bók

Bók is the Icelandic word for a book. In Icelandic usage, a bók refers to a bound collection of pages that convey text or images, and it can denote physical volumes as well as digital texts such as e-books. The term covers fiction and non-fiction alike, including novels, manuals, and scholarly works. The plural form is bækur.

Etymology and cognates: The word bók is cognate with other Germanic terms for book, such as Norwegian bok, Swedish bok, Danish bog, Dutch boek, English book, and German Buch. These come from a common Proto-Germanic root, often linked to writing surfaces or tablets, including early wooden or beech-wood pages used in antiquity.

Historical development: The concept of a book has evolved from ancient writing on clay, papyrus, parchment, and wax tablets to the codex, the bound pages familiar today. The codex gradually supplanted scrolls in the early centuries CE. The invention of movable type and the printing press in the 15th century spurred mass production and widespread literacy, leading to the modern publishing industry. In the digital era, many bókar are available as electronic books, and others as audiobooks or online texts.

Formats and cultural role: Books are central to education, culture, and literature, serving as vessels for knowledge, storytelling, and commentary. Libraries, publishers, and retailers organize and categorize bókar through bibliographic data, editions, and ISBNs, enabling wide access and preservation.

See also: Book publishing, Library, Bibliography.