tími

Tími is the Icelandic word for time, referring to the abstract concept of temporal duration and the sequence of events as experienced or measured. In everyday language, tími is used to talk about moments, periods, and eras, as well as the relation between past, present, and future. The term also appears in contexts such as calendars, clocks, and scientific or philosophical discussions of time.

Etymology and cognates: tími originates in Old Norse as tími and has parallels in other Germanic languages, reflecting a shared historical development of the concept across the region. The word functions as a standard noun in Icelandic, forming part of many phrases and compound forms that express time-related ideas or measurements.

Usage and meaning: While many languages distinguish between a moment and a duration, tími in Icelandic covers both senses through context. It can denote a point in time or a span of time, and it participates in idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases that address timing, chronology, and tempo. In scientific, literary, and everyday discourse, tími helps anchor statements to temporal frameworks.

Other uses: Tími is occasionally used as a given name in Icelandic-speaking contexts, though it is relatively uncommon. When capitalized, it may appear in personal names, fictional works, or cultural references, separate from its linguistic meaning as time.

See also: Time (concept), Timekeeping, Icelandic language.