'Drengr': The Viking Compliment in Action

Examples of how the Old Norse compliment 'drengr' is used in real sagas and Viking-Age runestones.
Jackson Crawford, Ph.D.: Sharing real expertise in Norse language and myth with people hungry to learn, free of both ivory tower elitism and the agendas of self-appointed gurus. Visit jacksonwcrawford.com/ (includes bio and linked list of all videos).
Jackson Crawford’s Patreon page: www.patreon.com/norsebysw
Visit Grimfrost at www.grimfrost.com?aff=183 and use code CRAWFORD for 5% off your order!
Latest FAQs: vimeo.com/375149287 (updated Nov. 2019).
Jackson Crawford’s translation of Hávamál, with complete Old Norse text: www.hackettpublishing.com/the-wanderer-s-havamal-4275
Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Poetic Edda: www.hackettpublishing.com/the-poetic-edda
Audiobook: www.audible.com/pd/The-Poetic-Edda-Audiobook/1982597550?qid=1542115406
Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Saga of the Volsungs: www.hackettpublishing.com/the-saga-of-the-volsungs-4098
Audiobook: www.audible.com/pd/The-Saga-of-the-Volsungs-Audiobook/B07L44HRNH
Music © I See Hawks in L.A., courtesy of the artist. Visit www.iseehawks.com/
Logos by Elizabeth Porter (snowbringer at gmail).

[@JacksonCrawford]

My assistant Stella informs me that many commenters ask about the meaning of ‘drengr’ in the Modern Scandinavian languages, especially Danish, where indeed the modern word (‘dreng’) usually has only the unmarked sense of “boy.” While you can occasionally find it used like this in Old Norse (at least one time by Snorri, for example), the general meaning in Old Norse, especially in poetry and on memorial runestones, is the specific meaning discussed here, of an individual who lives in keeping with Norse society’s high expectations of reckless but honor-bound courage.

[@mattiascarlsson5355]

I assume it's the same for the Swedish use of the word (dräng), although I've always just seen it as a young man working for a farmer. It's very drengiliga of you to share this trove of knowledge you've fought so hard to obtain. Thank you! I'll sign up for your patreon shortly :D

[@robb0178]

How is the use of the word dräng seen in Sweden these days, in my experience growing up in Sweden during the 70’s and 80’s being called a dräng was not a compliment in any way shape or form.

[@handsomebear.]

@@robb0178 I'm born 89 in Sweden and only heard dräng in older movies etc and only when referring to a farm boy, pretty much.

[@joelmattsson9353]

Dräng means farmhand in modern swedish, yes. In my experience, growing up on a farm in southern Hälsingland, it is a simple descriptive term with no or very little value judgement, but I imagine such things can vary hugely depending on the dialect and background of the speaker.

[@Sindrijo]

Some people still use 'drengur' in Icelandic with the original meaning and I think a big part of it is because the enduring popularity of the Icelandic Sagas. We read the sagas in elementary and at the junior-college levels.

[@36paperairplanes]

“You don’t get into Valhalla by choking on a Taco Bravo” That needs to be on some merch 😂

[@johnn8223]

But what if I'm fighting someone and they use the taco as a weapon? Does that count?

[@alexmanning9961]

I loved that line!

[@JustinMeyer]

@@johnn8223 dude we haven't even discussed defense against raspberries, and you wanna skip straight to tacos?

[@mortenw.3575]

I'm a cheap bastard, but I would buy that!

[@aroundthebend721]

@@johnn8223 I'd have to say yes...After all I was once assaulted by a man armed with a banana, fortunately for me he was slow on the peel.

[@angelique_cs]

Dr Crawford: the king of subtle shade Thanks for what you do!

[@GotischOberst]

I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea that someone would want to call this man names. I get keyboard warriors and neckbeards being upset about being corrected about Old Norse and Viking related things, but going after someone who has more insight and knowledge than most people on the internet combined seems ridiculous to me.

[@toddwilliams6301]

Gotischer Oberst “Neckbeards”! That’s hilarious!!

[@Saint_nobody]

Sorry, I was interrupted. But yes, much respect to the doctor.

[@PalleRasmussen]

Having more insight and knowledge makes you a target. These days, isntead of wanting to learn, people will feel slighted by knowledge and attack you- the curse of postmodern discourse.

[@xMetalhead62xHD]

Having a cowboy talking about norse culture is one of the best things I've seen in my entire life. Thank you for uploading this helpful and interesting videos, sir! My salutes from México.

[@mohawkmoproblems6906]

I did not expect to see you involved in shooting sports, but in retrospect, I'm not surprised. Either way, well done!

