Félagi

Félagi is a noun in Icelandic that denotes a partner, associate, fellow, or companion. The term can refer to a person who shares in a venture or enterprise, a member of an organization or partnership, or a life partner. It is used in both social and professional contexts and can describe close colleagues as well as friends.

Etymology: The word comes from Old Norse félagi, derived from félag meaning “partnership” or “company.” It is related to other North Germanic terms and has given rise to modern Icelandic words such as félag (company, association) and lífsfélagi (life partner).

Usage: In contemporary Icelandic, félagi commonly means a partner or associate in a business arrangement, as in “við erum félagar í fyrirtækinu” (we are partners in the company). It also functions in broader social sense as a fellow or companion. In compounds, it forms terms like lífsfélagi, meaning life partner or spouse.

Historical and literary usage: In medieval and post-medieval Icelandic texts, félagi often referred to a companion sworn to an alliance or to a fellowship within a group or clan, and by extension to allies or fellow members of a social or professional circle.

Declension: Félagi is a masculine noun. In the singular it is félagi (nominative), félaga (genitive), félaga (dative and accusative). In the plural it is félagar (nominative), félaga (genitive), félögum (dative), félaga (accusative).

See also: félag (company, association), félagsskapur (fellowship), lífsfélagi (life partner).

References: Icelandic dictionaries and linguistic references on Old Norse and Icelandic nouns.