þurfti

þurfti is a verb form used in Icelandic and Old Norse to express past necessity or obligation, roughly translating as "had to" or "was obliged to." It functions as the simple past (preterite) form of the verb þurfja/þurfja, which means to need or to be obliged. In modern Icelandic, it is commonly found in past-tense contexts to indicate that someone was required to do something.

Etymology and cognates: The form þurfti comes from the North Germanic verb family, with the root meaning to need or to be obliged. It has cognates in other North Germanic languages, reflecting a shared origin for terms relating to necessity or obligation. The preserved thorn letter þ in þurfti signals its Old Norse heritage and its continued use in Icelandic orthography.

Usage and grammar: þurfti is typically followed by an infinitive introduced by að to express the action that was required. For example, a sentence like “Ég þurfði að fara” (I had to go) or more simply “Ég þurfti að fara” (I had to go) conveys past necessity. The form appears in narrative past tense, reports, and historical writing, as well as conversational Icelandic when recounting obligations that occurred in the past. In Old Norse, similar past-tense expressions were used in sagas and poetry to denote duties or necessities.

See also: The broader concept of necessity in North Germanic languages; related verb forms in Icelandic and Old Norse grammar.