[@Saint_nobody]

*_-spoilers-_*

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

I thought I'd clicked on an @inrangetv video by mistake.

[@burk3806]

reminds me of my days playing rugby in college, where we'd fight and swear, and after the match we'd go to a kegger and sing songs

[@spentmanspath421]

Amazing work, integrating both hummingbirds and dry humor almost had me choke on my breakfast tacos though.

[@Karamojo7mm]

Dr. Crawford - Bought all three books this month, as well as a second set as a gift to my younger brother. Thank you for what you‘re doing. Also noticed that you are using realistic gear (an inside-the-waistband holster, no less!) for practical shooting. That‘s commendable because quite often these matches turn into „equipment races“. Apparently, you chose to go your own route in shooting.

[@85Vikingen]

Keep up the good work Mr Crawford. Much respect from Denmark!

[@kvasirsblood1107]

As a bird watcher and studier of the Viking Age, your channel is perfect!

[@OrginalRaxor]

So awesome to watch your videos.. its amazing how many words i "kinda" know, or almost know... Being Danish many of the words, including this one, is so familiar, yet not quite. I learned more about the ancient culture of my country watching your videos, than anywhere else... thank you so much.

[@erilassila409]

One of the translations for drengr offered by Wiktionary is badass. As a student of Nordic languages and a translator who's kinda fluent-ish in old Norse, I have to wonder why you didn't use that translation for this video. I absolutely love you and your videos btw, greetings from northeastern Finland!

[@stellanathaniel3198]

He does mention it in this previous video on the subject (I believe it's linked in today's video): kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGHbhJWPZtGEgrs

[@venm5887]

Doc, I will always support your endeavors as I am very appreciative of your work and efforts to help me increase my knowledge. Great shots keep up your range time Doc. 2A all the way.

[@marlenestewart7442]

Hummimgbirds will try to drive away humans from around feeders.

[@austintwardowski]

Haha wow I was just about to ask you about the meaning of the word as I saw it while watching gameplay of AC Valhalla and I hadn't heard it before. You're always one step ahead so thanks! Cheers man!

[@000Mazno000]

Where's my Jackson Crawford gun match channel?

[@nneichan9353]

The other day I was thinking about how sportsmanship had deteriorated to the point that when someone on the ice or on the field gets away with an act that should be penalized, or is not sporting, they say nothing. It is admired to get away with something. It makes me sad to see.

[@My2Cents1]

Exactly. The modern Swedish word "dräng" means male worker at a farm.

[@connoisseurofcookies2047]

A Drengur is essentially the same as the Aussie 'good lad.'

[@connoisseurofcookies2047]

@@MiaogisTeas Sometimes good ladsmanship has to be displayed in order to not offend the foreigners 😅😅

[@annkonstantinov]

i've just found your channel but i am already swooning

[@jasperowens]

Thanks for all the work you do, Mr. Crawford. We appreciate you!

[@jamessimpson9385]

Good afternoon Dr. Crawford. Thank you for you dedication and persistence in your fight to make this work. ~Semper

[@kev1734]

Beautiful field you're standing in :D thanks for all your work!

[@Elenrai]

Kinda funny how there is a modern danish equivalent in current use, but not officially recognized, its not exactly common but sometimes you can hear the word "dreng" being twisted into "drengere" as a pluarl, which is not remotely grammatically correct but it works well enough

[@darkiee69]

The word dräng, means a farmhand in Swedish

[@gunnarbaumgarten-austrheim7197]

Also inn Norwegian.

[@jamesdoyle2769]

@Hokusai That's a different root.

[@meridiang3160]

LOVE the hummingbird metaphor

[@SvartUlf]

I always appreciate your contributions to my continued education. Takk fyrir.

[@dxundownload8635]

Amazing! Loves the video and even got a really good laugh out of that ending statement. Cant ever thank you enough for all you do!

[@Lester.M]

Excellent content as always. Thank you.

[@OeHomestead]

"Dreng" is still being used in Norwegian. It's quite common to call a farm boy/helping hand a "dreng". It's also used instead of "boy" or "man".

[@ulfheinni.b2633]

Your followers will grow so much after the game release! And that's a good thing. You deserves all the credit!

[@brettgates650]

Another great video! Love the content.

[@archerpren]

This was fascinating! Thank you!

[@John-yg1cq]

Håper du vil vises som en sann dreng i all overseelig fremtid. Greetings from Norway, Dr. Crawford.

