kjánahrollur

From kjáni (“silly person”) +‎ hrollur (“shivering”), approximately “shivering from seeing someone make a fool of themselves”.

First seen on print in 1999, becoming widespread after ca. 2010.

kjánahrollur m (genitive singular kjánahrolls, no plural)

1. to cringe from embarrassment, shivering from secondhand embarrassment

   Synonyms: (less common) aulahrollur; (less common) aumingjahrollur

   Ég fæ svo mikinn kjánahroll við að horfa á vini mína í karókí. ― I cringe from secondhand embarrassment when watching my friends performing at karaoke bars.

• mér hryllir við
• pínlegt
• vandræðalegt
• kjánalegt