Tölva

Tölva is the Icelandic word for computer. It designates an electronic device that processes data according to a set of instructions and runs software. In modern Icelandic, tölva is used for all kinds of computing hardware, from personal computers to servers and embedded systems. The word is native to Icelandic and constitutes the standard translation of “computer” in technical and everyday language. In grammar, the indefinite form is tölva; the definite form is tölvan; the plural is tölvur; definite plural tölvurnar.

The term began to be widely used with the adoption of computing technology in Iceland in the late 20th century and has remained in common use. It is the preferred term in education, media, and government for both casual and formal references to computers.

In compound terms, tölva yields related concepts such as tölvuvísindi (computer science) and tölvubúnaður (computer hardware). The word forms part of a broader vocabulary for information technology in Icelandic.