Lýsingarorðsbeygingar

Lýsingarorðsbeygingar refers to the system by which adjectives change form in Icelandic to agree with the noun they modify. The inflection covers gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and case (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive), and it is also influenced by definiteness. In Icelandic, adjectives must reflect the noun’s properties in these dimensions, so the form of an adjective varies depending on what it describes.

In addition to agreement, adjectives show different inflection patterns depending on definiteness. There are two main patterns often described as strong and weak inflection. The strong inflection is typically used with indefinite nouns, whereas the weak inflection is used when the noun is definite or when the adjective appears with certain determiners. Some adjectives can appear with a mixed or intermediate pattern in other contexts. The choice of pattern affects the endings the adjective takes across the four cases and both numbers, producing a systematic set of forms rather than a single invariant word.

Adjectives in Icelandic also have degree forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. Comparatives and superlatives are usually formed with suffixes or periphrastic constructions, and some adjectives have irregular or less productive forms. The system of lýsingarorðsbeygingar thus intertwines agreement, definiteness, and gradability, contributing to the precise and expressive nature of Icelandic syntax.