auðugur

Auðugur is an Icelandic adjective meaning "wealthy" or "affluent." It is used to describe people, households, organizations, or places that have substantial financial resources. The term can denote material wealth but also general prosperity, and it appears in phrases such as auðugt samfélag (prosperous society) or auðugt land (wealthy country). In everyday speech it is somewhat more formal than synonyms like ríkur, and it is common in journalism, literature, and formal discourse.

Etymology and background: auðugur is derived from the noun auður, meaning wealth, together with a productive Icelandic adjectival suffix to form a word that means “wealthy.” The form has parallels in historical Icelandic and Old Norse.

Grammar and usage: Auðugur behaves as a regular Icelandic strong adjective, agreeing with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. Comparative and superlative forms are formed in the standard way for Icelandic adjectives.

Usage notes: In modern Icelandic, auðugur is widely understood and used to denote significant wealth. It can carry a positive connotation when describing prosperity, but the tone varies with context, as with any term describing wealth.

See also: ríkur; auðlegð; efnahagsmál.