Norse Jötnar Mistranslated as Giants

In Norse mythology, the beings commonly called "giants" are actually Jötnar, a term meaning "the devouring ones" and connected with chaos rather than sheer size. Medieval scholars translating Old Norse texts into English turned Jötnar into "giants," likely because it seemed the closest match, even though Jötnar were not always of gigantic stature. Over centuries, this mistranslation warped how we imagine their role in myths, as hulking monsters instead of elemental forces of chaos. The error is so accepted now that most readers assume every Norse "giant" must tower over gods, but that idea comes more from translation than tradition.

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