Home › Glossary › Letter V

Valkyrie Shieldmaiden

Folklore
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

Norse warrior women choosing slain for Odin, riding winged horses, symbolizing heroic death and glory.

Detailed Definition
Valkyries, swan-maidens in sagas, pour mead in Valhalla, blending fate and romance. Literature shields it in "Völsunga." In poetry, they choose Brynhild's lays; poets ride for valor themes, ideal for epic odes, where spears select, enhancing Viking ballads with martial selection.
Example
Example in poetry:
In "Poetic Edda," Valkyrie Shieldmaiden chooses slain warriors; Wagner's "Ring" cycle sings Valkyrie's ride; A battle hymn hails Valkyrie's spear; Viking skalds educate on heroic death; Feminist epics reclaim Valkyrie agency; Folklore's swan-maid kin teaches love's cost.
Additional Notes
Valkyrie Shieldmaiden, "chooser of slain" einherjar selectors; Poetic Edda's rides; tips: spear choices for glory; related: brynhildr or swan maid; Viking context: heroic afterlife, for warrior women.
Also Known As
Valkyrie Valkyries Shieldmaiden
Skip to main content