[@Krondon-SSR]

You were a consultant on Valhalla? Amazing! Can't get enough of the game xd

[@anthonyclare6750]

Thank you for your contribution to knowledge. Bravo sir

[@ElficGuy]

Fantastic video kind sir, thank you very much.

[@mathismathisen1649]

Jeg setter virkelig pris på alt du lærer meg ❤ love from Norway

[@garyleeparker]

This was excellent!

[@vincearmstrong5654]

Hahaaahaha! "Taco bravo". Baahahahaaahaha! Love it! Menge tak, Mr Crawford!

[@My2Cents1]

In modern Swedish "Dräng" (pron. "Dreng") means particularly a male worker at a farm or homestead. The help to the farmer. The female version is "piga". In olden times dräng and piga works and lives at the farm. The dräng works outside with all the heavy work, while the piga mainly works with house duties, and a few of the lighter farm duties like milking the cows, feeding the chickens etc. Either way, being called a "dräng" is not a compliment at all. More like being called "boy".

[@charlieboychuk8259]

Thank you Dr. Crawford for uploading this video when you did. as the semester begins I am actually writing a paper for my university on this very topic, and comparing and contrasting this Early Medieval Norse concept with the modern notion of "martial culture" along with other historical cultures and societies that are considered more "martial." You inspired this study as well as have helped provide some sources I am drawing from within the paper. If you have any advice or suggestions for writing on this topic I'd be much obliged!

[@peremeesz]

So, the opposite of 'drengr' is 'argr' (< Proto-Germanic *argaz > Finnish 'arka'). It is pretty odd that the word has come to mean "angry" in Swedish and something like "fervent" in Danish whereas it has more or less retained the ancient Germanic meaning in Finnish (and I believe in other Finnic languages as well).

[@TheBeardedAxe]

I love the new intro!

[@Hvitserk67]

Dreng (as in Danish) is also used in Norwegian, but today only as a farm boy (mostly in an old-fashioned sense). Danish has retained the old meaning of the word, but only in a context where the male gender is young. Older men are rarely referred to as drenger (only sarcastic and/or ironic), but they can be referred to as "gutter" (not necessarily nice boys) as is usually the case in Norwegian. The word "gutt" (singular indefinite form) most likely comes from Dutch (guit) which means "game maker" or "to make fun of" (interpreted in a good way), which is well suited for a small child.

[@GreenLarsen]

In danish "dreng" can also be used about older males (and even about females) in some contexts. So you might say "Han/hun er en a drengene" meaning "he/she is one of the boys" as in he/she is part of our friend group (in the case of it being a female it will indicate that she is a tomboy). Or you might say "mig og drengene" meaning me and the boys (same meaning as gutter in Norwegian) I might add that it often is used when talking about youthful activitys or actions that might be abit boy'ish.

[@Hvitserk67]

@@GreenLarsen Sure, dreng or drenger are in Danish used more in the original context as in old norse, but normally in modern Danish (I am Norwegian, but have lived 21 year in Denmark) drenger are not used about older men in a clear positive context (at least not without an undertone of irony) as far as I understand. Exactly this is a bit interesting in Danish. Irony is used really sophistically in Danish and is generally much more developed than in Norwegian. In Danish, different words (which are also found in Norwegian) are used in a far more sophisticated way. A good example is lukter/dufter (smells). In Norwegian we almost always use lukter (lugter in danish) good/bad, but in Danish something "dufter godt" (smells good) and "lugter dårlig" or only "lugter" (smells bad) with the same meaning :)

[@GreenLarsen]

@@Hvitserk67 I agree :)

[@truanarchy6315]

Reminds me of Amon Amarth’s The Way of Vikings

[@BethanyBuffington]

Thank you.

[@camiblack1]

Dang, that little flyting there at the end.

[@ericdburton91]

I think it's safe to say you yourself are a drengr. Thank you for what you do.

[@jonstfrancis]

This word is cognate with various words for "Tree", so meaning 'upright', 'outstanding' and 'strong'? PIE roots *dru / *doru?

[@NH-mr6px]

So Hummingbirds are Drengrs... Totally get it. But honestly on another note, who thinks Dr. Crawford should wear all black with a black bandana and a black cowboy hat and a black eyepatch for his next video talking about Óðinn?

[@stellanathaniel3198]

I'll ask him if he wants to borrow the eyepatch, but I think he's on his own for the coat (I'm a very tiny Grímnir): kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3zGipSufsesqKs

[@NH-mr6px]

Haha nice

[@flamenmartialis6839]

Not black but grey, I think Odin is sometimes called greycloak in some sagas. Long time since I read any of the sagas.

