viðskiptavinur

Viðskiptavinur is an Icelandic noun meaning a customer or client—an individual or organization that purchases goods or services from a seller. The term is used across retail, hospitality, financial services, and other commercial contexts, and can refer to private consumers as well as business customers.

Etymology: The word is a compound formed from við- meaning "with" or "towards" and skiptavinur, a noun derived from skipta "to exchange" or "to trade." Together they describe a person who participates in a transaction with a seller.

Usage: In everyday Icelandic, viðskiptavinur is widely used in marketing, customer service, and contractual language. Some contexts distinguish between viðskiptavinur (customer) and kaupandi (buyer), which emphasizes the act of purchasing, or notandi (user) for someone who uses a product or service. In legal and consumer-protection texts, viðskiptavinir refer to those who buy goods or services under terms set by the seller, whether individuals or organizations.

Notes: The plural is viðskiptavinir; the definite forms are viðskiptavinurinn and viðskiptavinirnir. The term is gender-neutral and versatile, suitable for both B2C and B2B contexts, and remains the standard everyday word for a customer in Icelandic.