Hópurinn

Hópurinn is the definite form of the Icelandic noun hópur, which means a group, crowd, or collection of people or things. It is used to refer to a defined set that is known in context, such as a class, a work team, or a social circle. The term can describe groups of any size and can refer to both people and objects that are gathered together for a purpose or by circumstance.

Origin and cognates: The word hópur derives from Old Norse hópur, meaning “group” or “crowd.” In modern Icelandic it is a common, neutral term found across everyday language as well as in formal registers, including education, administration, and media.

Usage notes: Hópurinn contrasts with more specific terms such as lið (team) or samtök (organization). It emphasizes the collective as a unit rather than the roles of individual members. It can function as a general label for a subset of a larger population, for example a hópur fólks defined by a shared trait. The form is neutral in tone and widely understood in Icelandic.