nútíma

Nútíma is an Icelandic term used to describe the modern or contemporary aspects of culture, technology, and society. In Icelandic discourse, it is employed to distinguish present-day phenomena from historical periods such as antiquity or the medieval era. The term appears in dictionaries and encyclopedic usage to denote the state or quality of being modern. It is a common term in Icelandic-language discourse and appears in reference works on language, culture, and media.

In compound expressions, nútíma functions as an attributive adjective, for example nútíma tækni (modern technology), nútíma list (contemporary art), and nútíma samfélag (modern society). The concept is associated with broader ideas of modernity, including globalization, digitalization, urbanization, and shifts in social norms.

In academic contexts, nútíma is used to analyze cultural production, media, and everyday life in the contemporary era, often in contrast to earlier historical periods. Debates around nútími or nútíma emphasize tensions between innovation and continuity, as well as the impact of technological change on identity and daily practices.

See also: modernity, contemporary art, modernization.