kjellinn

Icelandic

Alternative forms

• kjéllinn
• tjellinn

Etymology

A distortion of kallinn (“the man”), used in the same context. Compare the initial sound of the related word kelling.

An even further distortion of the term is tjellinn, which is also in common use.

Noun

kjellinn

1. (slang) a way to refer to oneself or the person being spoken to in a "cool" and detached fashion

   Kjellinn bara mættur niður í bæ? ― Ah, so you've arrived down-town?

   Kjellinn búinn að kaupa sér nýjan bíl. ― Guess who just bought himself a new car? This guy.