hefðbundnar

Hefðbundnar is the feminine plural form of the Icelandic adjective hefðbundinn/hefðbundin, meaning traditional, conventional, or customary. It is used to describe feminine plural nouns, as in hefðbundnar venjur (traditional customs) or hefðbundnar reglur (traditional rules).

Etymology and form: The adjective derives from hefð, tradition, and bundinn, bound. Icelandic adjectives inflect for gender, number, and case, so the form changes with the noun it modifies. Common related forms include hefðbundinn (masculine singular), hefðbundin (feminine singular or neuter singular), hefðbundnir (masculine plural), and hefðbundnar (feminine plural). The neuter plural is typically hefðbundin.

Usage: In Icelandic, hefðbundnar describes things tied to long-standing practices and norms. It appears in cultural, social, legal, and everyday contexts to refer to things seen as traditional. The term can convey neutral description or evaluative nuance, depending on context; it may suggest stability and continuity, or, in critique, resistance to change and modernization. Common collocations include hefðbundnar venjur, hefðbundnar reglur, and hefðbundnar fjölskylduaðgerðir (traditional family practices).

See also: The related forms a reader may encounter include hefðbundinn (masculine), hefðbundin (feminine singular or neuter singular), and hefðbundnir (masculine plural). The broader concept is tied to the Icelandic notion of tradition (hefð) and customary practice (venjur and reglur).