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Valkyrie

2 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means in Norse mythology, one of Odin's maidens who chose the slain for Valhalla

Where does the word "valkyrie" come from? It comes from Old Norse valkyrja, adopted directly into English (1760s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
valkyrja
Old Norse · 800s-1200s
"chooser of the slain"
'chooser of the slain', from 'valr', the slain, and 'kjósa', to choose
2
Stage 2 of 2
valkyrie
English · 1760s
"Norse battle-maiden"
reintroduced through translations of Norse poetry; Wagner's opera 'Die Walküre' (1870) made it famous
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Valkyrie’s story begins in Old Norse: valkyrja meant “chooser of the slain.” 'chooser of the slain', from 'valr', the slain, and 'kjósa', to choose. It reached English by 1760s as valkyrie. Reintroduced through translations of Norse poetry; Wagner's opera 'Die Walküre' (1870) made it famous. Today, valkyrie means in Norse mythology, one of Odin's maidens who chose the slain for Valhalla.