skjótt

Skjótt is an Icelandic adverb with two closely related senses: quickly and soon. In everyday use it can indicate rapid action or imminent occurrence, and it appears across registers—from casual speech to formal writing. The word is generally neutral in tone, though in some contexts it may carry a slightly literary or emphatic nuance.

Etymology and cognates: Skjótt originates in Old Norse and has been a stable part of Icelandic since medieval times. It is cognate with related North Germanic words that express speed or immediacy. In modern Icelandic, the form and core meaning have remained relatively stable, continuing to denote both speed and near-future timing depending on context.

Usage and meaning: As an adverb, skjótt typically modifies verbs or clauses to convey immediacy or rapidity. It can express that something will happen soon or that an action is performed quickly. For example, it can appear in time-related statements (Ég kom skjótt, “I came soon”) and in descriptions of speed (Það gerðist skjótt, “It happened quickly”). In practice, skjótt is often used where the speaker wants to emphasize urgency or promptness, and it may be interchangeable with fljótt in some contexts, though skjótt often carries a stronger sense of immediacy.

See also: Icelandic language, Old Norse, adverbs.