Samræmi

Samræmi is a term used in Icelandic grammar to refer to grammatical agreement between related words and phrases. It encompasses agreement between nouns and modifiers such as adjectives and determiners, as well as between subjects and verbs, and between pronouns and their referents. In Icelandic, samræmi depends on gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and definiteness; the form of adjectives shifts to match the noun, and the definite article or demonstratives influence the adjective form. Verbs agree with their subjects in person and number.

Example (conceptual): a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. An adjective describing a noun must reflect the noun’s gender and number, so that each word in the phrase aligns with the noun.

In broader usage, samræmi denotes harmony or accord beyond grammar, such as musical harmony or social agreement, depending on context. The concept is central to inflection-rich languages and remains an area of study for those learning Icelandic, as patterns can vary by dialect and historical period.