Þrif

Þrif is an Icelandic noun that denotes cleanliness, tidiness, and grooming. It can refer to the act of cleaning as well as the state of neatness and order in a person, place, or object. The term covers both practical tasks—such as household upkeep and personal hygiene—and the broader idea of careful, orderly care.

Historically, þrif appears in Old Norse and medieval Icelandic texts in contexts related to purification, washing, and maintenance. In modern Icelandic, the sense is primarily secular and descriptive: þrif describes the condition of cleanliness or the care given to belongings, clothing, or spaces. The verb most closely linked is þrífa, meaning to clean, of which þrif forms a related noun.

Usage varies by register. In everyday speech, people tend to use more specific expressions for cleanliness or grooming, whereas þrif is common in dictionaries, linguistic discussions, and formal writing when naming the general concept of neatness and order.

See also: Cleaning; Hygiene; Domestic maintenance; Icelandic language.