dagtid

Dagtid is a term used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to denote the portion of the day characterized by daylight. It contrasts with nattid, which refers to the night period. In common usage, dagtid refers to the time from morning to evening when there is light outside, but the exact boundaries can vary with local custom, season, and latitude. In some contexts, especially formal or regulatory ones, dagtid is defined by daylight hours or by fixed clock times.

Etymology and regional usage: the word is formed from dag meaning day and tid meaning time, with parallels in Danish and Swedish. In Norwegian, dagtid is typically written as one word and is understood across the region where Scandinavian languages share cognate terms for daytime.

Usage and contexts: Dagtid appears in everyday speech to indicate activities such as work or schooling that occur during daylight. It is also used in labor law, tariffs, and scheduling to denote daytime hours—for example, wage rates or service availability during dagtid versus nattid (nighttime). The concept helps distinguish routines and regulations that apply to daytime versus nighttime periods.

Seasonal and geographic variation: the length of dagtid changes with the seasons and location. In high latitudes, dagtid can be very long in summer and very short in winter; near the equator it remains relatively steady. Related terms include nattid (nighttime) and, in English, daytime or diurnal period.