þjóðum

þjóðum is the dative plural form of the Icelandic noun þjóð, which means “people” or “nation.” It is used in sentences where the noun is in the dative case and refers to multiple peoples or nations. In everyday Icelandic, the base noun is commonly used in various other cases and numbers, with þjóðir serving as the nominative plural and other inflected forms used in different grammatical contexts. As a grammatical form, þjóðum does not introduce a new concept; it functions as a specific inflection of the word for people or nations.

Etymology and relatives: The word þjóð comes from the historical roots of the Icelandic language and is related to similar terms in other Germanic languages that denote a people or nation. This lineage explains its continued use in modern Icelandic to indicate groups of people, communities, or nations in textual and formal contexts. While þjóðum is a product of Icelandic grammar, its meaning remains closely tied to the broader concept of population, ethnicity, or political units referred to as nations.

Usage and context: In contemporary Icelandic writing and speech, þjóðum appears primarily in contexts where the dative plural is required, such as certain prepositional phrases or constructions that treat the noun as an indirect object. It is most commonly encountered in historical, legal, or scholarly texts, as well as in formal prose that discusses multiple nations or peoples. Overall, þjóðum is a grammatical form of a core noun rather than a standalone term with a distinct independent meaning.