fjallið

Fjallið is the definite singular form of the Icelandic noun fjall, meaning “the mountain.” It is used when referring to a specific, identifiable mountain in Icelandic text, much as “the mountain” is used in English.

In Icelandic, the definite form is created by adding a suffix to the noun, so fjallið denotes a definite or known mountain. The base noun fjall refers to any mountain or mountainous feature and is common in everyday language, geography, and literature. The word appears in many place names and descriptions of Iceland’s varied landscapes.

Etymology traces fjall to Old Norse fjall, with cognates across North Germanic languages, such as Norwegian fjell and Swedish fjäll. The English word fell is related etymologically, though its usage differs in modern English.

Usage in language and mapping is widespread: fjallið can appear in descriptive prose, road signs, and maps to indicate a particular mountain, especially when the speaker assumes the listener knows which one is being discussed. It also forms part of compound names describing mountains or features within a mountainous area.

See also: fjall (the base noun), fjäll and fjell (cognates in Swedish/N Norwegian), fell (related English term), toponymy in Iceland.