Nauðsynlegur

Nauðsynlegur is an Icelandic adjective meaning "necessary" or "essential." It is used to describe a masculine singular noun, indicating that something is required, indispensable, or of fundamental importance. The word forms according to standard Icelandic adjective agreement, changing with gender, number and case.

Etymology and related forms: The word is built from the noun nauðsyn, meaning necessity, with the typical Icelandic adjective-forming suffix -leg- and the masculine singular ending -ur. Cognates exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish nødvendig, Norwegian nødvendig, and Swedish nödvändig, all sharing a similar sense of necessity.

Grammar and usage: Nauðsynlegur, like other adjectives, agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number and case. The masculine singular nominative form is nauðsynlegur; feminine singular nominative is nauðsynleg; neuter singular nominative is nauðsynlegt. Plural forms are nauðsynlegir (masc), nauðsynlegar (fem), and nauðsynleg (neut) in indefinite usage; definite forms follow the standard Icelandic pattern for adjectives. It is commonly used in formal, technical, and everyday language to describe prerequisites, requirements or indispensable elements.

Examples:

- Það er nauðsynlegt að mæta. (It is necessary to attend.)

- Þessi hlutur er nauðsynlegur fyrir verkefnið. (This item is essential for the project.)

- Ný tæki eru nauðsynleg fyrir rannsóknina. (New equipment is necessary for the study.)

See also: nauðsyn (necessity) and þörf (need). The term is a common descriptor in contexts ranging from logistics and policy to education and science.