Hverfur

Hverfur is the Icelandic word that functions as the present tense, third-person singular form of the verb hverfa, meaning to disappear or vanish. In modern Icelandic, hverfa is intransitive and describes a change of visibility or presence rather than a direct action on an object. The form hverfur is used with subjects such as people, objects, or phenomena that disappear from view: Hann hverfur í myrkrið. Sagan segir að skipið hverfi eftir storminum.

Hverfur derives from Old Norse hverfa, with cognates in other North Germanic languages. The infinitive is hverfa, and the word appears in a range of registers from everyday speech to literature. As a present-tense form, hverfur is common in narratives and news reporting when describing events in which something ceases to be visible or present.

Usage notes and examples: In descriptive writing, hverfur can convey suddenness or mystery, as in “Hann hverfur í skugganum,” meaning “He disappears into the shadow.” In reporting, it is suitable for phenomena such as people, ships, or objects that cease to be detectable. While the form itself is straightforward, its interpretation depends on context, tone, and whether the subject is animate or inanimate.

See also: Icelandic language; verbs in Icelandic; historical linguistics of the North Germanic languages.