Gagnrýnum

Gagnrýnum is the first-person plural present indicative form of the Icelandic verb gagnrýna, meaning to criticize or critique. It expresses a current act of evaluation carried out by the speaker together with others, as in “we criticize” or “we critique.”

Grammatical note and usage: Gagnrýna is a transitive verb and takes a direct object in the accusative. The form gagnrýnum is used when the subject is við (we). Common related forms include ég gagnrýni (I criticize), þú gagnrýnir (you criticize), hann/hún gagnrýnir (he/she/it criticizes), þið gagnrýnið (you all criticize), þeir gagnrýna (they criticize). The infinitive is gagnrýna, and the noun for the act of criticism is gagnrýni.

Usage context and nuance: Gagnrýna can be employed in everyday conversation, journalism, and academic writing to evaluate ideas, works, or actions. It can carry neutral, constructive, or negative connotations depending on tone and context. In formal critique, it is common to present both strengths and weaknesses and to situate criticism within a broader argument.

Relationship to related terms: The verb gagnrýna and the noun gagnrýni are closely related, with gagnrýni referring to the act or product of criticism (a review or critique). A related adjective form is gagnrýnin, describing something as critical in tone. These terms appear in discussions of literature, research, performance, and policy analysis.

See also: gagnrýni, gagnrýna, rhetoric and critique in Icelandic discourse.