Þeim

Þeim is the dative plural form of the third-person pronoun in Icelandic and Old Norse, used to refer to “them” as an indirect object. In modern Icelandic, it appears in sentences where the verb or a governing preposition requires a dative pronoun, for example when indicating to whom something is given or done.

Etymology and linguistic context: Þeim descends from the Proto-Germanic pronoun system shared by North Germanic languages. The form is the dative plural counterpart to the nominative 3rd person pronouns and has cognates in related languages, reflecting a common Germanic grammatical pattern where pronouns change case according to grammatical function.

Usage notes: Þeim is typically encountered in everyday Icelandic when a direct action involves benefiting or affecting a group referred to as “them.” It is commonly found with verbs of giving, showing, or informing, and with dative-taking prepositions. In modern Icelandic orthography, the word is written with a lowercase thorn character when inside a sentence, and with an initial capital Þ only at the beginning of a sentence.

Example sentence: Ég gaf þeim pening. (I gave them money.) This illustrates the typical dative usage, where the pronoun marks the indirect object of the action.

Related forms and related languages: The nominative equivalents in Icelandic are þeir (masculine), þær (feminine), and þau (neuter). In Old Norse, similar dative forms existed, reflecting the broader Proto-Germanic system of case-inflected pronouns. Þeim remains a unit of reference in historical texts as well as contemporary Icelandic discourse.