fjölbreyttari

Fjölbreyttari is the comparative form of the Icelandic adjective fjölbreyttur, meaning more diverse or varied. It is used to describe that something has greater variety than something else.

Etymology and form: The word combines fjöl- (many) with breyttur (varied). The suffix -ari marks the comparative in this class of adjectives, so fjölbreyttur becomes fjölbreyttari when making a direct comparison.

Usage: Fjölbreyttari is typically used before a noun to indicate a higher degree of diversity, or after a linking verb in a predicative position. The common construction is X er fjölbreyttari en Y (X is more diverse than Y). It can describe people, places, collections, cultures, media, and other subjects where diversity is being measured.

Examples:

- Borgin er fjölbreyttari í menningu en dreifbýlið. (The city is more diverse in culture than the rural area.)

- Þetta listaverk er fjölbreyttari en fyrri útgáfa. (This work is more diverse/varied than the previous edition.)

Notes: As with other Icelandic comparatives, proper agreement with gender and number may be required when the adjective modifies different types of nouns. Fjölbreyttur is the positive form; fjölbreyttari is used for the comparative, and fjölbreyttastur would be the superlative in contexts where that form exists.

See also: fjölbreyttur, fjölbreytni, fjölbreytni.