húðar

Hæðar is the Icelandic plural form of the noun hæð, and it is used in two principal senses. First, in geography and everyday language, hæðar refers to heights or elevations, such as the height of a hill, mountain, or object. Second, in architectural and building contexts, hæðar is associated with levels or storeys, though the standard plural for floors in modern Icelandic is commonly hæðir. Thus hæðar can be encountered when speaking of multiple heights in a landscape or in fixed phrases where the sense is elevation rather than building levels.

Etymology and related forms

The word hæð originates in Old Norse and has cognates across the Germanic language family. In Icelandic, it is related to Danish højde, Norwegian høyde, Swedish höjd, and English height. The plural form hæðar preserves the same root meaning in contexts about elevation, while hæðir is the more routine plural when referring to floor levels.

Usage and examples

In geographical usage, one might say: Hæð fjallsins er 2.300 metra. This expresses the mountain’s height. When referring to building levels, speakers typically use hæðir, as in: Húsið hefur þrjár hæðir. However, hæðar may appear in certain fixed expressions or older texts where the sense remains tied to elevation rather than to architectural stories.

See also

Hæð (height), Hæðir (floors). The term is commonly encountered in maps, real estate, and descriptions of terrain.