þekkt

þekkt is an Icelandic adjective and past participle meaning "known" or "well known." It describes something or someone that is familiar or widely recognized. It is commonly used with verbs such as vera (to be) to form predicative phrases, for example hann er vel þekktur (he is a well-known person).

The word derives from the verb þekkja, "to know." It forms inflected adjectives that agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. In practice, the form of þekkt can vary with grammatical context, and speakers use different inflections to fit masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns. The term has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, including Danish kendt and Swedish känd, reflecting its Germanic roots.

Usage notes: in addition to "well known," Icelandic also employs other terms such as frægur for different shades of fame. In media and everyday speech, þekkt frequently appears in phrases that indicate recognition or prominence. Examples include: "Hann er vel þekktur tónlistarmaður" (He is a well-known musician) and "Hún er þekkt fyrir leiklist sína" (She is known for her acting). These constructions illustrate how the word functions both attributively and predicatively in modern Icelandic.