This is the 845th most frequent Icelandic word.
nam
The Icelandic word "nam" means "studies" or "learning."
Here, "nam" is the past tense of the verb "að nema," meaning "to learn." It is used to indicate learning or acquiring knowledge.
Hún nam nýjar hugmyndir í skólanum.
She learned new ideas at school.
In this structure, "namu" is also from the verb "að nema," but it is contextually translating to "gathered" or "took" when referring to physical acquisition.
Þeir námu jarðveg við ána.
They gathered soil by the river.
In this usage, "nam" is part of the phrase "að nema staðar," which means "to stop." It is an idiomatic expression indicating halting movement.