Frétt

Frétt is the Icelandic word for news. It can denote a single news item as well as the news as a broader category presented by media, including newspapers, radio, and television. The plural form fréttir is used when referring to multiple items or to news in general. The related verb frétta means to inform or report.

Historically, frétt is of Old Norse origin and belongs to a semantic field connected with informing and tidings. In modern Icelandic, the word appears frequently in media names and programmes, such as Fréttablaðið, a major daily newspaper, and Fréttir, the news programme on the national broadcaster. The root word also appears in compounds like fréttastofa (newsroom).

In contemporary journalism, fréttir are delivered through online portals, radio bulletins, and television newscasts, and they are organized by sections such as national, international, and business news. The language equally uses the singular frétt and the plural fréttir to talk about a single item or the body of news.

Fréttir play a central role in Icelandic public discourse, reflecting the range of topics that matter to Icelandic society and shaping information flow from media to the public.