[@NH-mr6px]

definitely Gray historically...but black for the Dark Cowboy look I suppose hahaha

[@stellanathaniel3198]

@@flamenmartialis6839 @Nathan H Yeah, normally it's gray (kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGKVf4imosiZrZo ) though he does occasionally show up in blue, such as in Grímnismál ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIaVameYg8d2iJY ). That said, I'm a nerd, so that specific outfit was based on a passage from Sturlunga saga that Stephen Mitchell suspects is an early example of Óðinn as influenced by the interpretatio Christiania (so post-Viking Age), where he does begin to be associated with "svartr," or black (If anyone is legit interested in this, Google Books has a preview that should have the relevant passage on p.98-99: www.google.com/books/edition/Witchcraft_and_Magic_in_the_Nordic_Middl/shCXJLB6mDAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA98&printsec=frontcover )

[@nameless473]

You shot those targets like a good Drengr

[@mandolinistry3207]

so my takeaway is that Drengr means something like being a total bro in modern parlance. In all of your examples, either drengr or good drengr could be replaced with total bro and it would work perfectly.

[@kenjohnson4461]

you will meet more Drengr at USPSA matches than any where else

[@canibull]

I like this video

[@jamesdoyle2769]

Dr. Crawford, this sounds a lot like the Irish concept of "fir fer" and I wonder if anyone has looked at the parallels. This doesn't need to be any kind of contact phenomenon, though that may be possible through much earlier contacts on the continent perhaps, but they may just be independent developments in the way bushido , also strikingly similar, is an independent development. Both the requirements for fearlessness and for frankness and integrity are adaptations to warfare, as a way to minimize moral wounds. And further, that emphasis on integrity may be part of the reason seidr was considered incompatible with manhood, since it appears underhand.

[@Saint_nobody]

How well do you rate the Write In Runic app and what Latin phrase should I write in it next?

[@bearofthunder]

Well, today the word "dreng" in nowegian means "farm boy" like in a helper on a farm, servant boy or unmarried young man.

[@togodamnus]

thats epic !

[@ThalassTKynn]

Shots fired!

[@jessiehermit9503]

Wow, I'm early! Hello, people! I hope you have a nice day!

[@flannerypedley840]

Hummingbirds fight to the death. Who knew?

[@LazyGamer415]

Dr.C can you point me to your preferred version of the prose edda?

[@stellanathaniel3198]

It's in his book recommendation video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpzPd3iMq8SXqM0 ) but it's the Anthony Faulkes translation-- a free PDF copy is also available from the Viking Society for Northern Research at this link: www.vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/EDDArestr.pdf

[@LazyGamer415]

@@stellanathaniel3198 many thanks!

[@jacksonrodabaugh9984]

Reminds me of the Danish Dreng, which means boy

[@aqidon]

Also used in norwegian meaning farm boy.

[@jacksonrodabaugh9984]

@@aqidon Interesting

[@erikwirring9446]

That stroke me too, BTW am Danish

[@AirshipNorway]

Drenge means a good man, jovial, typical unmarried or just married and in The starting pich of his great ambitions in life.

[@cessatiolux6250]

Do one on Rekkr

[@AdaKitten]

What part of Norway are you in when filming? (I know you are in Colorado. Just remind me of Western Norway :) )

[@zachsmyder385]

Is this similar or different from the word "rekkr" that I have seen around lately?

[@faarsight]

Dräng in Swedish means something like farmhand or young boy.

[@kevinhansson2177]

Satt å tänkte på de jag å! XD

[@jacksonrodabaugh9984]

Like boy in Danish!

[@aqidon]

Same in norwegian, farm hand or farm boy.

[@anniepixeltrik6695]

Dr Crawford getting SPICY 🤭 😂🔥

[@martinkrog5943]

My dad used to call me 'drengr' when I was small, but I never knew it ment anything but a funny way to say 'boy'(dreng) in Dane-speak Because of these vids I found out : ) Skål

[@plciferpffer3048]

In modern Norway a "dreng" just means a boy.

[@aidanwoodford3532]

Ha, I remember the videos you made before, now it's in a game.

[@aidanwoodford3532]

Very Drengila

[@petersonl1008]

👍

[@martindegn690]

Is this the same word as the modern danish 'Dreng' meaning boy

[@Kookoozabz]

What about the word drengerøv in Danish that seems similar?

[@anghw2388]

BESTI DRENGR

[@SuperMrMuster]

In Finnish "renki" means a kind of male hired servant who works in the stables and the field. It's obviously derived from drengr, though probably not from Old Norse nor even in the Viking Age. Some later form of Swedish, I would think. I wonder how a word like that, which at one point expressed such virtue and admiration, came to mean something so humble. Ironic use, perhaps? What do you think, Mr. Crawford?

