eitvað

Eitthvað is an Icelandic indefinite pronoun and determiner meaning "something" or "anything" depending on context. It refers to an unspecified object, matter, or amount and is common in everyday language, both spoken and written.

Etymology and orthography: The standard modern Icelandic form is eitthvað, believed to derive from a compound of eina/eitt (one) and hvað (what) in Old Norse. In contemporary usage, the double-t t in eitthvað is the conventional spelling. The form eitvað is typically regarded as nonstandard or a typographical error, and may appear in some dialectal or historical texts.

Grammar and usage: Eitthvað can function as a pronoun by itself or as a determiner before a noun. Examples include það kom eitthvað upp (something came up) or ég þarf eitthvað (I need something). When negation is involved, Icelandic often uses negated forms such as ekkert or neitt to express "nothing" or "not anything," while eitthvað remains used in affirmative or question contexts to indicate indefiniteness.

Spelling and variants: In standard Icelandic orthography, eitthvað is the accepted form. The variant eitvað is relatively uncommon in modern writing and is usually avoided in new texts. Learners are typically advised to use eitthvað to conform with standard usage.

See also: Indefinite pronouns in Icelandic; Icelandic grammar; Old Norse influence on modern Icelandic.