reikni

Reikni is a term that appears in Icelandic-language sources referring to the act or result of counting, calculating, or reckoning. It is a derivative of the verb reikna, “to calculate,” with the suffix -ni forming an abstract noun in Icelandic. In contemporary Icelandic, reikni is not common in everyday language; more typical words for related notions are reikningur (calculation, bill, accounting) and reikningar (invoices or accounts). As such, reikni is mainly encountered in linguistic discussions, historical texts, or poetic contexts where older or more formal language is preserved.

The word’s precise sense can vary by context. In some uses it can denote a general reckoning or estimation; in others it can refer to a systematic method of calculation. Because it is relatively rare outside scholarly or literary writing, dictionaries may mark it as archaic, literary, or specialized.

Beyond its general linguistic use, reikni may also appear as a proper noun in fictional or creative writing, where it has been used as a place name, character name, or title in worldbuilding. However, it does not correspond to a widely recognized geographic or personal name in real-world Icelandic usage.

See also: reikningur, reikna.