gerða

Gerða is a linguistic term found in Icelandic grammar. It is the genitive plural form of the noun gerð, which means form, type, or kind. In practical use, gerða occurs in phrases that describe variations or categories of things, such as scientific or descriptive contexts.

In contemporary Icelandic writing, the basic noun for “forms” or “types” is often rendered in the nominative plural as gerðir. The genitive plural gerða is used after numerals, adjectives, or possessive modifiers to indicate “of forms” or “of types.” For example, phrase fragments such as ýmsra gerða plantna can be translated as “various forms/types of plants.” This genitive plural form helps link a set of forms to a larger head noun.

The word gerða is related to gerð, and both derive from the same root that denotes arrangement, shape, or manner. Because Icelandic is a language with rich inflection, the same lexical item can appear in several grammatical cases and numbers, with gerða serving a specific function in dependent expressions.

Related terms include gerð (singular form, type, or shape) and gera (to do or make), which is etymologically connected but operates as a separate verb in modern usage.

See also: gerð, gera.