The names Huginn and Muninn appear in Old Norse texts as definitive singular forms that encompass abstract concepts of mind and memory. Huginn derives from a root word meaning thought, perception, comprehension, awareness, mood, sentiment, desire, or choice. Modern English words like mind share this same linguistic origin but carry different nuances when used as nouns versus verbs. Muninn stems from a root that encompasses affection, intent, will, care, urge, curiosity, interest, prediction, or memory. Scholars note these two terms were likely close synonyms with several shared and bordering senses rather than distinct opposites. The exact clear definitions behind these ancient names remain hard to extrapolate from surviving sources alone.
Primary Mythological Attestations
In the Poetic Edda poem Grímnismál, the god Odin disguised as Grímnir tells young Agnarr about his companions. He states that Huginn and Muninn fly each day over the spacious earth known as Midgard. Odin expresses fear for Huginn's return yet admits he is more anxious for Muninn. The Prose Edda book Gylfaginning describes how two ravens sit on Odin's shoulders and tell him everything they see and hear. These birds fly all over the world before returning at dinner-time to keep Odin informed of many events. In Heimskringla chapter 7, Odin gives his ravens the gift of speech so they can bring him information from across the land. A verse in the Third Grammatical Treatise mentions Huginn seeking hanged men while Muninn seeks slain bodies.