For this new episode of Fransk-norsk kafé podcast, Gilles welcomes etymology specialist Yann de Caprona to celebrate the release of his latest dictionary, Etymologisk ordbok over verdens stedsnavn (Kagge Forlag).
It’s a journey through thousands of place names filled with surprising stories and delightful anecdotes — from Norwegian fjords to French villages.
The conversation also explores his life lived across multiple languages: how he thinks in French, Norwegian, Swedish or Italian — sometimes all in the same day — and how these languages shape his memories, experiences and identity. Yann shares his love of foreign languages, as well as his story of settling in Norway several decades ago.
A must-listen episode for lovers of language, history and culture — and for anyone curious about what place names can reveal about the world around us.
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and more!
Photo: Nina Tandberg – Kagge forlag
