Nordic Words: the Ideas That Shape Life in Scandinavia, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland

Why do the Nordic countries seem to approach life differently? Across the North, certain words describe ideas that have no direct translation in English - concepts shaped by harsh winters, powerful landscapes, and societies built on trust and cooperation. In Nordic Words, Ingrid Hanssøn explores nineteen fascinating cultural concepts including hygge, sisu, friluftsliv, lagom, fika, and sila. Each word reveals a different way of understanding happiness, resilience, balance, and community. Through storytelling and cultural insight, this book offers a journey across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland - showing how language reflects the deeper philosophy of the Nordic world. Sometimes understanding a culture begins with learning its words.