Verðleikum

Verðleikum is an Icelandic noun form that functions primarily as the dative plural of verðleikar, meaning competitions or contests. In this usage, it appears in sentences that require the dative case, typically after prepositions such as í (in) or við (at/about), and is used when speaking about participation in events or about organizations hosting such events.

The related noun verðlaun refers to prizes or awards, while verðleikar refers to the contests or events themselves. The phrase í verðleikum literally means “in competitions” and is common in sports, arts, and academic contexts.

Etymology and semantics: The word group is connected to notions of value, price, and reward, reflecting the historical practice of awarding prizes for merit. This heritage helps explain why verðlaun (prizes) and verðleikar (competitions) are linked in meaning, even as they denote different aspects of an event—the awarding versus the contest itself.

Usage: In Icelandic, verðleikum appears in formal and informal discourse to describe participation in or organization of competitive events. It is used across media, education, sports, and cultural reporting to indicate plural events that involve competition rather than a single prize.

See also: verðlaun, verðleikar, keppni.