Tilviljun

Tilviljun is an Icelandic noun meaning chance, coincidence, or accident. It describes events that occur without deliberate cause, including everyday instances of luck and random happenstance.

The term is of Old Norse origin and is cognate with similar words in other Scandinavian languages that denote chance or coincidence. In Icelandic, tilviljun functions as a fixed noun and can be used with other words to indicate degree or emphasis in everyday speech.

Tilviljun appears in phrases such as af tilviljun, meaning by chance or by accident. Examples: Það gerðist af tilviljun. Ég rakst á hann af tilviljun. In contrast to örlög (fate), tilviljun emphasizes contingency and lack of predestination rather than a predetermined path.

Cultural and linguistic notes: In Icelandic discussions of causation and storytelling, tilviljun is often contrasted with örlög. While tilviljun covers accidental and probabilistic events, örlög refers to fate or destiny believed to shape outcomes. The term remains common in journalism, literature, and everyday conversation.

See also: Fate, Coincidence, Probability, Randomness, Icelandic language.