Nafnið

Nafnið is the definite form of the Icelandic noun nafn, which means "name." In Icelandic, the definite form is created by adding a suffix to the noun, so the indefinite form is nafn and the definite form is nafnið, translating to "the name." This form is used when referring to a specific name in context, as in sentences like "Hvað er nafnið á þessum stað?" meaning "What is the name of this place?" and "Ég man nafnið," meaning "I remember the name."

Etymology and relation to other forms: The word derives from Old Norse nafn, with the Icelandic definite suffix -ið attached to form nafnið. The construction of definite nouns by suffixes is a characteristic feature of Icelandic grammar. The concept of a named entity is common across languages, and cognates appear in related Scandinavian languages with equivalent meanings, such as Danish navn and Norwegian navn, though usage and inflection differ between languages.

Usage and context: Nafnið is commonly used in everyday Icelandic to indicate a specific name, a known identity, or a label. It can appear in phrases describing the name of a person, place, or thing, and it is a general term rather than a proper name itself. The word often appears in educational, communicative, and literary contexts when discussing naming, identity, or designation.

See also: nafn (name) and nafndryddur or nafngift? (Note: see standard Icelandic references for related terms and onomastics, the study of names, often called nafnfræði in Icelandic.)