lífshættum

Lífsháttum is an Icelandic term that refers to the habits, routines, and practices that constitute a person’s way of life. It can denote everyday conduct, lifestyle choices, and the broader set of customs and norms governing how people live.

Etymology and sense

The word combines líf, meaning life, with háttur or háttir, meaning habit, manner, or way. In usage, lífsháttum appears primarily in the plural form and often in a dative or genitive construction, reflecting the idea of “habits of life.”

Usage and context

In modern Icelandic, lífsháttum is used to discuss lifestyle choices such as daily routines, health and fitness practices, diet, work-life balance, and personal behavior. It can also refer to cultural or ethical patterns shared by a community or era, especially in academic or reflective writing about tradition and social norms. The term is fairly general and neutral, without prescribing values, though it can be contrasted with other ways of living in discourse about culture or history.

Related terms

Lífsháttur (singular) and lífshættir (plural, sometimes used as an equivalent or variant) are closely related and used to discuss manners of living. The concept overlaps with terms describing customs, habits, or lifestyle in Icelandic linguistic and cultural discussions.

See also

Lifestyle, culture, social norms, etiquette, cultural history.