Ríkis

Ríkis is the genitive stem of the Icelandic noun ríki, which denotes a state, realm, or political entity. In modern usage, ríki can refer to a sovereign state, a kingdom in historical writing, or a broader concept of political rule. The definite form ríkið means “the state” or “the realm.” The stem ríki also appears as a productive prefix in Icelandic compounds to signal state affiliation, as in ríkisútvarpið (the state radio) or ríkisráðuneyti (the state ministry).

Etymology and cognates: The Icelandic ríki derives from Old Norse ríki and Proto-Germanic *rīkijaz, related to English realm and German Reich. Related words exist in other Scandinavian languages: Swedish rike, Danish riget, Norwegian rike. Historically, ríki referred to kingdoms, empires, or realms under a monarch; in contemporary Icelandic, it commonly denotes a modern nation-state. In law and governance, the prefix ríki- appears in official terms and institutions to signify state authorities.