mynd

mynd is a noun found in Icelandic and related North Germanic languages, where it denotes an image, picture, or form. In Icelandic, the term also appears in reference to moving images, i.e., film. The singular is mynd and the plural is myndir.

Etymology and cognates: mynd originates from Old Norse and carries the core sense of form or appearance. It has cognates in closely related languages such as Faroese, where mynd likewise means image or picture, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage.

Uses and compounds in Icelandic: as a basic word, mynd covers still images and pictures displayed or produced in visual media. It forms common compound terms:

- ljósmynd meaning photograph

- kvikmynd meaning motion picture or film

- myndband meaning video or videotape, a recording of moving images

- myndlist meaning visual arts or the graphic arts

In everyday use, mynd can refer to an image shown on a screen, a photograph, or a still from a film, depending on context.

Other languages: beyond Icelandic, cognate forms in related Nordic languages retain similar meanings related to image or form. In Icelandic usage, however, a number of combined terms explicitly designate specific media (photographs, films, or video), illustrating how mynd serves as a flexible root for visual terminology.

See also: visual arts (myndlist), photography (ljósmynd), film (kvikmynd), video (myndband).