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Níðhöggr

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A dragon that gnaws Yggdrasil’s roots and feeds on corpses in Niflheimr.

Detailed Definition
Níðhöggr (“malice-striker”) embodies decay and slander, eroding the World Tree from below. In poetry, he symbolizes entropy and the constant threat to cosmic stability, often contrasted with eagles above in Yggdrasil’s vertical symbolism.
Example
Example in poetry:
Níðhöggr, the dragon gnawing Yggdrasil’s roots in Niflheimr; In Völuspá, he carries corpses from Ragnarök’s field; Poets use Níðhöggr to symbolize decay, envy, and cyclical destruction; His name, “malice-striker,” evokes corrosive forces; In kennings, “Níðhöggr’s teeth” mean ruin or slander; Modern eco-poetry uses him as emblem of systemic rot or necessary decomposition.
Additional Notes
Níðhöggr (“Malice Striker”) gnaws Yggdrasil’s roots and corpses in Niflheimr—his name implies dishonor, linking moral decay to physical destruction—poets may use Níðhöggr to explore entropy, shame, or the corrosive forces that undermine cosmic order.
Also Known As
Nidhogg Níðhǫggr
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