Lýsingarfornöfni

Lýsingarfornöfni are a class of Icelandic pronouns that function to describe or identify a noun by its attributes, and can also stand alone as referents in discourse. They are considered part of the broader pronoun system in Icelandic and are closely related to adjectives in form and function, sharing the ability to describe rather than name.

Morphology and syntax of lýsingarfornöfni resemble that of adjectives in many respects. They decline for number and gender and, in some constructions, show agreement with the noun they modify. They may occur within noun phrases as attributive determiners (as in this/that/these expressions) and, in a reduced form, can operate as independent pronouns replacing a noun phrase. Their primary role is to signal definiteness, contrast, or reference, helping to identify a referent within the discourse.

Common uses include expressing proximity or distance (this/that), signaling contrast (the other/another), or pointing to a specific item already under discussion. They differ from personal or possessive pronouns in that their core function is descriptive or identificatory rather than referential to a person or ownership.

Lýsingarfornöfni often appear in formal and informal Icelandic and are frequently encountered in written texts, dialogues, and instructional language. They interact with definite nouns and can be used to avoid repetition by standing in for a previously mentioned noun phrase.

See also: Icelandic pronouns, Icelandic adjectives, demonstratives. Notes on dialectal variation and historical development may be found in standard Icelandic grammar references.