Skjalinu

Skjalinu is the definite singular form of the Icelandic noun skjal, which means document, charter, or manuscript. In Icelandic, nouns are declined for case, number, and gender. Skjal is a neuter noun, and skjalinu represents its definite singular form used in the dative case or in prepositional phrases that require a definite dative noun.

In practice, skjalinu appears most often in phrases that indicate location or association with a specific document. For example, in sentences with prepositions like í (in), á (on), or með (with) when the meaning requires the dative form, and when referring to a specific document. The nominative and accusative definite singular form is skjalið, while skjalinu is used where the context calls for the dative singular definite form.

Examples include:

- Í skjalinu stendur að samningurinn muni ganga. (The document states that the contract will come into effect.)

- Ég las í skjalinu og fann upplýsingar um atkvæðagreiðsluna. (I read in the document and found information about the vote.)

Etymology and usage notes:

Skjal comes from Old Norse skjal, with a long history in Icelandic legal and administrative language. The term is common in archival, legal, and historical writing, where precise reference to a specific document is required. Skjalinu, as a form, reflects how Icelandic marks definiteness and case on nouns in relation to their syntactic position.

See also: Icelandic grammar, Noun declension, Definite article in Icelandic, Legal documents in Icelandic.