Svá

Svá is an Icelandic word that functions as an adverb and, sometimes, as a conjunction, meaning “so” or “thus.” It is used to intensify adjectives or adverbs (for example, svá góður means “so good”) and to introduce conclusions or results in more formal or literary clauses. The form also appears in fixed phrases such as svá sem and svá mikið sem, which are used in comparative constructions resembling “as… as” or “so much as.” In contemporary everyday speech, svá is relatively rare and more commonly found in written, historical, or ceremonial Icelandic. In ordinary contexts, speakers often use svo or svona as alternatives.

Etymology and cognates: Svá is inherited from Proto-Germanic *swā-, a root meaning “so.” It has close counterparts in other Germanic languages and attested forms in Old Norse. The Icelandic form preserves the long vowel indicated by the acute accent on the a. Pronunciation is generally rendered as [ˈsváː] in phonetic guides, approximating a long, stressed “va.”

Usage notes: In modern Icelandic, svá retains a distinctly literary or formal flavor and typically appears in written language, translations, religious or historical texts, or carefully styled prose. For everyday speech, speakers tend to rely on svo or svona to convey the sense of “so” or “thus.” Despite its relative rarity in speech, svá remains a recognized part of Icelandic grammar and a feature of traditional phrasing.