gjöfum

Gjöfum is the dative plural form of the Icelandic noun gjöf, meaning “gift” or “present.” The basic singular is gjöf, and the nominative plural is gjafir. In Icelandic, the dative case marks the indirect object or the recipient of an action, so gjöfum appears in sentences where multiple gifts are affected by a verb or preposition that governs the dative. In everyday language, speakers more commonly use the bare plural gjafir for “gifts” in neutral contexts; gjöfum is primarily found in older or more formal texts, or in specific syntactic constructions.

Etymology: The word gjöf comes from Old Norse gjöf and is cognate with related Germanic terms for “gift,” such as the Norwegian gave and the Danish gave. The form gjöfum reflects Icelandic inflection for feminine nouns in the dative plural.

Usage notes: As a grammatical form, gjöfum is not a standalone lexical item; it is the inflected form of gjöf and is used according to the surrounding syntax. It does not have a separate meaning beyond “gifts” in the dative plural.

See also: gjöf, gjafir, Icelandic grammar, dative case in Icelandic.