tüki

Tæki is an Icelandic noun meaning devices, equipment, or instruments. It refers to objects created or used to perform tasks, ranging from everyday gadgets and electronics to laboratory equipment and industrial machinery. In everyday language, tæki covers a broad range of items rather than a single category, and it appears in many compound forms such as rannsóknartæki (research equipment) or tækjabúnaður (device hardware). The term is also found in common expressions like tæki og tól, meaning tools and equipment.

The word has Old Norse roots and is cognate with similar Nordic words for tool or instrument, reflecting its long-standing role in describing objects that enable action or measurement. In Icelandic usage, tæki spans both consumer devices and professional instruments, and it functions as a neutral, non-derogatory term in technical, educational, and media contexts. For precision, speakers may choose more specific terms alongside tæki, depending on the context, such asbúnaður (equipment) or vélar (machines).

Tæki is frequently used in settings that discuss technology, science, and industry, but it also appears in everyday conversation when referring to household gadgets or portable devices. Its broad scope makes it a versatile term in Icelandic, capable of describing anything from a simple tool to complex apparatus used in research or manufacturing. See also: búnaður, vélar, tól, tækni.