Kunnuglegar

Kunnuglegar is an Icelandic adjective form meaning “well-known” or “familiar.” It is the feminine plural nominative form of kunnuglegur, and it is used directly before feminine plural nouns to describe things or people that are known or recognized by a group or audience.

In Icelandic grammar, adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Therefore kunnuglegar appears before feminine plural nouns, for example kunnuglegar konur (well-known women) or kunnuglegar sögur (familiar stories). The broader adjective kunnuglegur describes the quality of being known or recognized, with related forms adapting to different genders and numbers.

Usage of kunnuglegar often implies familiarity within a specific context or community, rather than broad public fame. It can refer to people, works, places, or events that members of a language community recognize. The term conveys a sense of recognition and shared knowledge rather than celebrity status alone, and it is sometimes contrasted with frægar or heimsfrægar to mark different shades of prominence.

Examples of usage include phrases like kunnuglegar konur í íslenskri sögu (well-known women in Icelandic history) or kunnuglegar sögur í barnabókum (familiar stories in children’s books). The word is most common in written Icelandic and in contexts discussing language, literature, or cultural history.

See also: kunnugur, frægur, Icelandic grammar, adjective agreement.