garðarnir

Garðarnir is the definite plural form of the Icelandic noun garður, meaning “the gardens” or “the yards.” It is used both as a common noun in everyday language and as a proper name for places. In ordinary speech, garðarnir refers to multiple gardens collectively, such as parks, courtyards, or garden areas, and can describe landscapes or grounds when speaking about more than one garden.

Etymology and form: The base garður means garden or yard. The definite plural garðarnir is formed with the standard Icelandic definite suffix and refers to “the gardens.” The term is part of standard Icelandic vocabulary and follows regular declension patterns.

Toponymy: In Iceland, it is common for districts, neighborhoods, or housing estates to be named after gardens or landscaped features. Consequently, Garðarnir appears as a place name in multiple municipalities, though the exact location varies by region and over time. When encountered in text, the context usually clarifies whether it refers to actual gardens in the plural sense or to a named locality.

In culture and language: The phrase is primarily descriptive and functional in usage. It can appear in descriptive prose to evoke garden spaces or in reference to a specific area known as Garðarnir, but it is not typically used as a literary title.

See also: garður; garðar; garðyrkja.