lífshvöt

Lífshvöt is an Icelandic compound noun meaning “life impulse” or “breath of life.” Etymology combines líf, life, with hvöt, impulse, drive or spur, reflecting a concept of a vital force that animates living beings.

Usage and meaning: The term is primarily found in historical and literary Icelandic texts rather than in modern scientific language. In medieval and early modern writings, lífshvöt denotes the animating principle or vital spark that sustains life. It can function as a synonym for the breath of life or for vitality itself and is often discussed in philosophical, theological, and medical contexts as part of attempts to explain what makes a body alive. The concept aligns with broader cultural notions of a life force, and it is sometimes compared with concepts such as anima or pneuma in other traditions.

Contemporary usage: In present-day Icelandic, lífshvöt is uncommon outside historical scholarship, poetry, or translations of older works. Modern biology and medicine describe life processes through physiology and biochemistry rather than a discrete, metaphysical life force.

See also: vitalism, life force, breath, animus.