þrífa

þrífa is an Icelandic verb meaning to clean or to wash. It describes actions such as cleaning a surface, washing dishes or clothes, and tidying a space. The term is also used for personal hygiene, as in washing oneself, and appears frequently in instructions and everyday speech about chores.

Usage notes: The verb takes direct objects (for example, “to clean the floor”). It is used with the reflexive form to express washing oneself, as in “þrífa sig.” It follows standard Icelandic verb conjugation patterns for regular verbs, with forms changing according to person and number across present, past, and other tenses.

Pronunciation: þrífa is pronounced roughly as “THREE-va,” with the initial “þ” sounding like the th in “thing” and the í pronounced like a long “ee.” The primary stress falls on the first syllable: Þrífa.

Etymology: The word is of Germanic origin and has cognates in other Nordic languages, reflecting a common root related to cleansing or cleaning.