fjólbreyttur

Fjölbreyttur is an Icelandic adjective meaning diverse or multifarious. It is used to describe things that show a wide range of types, features, or elements—such as ecosystems, cultural life, ideas, or media content—where variety and heterogeneity are emphasised rather than uniformity.

Etymology: The word combines fjöl-, a prefix meaning many, with breyttur, from breyta meaning to change or vary. The compound conveys the sense of something made up of many different parts.

Usage: Fjölbreyttur is common in ecological, cultural, and social discourse. In ecology, it can describe a habitat or community with a broad array of species; in culture or media, it signals a mix of styles, genres, or voices; in policy or public discourse, it may advocate inclusion and pluralism. The term is often used descriptively and neutrally, though it can also carry evaluative nuance depending on context.

Notes: While Fjölbreyttur appears primarily as an ordinary adjective in Icelandic, it has occasionally been used as a stylistic label in media or academic writing to highlight variety. There is no widely recognized proper-noun entity by this exact name.

See also: diversity, variety, multiculturalism.