Stundom

Stundom is an adverb used in Norwegian and Swedish to mean occasionally, from time to time, or now and then. In contemporary speech it is most often found in literary, historical, or formal writing, where it can lend a slightly elevated or archaic tone. In everyday language, speakers typically use more common synonyms such as Norwegian noen ganger or av og til, and Swedish ibland or då och då.

Etymology and background: The word appears to derive from the noun stund, meaning a period or moment, with an older suffix that forms adverbs. It is attested in Old Norse and has parallels in other North Germanic languages. Today, its usage is largely confined to written or poetic registers; it may be encountered in classical prose, poetry, or translations that seek a period flavor.

Usage notes: In modern Norwegian and Swedish, stundom is frequently described as archaic or literary. Its presence signals a stylistic choice rather than a routine utterance. When translating or rendering older texts, stundom can be preserved for fidelity to tone, whereas in plain contemporary prose, closer equivalents are generally preferred.

Related terms: The concept is related to other time-related words in the Scandinavian languages, including stund itself (time or moment) and common adverbs for frequency such as in Norwegian noen ganger, av og til, and Swedish ibland, då och då. Stundom thus sits as a historical or stylistic variant within the wider set of Scandinavian time expressions.