[@peremeesz]

Yeah, piika ja renki, en piga och en dräng.

[@mistergrim6702]

Whats the difference between drengr or drengir

[@senchaholic]

And in Swedish there's the word "Dräng"' which was a farmhand. (Did also mean "boy" in Swedish)

[@senchaholic]

The female equivalent is "piga". Means girl.

[@fordhouse8b]

@@senchaholic Both now archaic. Probably the only reason I learned them when growing up in Sweden was from watching Emil i Lönneberga on TV.

[@ericwood3709]

It reminds me of chivalry.

[@etepeteseat7424]

Dr. Crawford, I love your three videos on "drengr/drengskapr", but I do have a question that I don't think you've yet addressed: is there an English cognate of "drengr"? It's unclear to me whether your use of the Old Norse word is just to avoid reading modern cognates whose meaning has undergone semantic drift in order to preserve and distinguish the unique cultural context of the word, or if it's a result of there not being a known/recognized cognate in other Germanic languages. I feel like it would be instructive to know if and how other Germanic cultures conceived of "drengskapr", since I presume they likely had related, if perhaps distinct, cultural concepts, at least in their pagan phases; it might be interesting and informative to see a connection to modern languages, even if there's a cultural gap. At least, I suspect it might make for a nice addendum to this video, perhaps when the game releases or something. Anyway, cheers, and thanks again for doing such interesting and valuable work.

[@skyworm8006]

It's in Old English (dreng) with the meaning of eager/young warrior, later perhaps just another word for warrior. Either its broader meaning fell out of use or more likely a fairly young developmentwas to generalise the ideal. It may be that only aristocrats/warriors used it in this way which is why the Modern languages' words don't have this specific sense, either being general words or later specialising along a different line.

[@etepeteseat7424]

@@skyworm8006 Thanks for the Old English cognate; I assumed it would be something along those lines. I'm mostly interested in what the word evolved into the modern language, though.

[@eyemotif]

doesnt drengur also mean boy in icelandic?

[@vanefreja86]

It does in Danish - I don't know about Icelandic 🤔 well...'dreng' it is here.

[@Knightonagreyhorse]

It is funny how honorable words tend to inflate over time. In modern danish or norwegian, dreng means boy or lad. Gårdsdreng ; a guy who works at a farm, ie a servant.

[@axelericson7439]

You mentioned that there are a lot of examples of people calling others a “good drengr”. Are there examples of a “bad drengr”?

[@LeoxandarMagnus]

I’ve started using this word in my day-to-day vernacular.

[@L.Nyquist]

Dräng is still used,

[@fordhouse8b]

Yes, but with a very different meaning, and even then it is kind of archaic, or at least old-fashioned.

[@MrEnaric]

'Forum drengja Frísla(n)ts á/ auk vígs fótum skiptum'.

[@christopherebbs8053]

Pray to the gods love ur woman crush ur enemies and live without fear of death

[@Eulemunin]

Nope not going to call anybody names online.

[@TheBlindGuardian20]

Who would even say that to you that's not even relevant to the topics you are talking about. I think people had just gotten used to using that word for everything. All you do is give information as it is without changing it. You don't pick sides.

[@demopem]

Another interesting (and perhaps a little sad?) fact: Centuries later, the meaning of the word in Swedish, "dräng", shifted to mean "(male) worker", mostly "farm worker", usually a younger/unmarried one.

[@lakrids-pibe]

The modern danish word for a farmhand is *karl* - bondekarl, like in húskarl. But Karl is also a name (Karl-Emil, Karl-Gustav) supposedly a scandinavian form of the name Charles (Charlemagne)

[@stekarknugen9258]

*googles taco bravo* By Odin almighty what have ye created?!

[@septegram]

Re: hummingbirds... Modern street gangs also have signs that say "just passing through; not here to start a fight."

[@j.t.hartzfeld1368]

The way you've described the use of drengr, it's very similar to the way that southerners use the word Christian.

[@j.t.hartzfeld1368]

I wonder if medieval Norse society used the term as generously and hypocritically as southerners tend to.

[@meanmanturbo]

In current Swedish dräng means farmhand, ie some one who gets paid to work at some one elses farm.

[@I_Am_Lt_Surge]

This dudes chin is chizzled AF

[@markcash2]

One down vote by somebody who hates toxic drengskapr!

[@Phobos1483]

"hwhere"

[@panzergrav7661]

Dräng in swedish means "servant"ish. In a kinda derogatory way.