Tíðindi

Tíðindi is an Icelandic noun meaning news or current events. It refers to information about recent happenings and can describe items in news broadcasts, newspapers, online outlets, or everyday conversation. The term is used in both formal and historical contexts and is closely linked to the concept of tidings—things that have occurred and are reported.

Origin and cognates: Tíðindi comes from Old Norse tidindi, a compound related to time and matters or things. It is cognate with the English word tidings, and parallels can be found in other Nordic languages. The form is neuter and is usually treated as a plural noun in modern Icelandic usage, even when referring to a single news item in a formal sense.

Usage in contemporary language: In modern Icelandic journalism, fréttir is the more common word for “news” in reference to journalism and news reports. Tíðindi tends to have a broader or more formal sense, referring to events or information regarded as news, and it can evoke a traditional or historical tone. Some media outlets use the term in section titles or to convey a formal, established sense of reporting. In everyday speech, tíðindi can appear when talking about notable events or when adopting a more literary or historical register.

Examples of usage: phrases like ný tíðindi (new tidings/news) and tíðindi af utlandinu (tidings from abroad) illustrate its broader, more formal connotations. Overall, tíðindi remains a recognizable term for news and events in Icelandic, especially outside strictly contemporary journalism.