Fullorðnir

Fullorðnir is an Icelandic adjective meaning “adult.” It is used to describe persons who have reached the age of majority and are regarded as legally and socially mature. In Icelandic, the term can function as both an attributive adjective and, in some contexts, a noun referring to adults in general.

Usage and context

The word is commonly employed in legal, medical, educational, and everyday language to distinguish adults from minors. Phrases such as “fullorðinn einstaklingur” (an adult individual) or “fullorðnir menn” (adult men) illustrate its typical usage. The form adapts to gender and number: fullorðinn (singular masculine), fullorðin (singular feminine), fullorðið (singular neuter), with plural forms such as fullorðnir (plural masculine or mixed gender) and fullorðnar (plural feminine); fullorðin can also appear as the neuter plural form in certain constructions.

Age of majority

In Iceland, the age of majority is generally 18, at which time individuals acquire most civil rights and responsibilities. However, rights and restrictions can vary by context, and some activities are regulated by different age limits. The term fullorðnir emphasizes status rather than a single legal threshold, making it suitable for broad discussions of adulthood across contexts.

In summary, fullorðnir is the Icelandic term for adults, used across formal and informal settings to denote people who have reached adulthood. Its inflection reflects gender and number, enabling precise reference to groups or individuals.