óttur

þáttur is an Icelandic noun meaning a part, portion, or segment of a whole. It is commonly used to refer to a single installment in a serialized work, such as a television or radio episode. The word can also describe a component or element within a larger system, process, or set of features.

Grammatical notes: þáttur is a masculine noun. The plural form is commonly þættir, and it appears in various contexts to denote multiple parts or episodes. Like many Icelandic nouns, it appears with definite forms in sentences (for example, the definite singular refers to a specific part or episode).

Usage and nuance: In media contexts, þáttur translates to “episode.” In more general usage, it can mean a part or section of a larger thing, such as a part of a project, a segment of a report, or a feature of a phenomenon. In literary contexts, kafli is typically used for a chapter in a book, whereas þáttur is more likely to denote an episodic unit or a distinct part of a series or process.

Etymology: The term derives from Old Norse þáttr, meaning part or portion, and is cognate with related terms in other Scandinavian languages. It has been in continuous use in Icelandic to express the notion of a subdivided element within a larger whole.

See also: hluti (part), kafli (chapter), þáttur can be contrasted with other terms depending on whether the reference is to an episodic unit, a structural segment, or a specific feature of a topic.