Tilfinningalegur

Tilfinningalegur is an Icelandic adjective meaning emotional or sentimental, describing something governed by feelings rather than by logic or reason. It can be used to characterize people, expressions, or media that emphasize affective responses.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from tilfinning, meaning feeling or emotion, combined with the adjectival suffix -alegur, which yields a property or relation. In effect, tilfinningalegur denotes a relation to feelings or emotions.

Usage and nuance: Tilfinningalegur is commonly used in literary, artistic, psychological, and everyday contexts. It can be neutral, simply noting an emotional quality, or carry a slightly evaluative sense, suggesting that emotion has a pronounced influence on behavior or interpretation. In criticism, it may imply melodrama or a tendency to prioritize sentiment over rational analysis, depending on tone and context. In describing people, it often refers to a temperament that is highly sensitive or emotionally reactive. In describing works, it highlights emphasis on mood, atmosphere, or affective appeal.

Examples of use (translated): a tilfinningalegur narrative emphasizes character feelings; an emotional or sentimental tone is described as tilfinningalegur; an individual may be called tilfinningalegur if they respond strongly to emotional cues.

See also: tilfinningar (feelings), emót (emotion). These related terms provide broader context for how feeling and emotion interact with language and description in Icelandic.