bakvið

Bakvið is an Icelandic noun that denotes the space at the rear of a building, often translated as backyard or rear yard. In traditional and rural contexts, bakvið refers to the enclosed area behind a house or farmstead, where chores such as laundry, storage, tool sheds, and sometimes housing for animals or stored produce took place. In urban settings, the term may be used less frequently but is still understood to refer to the back portion of a property, sometimes serving as a garden or practical outdoor space.

Etymology and form: The word is a compound of bak meaning “back” and við meaning “by” or “beside,” and it is written as a single word in Icelandic. The term thus literally marks the location at the back of a building.

Usage and context: Bakvið has strong associations with traditional Icelandic housing and farmsteads, where a distinct back area helped separate domestic living space from work areas and storage. While modern urban houses may have smaller or less clearly defined bakvið spaces, the concept persists as a cultural reference to the rear section of a property and its practical uses.

See also: Backyard, Courtyard, Icelandic architecture.