fullorðins

Fullorðins is an Icelandic term meaning "adult" or "grown-up." It is typically used as an adjective to describe someone who has reached maturity. In everyday language, adults are most often referred to with the form fullorðinn, as in fullorðinn maður (an adult man). The form fullorðins appears in genitive constructions and fixed compounds such as fullorðinsaldur (the age of adulthood) and fullorðinslíf (adult life), where it functions as a modifier linked to possession or description.

Usage and nuance: The term is common in legal, educational, and sociological contexts, helping to distinguish adults from children or minors and signaling maturity, autonomy, and responsibility. It appears in discussions of social roles for adults, including work, education, and civic participation. While language frames the concept of adulthood, the specific rights and responsibilities of adults are determined by law.

Legal context: In Iceland, adulthood is generally understood to begin at 18, at which point a person is considered to have full legal capacity in most matters. The concept of fullorðins thus aligns with the age of majority and with social expectations of independence and accountability, though certain activities may have age restrictions separate from general adulthood.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from Icelandic roots meaning “fully grown.” Related terms include fullorðinn (the common standalone adjective for an adult) and phrases such as fullorðinsaldur (the age of adulthood).

See also: age of majority, adulthood, Icelandic language.