hlustendur

Hlustendur is an Icelandic noun meaning "listeners" or "the audience." It refers to people who listen to a speech, broadcast, performance, or other auditory presentation. The term is used in both spoken and written Icelandic to denote the group addressed or attending to sound-based events.

Etymology and form: Hlustendur is formed from the verb hlusta, meaning "to listen," with the agent-noun suffix -endur. The singular form is hlustandi, referring to one listener; hlustendur is the plural form for multiple listeners. The word is gender-neutral and commonly used across formal and informal contexts.

Usage and context: Hlustendur is frequently used in radio, lectures, sermons, debates, and other situations where an audience exists. It is common to address a group as "góðir hlustendur" (dear listeners) in speeches or performances. The term emphasizes the act of listening and the audience’s role in receiving the spoken word.

See also: hlusta, hlustandi. Examples of usage include addressing an audience during a broadcast or referencing the audience in a written note or transcript.