brá

Brúð is an Icelandic noun meaning "bride." It refers to a woman who is about to be married or who has recently married, in the context of a wedding. In modern Icelandic, brúð denotes the bride and is commonly found in compounds related to weddings, such as brúðkaup, the wedding ceremony.

Origin and cognates: The term derives from Old Norse brúð and is cognate with similar words in other North Germanic languages, such as Danish brud and Norwegian brud. The component is used in various historical and literary texts to denote a betrothed or married woman.

Usage and nuances: Brúð is primarily used to designate the bride rather than the wedding itself. The word appears in phrases describing the bride’s role or attire during the ceremony, as well as in traditional descriptions of wedding customs. The most prominent modern compound is brúðkaup, meaning the wedding or marriage ceremony.

Cultural context: In Icelandic weddings, as in many cultures, the bride is a central figure in the ceremony. Modern weddings typically involve a bride wearing a wedding dress and veil, with customs and mood varying by region and era. While contemporary practice often follows global trends, references to brúð appear in historical and literary contexts to denote the bride and aspects of the bridal tradition.

In summary, brúð is the standard Icelandic term for the bride, with its most common usage linked to weddings and bridal imagery in language and culture.