The nobility of Alfheim, which is divided into Summer and Winter Courts.
Drengr/Drengjar: Soldier/soldiers in Jotunheim’s military
Einheri/Einherjar: Soldier/soldiers in Asgard’s military
Gjallarhorn: the official heralds of Asgard. Consists of four members: three musicians and one standard-bearer. Some or all of them usually accompany a messenger or delegation from Asgard to another realm, and they get an armed Einherjar escort whenever they go to a hostile realm. It could be considered a sign of disrespect that no members of the Gjallarhorn have been deemed necessary when Asgard deals with Earth (which is likely why Odin hasn’t pressed the matter), but mainly Thor just considers it too formal for a realm with so many dear friends on it, and there isn’t a central governing body to send them to anyway. The Gjallarhorn also doesn’t get sent to Vanaheim because that would be too formal for such a close ally.
fetils svell: ice weapon
frjosleikr: Jotun ice manipulation magic
bruni magi: a Jotun internal organ which converts excess heat energy into frjosleikr energy and energy for biological functions (such as growth) in order to regulate internal body temperature. Translates as “heat stomach.”
skamrbarn/skamrborn: singular/plural for those with essentially the Jotun equivalent of dwarfism. Caused by a spontaneous mutation affecting frjosleikr metabolism, so that the body never produces the enzymes that convert excess heat into usable energy for biological functions, including growth. The result is an undersized but otherwise healthy Jotun with overactive frjosleikr. They may also be more naturally gifted with seidr than Jotnar without this condition, but whether that is truly an effect of the condition or merely that their interest in studying other forms of magic is a predictable outgrowth of their aptitude for frjosleikr is unknown. The subject is often debated amongst Ljosalfar, Frjosalfar, and skamrborn scholars on Alfheim, but as long as skamrborn are verboten on Jotunheim, they cannot settle the matter by comparing the seidr capabilities of skamrborn with those of full-sized Jotnar.
mikillbarn/mikillborn: singular/plural for those with the Jotun equivalent of gigantism. Caused by a spontaneous mutation affecting frjosleikr metabolism, so that the body never produces the enzymes that convert excess heat into energy for ice manipulation. It all goes directly into biological functions, especially growth. The result is an oversized Jotun with no ability to manipulate ice and a severely impaired capacity for regulating their internal body heat, a problem that worsens the larger they get due to the increasingly lopsided ratio of bodily surface area (heat absorption) to volume (heat distribution). Fatal overheating is almost inevitable, and few mikillborn survive to adulthood.
frjosleikr fever: a life-threatening condition brought about by the bruni magi being overwhelmed by the amount of excess heat entering a Jotun's body. The heat digestion process breaks down and the body temperature rises dangerously. The only places undigested heat can escape a body designed to retain heat in a cold environment is through the thin ancestry lines covering the skin. As a result, the most obvious symptom to an outside observer is the steam rising from a fever-wracked Jotun's ancestry lines. Skamrborn Jotnar have the best chance of surviving this condition due to their bodies' high surface area-to-volume ratio.
Gungnir: Odin's spear, capable of operating the Bifrost
Hofund: Heimdall's sword and the key to the Bifrost
Brandrheid Undrsigr: Volstagg's battle axe
Fimbuldraugr: Fandral's sword
Hridgandr: Hogun's mace
Hlidskjalf: the throne of Asgard
hnefatafl: Viking chess
ofrolvi-hold: Asgard's drunk tank. Translates to "over-drunk hold."
hraumi: an Old Norse insult meaning "braggart" or "someone who makes false boasts." This is Thor's post-Ragnarok opinion of Stephen Strange.
skjoldkaster: an Asgardian projectile weapon that throws out seidr-woven mesh. Can be used to quickly patch holes in damaged spacecraft or as a net to trap enemies for capture. Translates to “shield-launcher.”
seidr: A type of magic practiced in Norse society. For the purposes of this fic, it specifically refers to the inborn magic all of the long-lived races of Yggdrasil have access to. There are few experts of seidrcraft on Asgard because the population is descended from Vanir warriors and one would have to go to Vanaheim or Alfheim for a proper education in it, but most aspects of Asgardian life incorporate at least some magic, it is used heavily in the arts, and professions like healing are almost completely reliant on it.
seidkona/seidkonur: woman/women versed in seidrcraft
seidmadr/seidmenn: man/men versed in seidrcraft
skald troupe: a band. In Norse culture, a skald was a type of poet, so I decided to stretch that a bit.
Hljodfall-Tivar: one of the most popular bands on Asgard, Alfheim, and Vanaheim. Name translates to "Gods of Rhythm."
Triquetra: Asgardian knot formed with the overlapping wedges of three interlocked circles. Used as the seal of Odin and often visible in his spellwork. Also the name of a complex court dance performed by two lines of dancers positioned in that shape.
Valknut: Asgardian symbol of three interlocking triangles. In the MCU, it can be seen on the blue capes worn by the Valkyrior. In this fic, it is also the name of a complex court dance traditionally performed by the Valkyrior but which is still taught in their honor. (Interestingly, the modern Norwegian translation of the word is “knot of those fallen in battle.”)
Valkyrie/Valkyrior: Singular/plural of the elite female branch of Asgard’s military. They have always maintained closer ties to Vanaheim than the rest of Asgard, and those who survive their service to old age retire to live on Vanaheim as Matriarchs. The remaining Matriarchs cut ties with Odin after the active Valkyrior were wiped out by Hela.