stöður

Stöður is the Icelandic plural used to refer to multiple posts or positions, as well as to stations or installations. In everyday and formal contexts, the sense most commonly associated with stöður is "positions" or "posts" held within an organization, while "stations" or "facilities" is used in technical or logistical contexts. The term thus covers both employment-related meanings and physical locations.

Etymology and usage notes: The word originates from Old Norse stöð, meaning place, seat, or post. This root underpins the metaphorical shift from a physical location to a role or job within a group or institution. In modern Icelandic, stöður frequently appears in human resources, public administration, and corporate documents to denote specific job posts or openings.

In practical use, stöður denote discrete postings that can be filled or vacated. Common phrases include lausar stöður, meaning vacant positions, and nýjar stöður, meaning new positions. Outside of employment, the term can also be used to describe standings or positions in lists, competitions, or assessments, depending on context.

Related terms include staða (position, status), starf (work or task), and staðsetning (location). The plural stöður is especially common when referring to concrete posts or jobs, while staða tends to cover more general notions of status or situation.

See also: Icelandic HR terminology, Icelandic dictionaries, Icelandic grammar notes.