friður
[ˈfrɪːðʏr]masculine
The Icelandic word for "peace" is friður, a masculine noun for the state of being free from war. If unsure, use friður. Wiktionary also lists friðartími.
Meaning: state of being free from war (noun)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| friður | [ˈfrɪːðʏr] (narrow) | masculine |
| friðartími | masculine |
friður covers both the absence of war and a personal sense of calm or tranquility, much like English "peace".
Which one should you use?
friðartími is a compound meaning a time or period of peace, while friður is the general word for peace itself.
How does it change in a sentence?
friður is masculine. In compound words it appears as the stem friðar-, as in friðarland (land of peace) and friðartími.
When do people say it?
Friður sé með þér is a traditional religious greeting heard in church services.
Did you know?
- Icelanders use the word friður in the term friðhelgi, which refers to the 'inviolability' of a person's private life or home, essentially meaning a 'sacred peace' that cannot be breached.
- The concept of friður is central to the historic 'Alþingi', one of the world's oldest parliaments, where a designated 'peace zone' ensured that representatives could debate without violence.
- The word friður shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'friend'. Both words stem from the concept of being in a state of harmony or social peace.
Examples in context
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Icelandic, English)Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.The Icelandic version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights uses the word for peace in this opening passage.
- Friður sé með þér!Peace be with you!Friður sé með þér is the familiar blessing "Peace be with you".Tatoeba #516269 by Swift, translation #591762 by Manfredo
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing current events in the news.
- SigurðurViltu ekki að friður sé í heiminum?Don't you want there to be peace in the world?
- GuðrúnJá, ég vona að friðuri komi fljótt.Yes, I hope peace comes soon.
- SigurðurÞað er erfitt að ná friðnum núna.It is difficult to achieve peace now.
- GuðrúnÉg held að við eigum allir að vona.I think we should all hope.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peace” translations and entries friður, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries friður, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
