Kafli

Kafli is the Icelandic word for a chapter in a book or other long text. It denotes a major division within a work, typically numbered and often accompanied by a title. Chapters help organize content, provide pacing, and give readers natural stopping points. In fiction, chapters advance plot, develop characters, or shift settings; in non-fiction and academic writing, they group related themes or arguments.

Chapter length varies by genre and author. In printed editions, a new chapter usually begins on a fresh page, while in digital editions readers can navigate by chapter through a table of contents or linked list. Some works use chapter openings with epigraphs, summaries, or scene breaks, while others present shorter, more frequent divisions.

Subdivisions within chapters exist in Icelandic usage as undirkaflar (subchapters) or sections, and terminology can vary by publisher. The word kafli follows Icelandic grammar: kafli is the indefinite form; kaflinn is the definite form, as in “the chapter.” The plural is kaflar.

Beyond books, kafli can be used metaphorically to describe sections of long documents, reports, or multimedia narratives. Overall, kafli functions as a standard structural unit that helps organize content, guide comprehension, and facilitate reference within Icelandic texts.