Lýsingarfornöfn

Lýsingarfornöfn are demonstrative pronouns in Icelandic. They function similarly to demonstrative adjectives but stand alone as a noun phrase. The most common lýsingarfornöfn are þessi, þessi, þetta, sá, sú, það, þessi, þessar, þessi. These pronouns are used to point out or identify specific people, places, or things. Their form changes depending on gender, number, and case, agreeing with the noun they implicitly refer to.

For example, the pronoun þessi, meaning "this," can be used in various forms. Þessi (masculine singular nominative) might refer to "this man" implicitly, while þessi (feminine singular nominative) would refer to "this woman" implicitly, and þetta (neuter singular nominative) to "this thing" implicitly. Similarly, sá, sú, það, meaning "that," are used to refer to something further away. Sá (masculine singular nominative) refers to "that man" implicitly, sú (feminine singular nominative) to "that woman" implicitly, and það (neuter singular nominative) to "that thing" implicitly. The plural forms also exist, such as þessir, þessar, þessi for "these," and þeir, þær, þau for "those."

Lýsingarfornöfn are essential for providing clarity and specificity in Icelandic sentences, allowing speakers and writers to refer to items without always repeating the noun. They are a fundamental part of the Icelandic pronoun system.