föstir

Föstir is an Icelandic word that functions as the nominative plural form of fóstri. In standard Icelandic, fóstri is a masculine noun used to refer to a person who is part of a foster care arrangement, typically meaning a foster child; in some contexts the plural fostir can also appear when discussing multiple foster care placements or groups of foster children. The exact sense of fóstri can vary with grammatical context and surrounding words, so fostir is most often understood through its relation to that root.

The root fóst- is related to nurturing and care and appears in several related Icelandic terms connected to birth, care, and upbringing. A closely related noun is fóstur, which can denote fostering or the concept of a fetus or embryo, depending on the sentence. This semantic range mirrors how foster care concepts intertwine with birth and guardianship in many languages, though the Icelandic terms are distinct and governed by their own grammatical rules.

In practice, fostir is most likely to be encountered in formal, historical, or official texts dealing with foster care systems, social services, or family law. It is less common in everyday conversation, where speakers might use more explicit phrases to describe foster children, foster families, or foster care arrangements.

See also: fóstri, fóstur, foster care in Icelandic sources. Note that usage and nuance can vary by period and register, so consulting a contemporary Icelandic dictionary or legal texts can clarify contemporary meanings.