"Lofsöngur" (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlɔvˌsœiŋkʏr̥]; "Hymn" or "Anthem"), also called "Ó Guð vors lands" (Icelandic pronunciation: [ouː kvʏːð vɔr̥s lans]; "O, God of our land"), is the national anthem (or hymn) of the Nordic country of Iceland. It was written for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the first Norse settlement of Iceland, though it wasn't considered a nation anthem for another 40 years. It was adopted in 1944 when the country became a republic during the constitutional referendum. Previously in 1874, the music of the hymn was composed by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson and the lyrics (words) were written by Matthías Jochumsson.
Lofsöngur | the national anthem
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the name of Iceland's national anthem?
A: The national anthem of Iceland is called "Lofsöngur" (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlɔvˌsœiŋkʏr̥]; "Hymn" or "Anthem"), also known as "Ó Guð vors lands" (Icelandic pronunciation: [ouː kvʏːð vɔr̥s lans]; "O, God of our land").
Q: When was the music for the hymn composed?
A: The music for the hymn was composed in 1874 by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson.
Q: Who wrote the lyrics for the hymn?
A: The lyrics (words) were written by Matthías Jochumsson.
Q: Why was Lofsöngur originally written?
A: Lofsöngur was originally written for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the first Norse settlement of Iceland.
Q: When did it become a nation anthem?
A: It wasn't considered a nation anthem until 1944 when it was adopted during a constitutional referendum when Iceland became a republic.
Q: How do you pronounce “Lofsöngur” in Icelandic?
A: In Icelandic, “Lofsöngur” is pronounced [ˈlɔvˌsœiŋkʏr̥].
Q: How do you pronounce “Ó Guð vors lands” in Icelandic?
A: In Icelandic, “Ó Guð vors lands” is pronounced [ouː kvʏːð vɔr̥s lans].