þatþað

þatþað is an Old Norse word that functions as a neuter demonstrative pronoun, roughly translating to "that" or "it" in Modern English. It is the singular, nominative, and accusative form of the demonstrative pronoun. The word is derived from the Proto-Germanic demonstrative pronoun *þata*.

In Old Norse grammar, demonstrative pronouns are important for pointing out specific nouns or concepts. þatþað is used when referring to something neuter in gender and singular in number. Its usage is widespread throughout Old Norse literature, appearing in texts such as the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, as well as sagas and legal texts.

The word shares its root with other Germanic demonstrative pronouns. For example, in Old English, the equivalent is "þæt," and in modern German, the related word is "das." The initial 'þ' sound (thorn) is characteristic of early Germanic languages and represents a 'th' sound. The repetition of 'þatþað' is a stylistic feature found in some Old Norse texts, often for emphasis or as a marker of a specific grammatical construction or poetic meter. However, the standard form is simply "þat." It is important to distinguish this common demonstrative pronoun from any potential compound words or other linguistic phenomena that might coincidentally appear as a sequence of sounds.