lítils

Lítils is a word form used in the Icelandic language. It is the genitive singular form of the adjective lítil, meaning "small" or "little." It appears when the adjective modifies a noun in the genitive singular, a construction that is common in historical and literary Icelandic as well as in certain fixed phrases. The use of lítils is part of Icelandic adjective inflection, which shows agreement with the noun's gender, number, and definiteness, and it reflects older or more formal declension patterns.

In contemporary, everyday Icelandic, speakers may opt for other expressions to convey smallness or possessive relation, such as alternative syntactic constructions or different adjective forms, depending on context. The exact usage of lítils can vary by dialect and register, and it is most commonly encountered in older texts, poetry, and some fixed expressions found in dictionaries and grammar references.

The etymology of lítils traces back to the common Icelandic adjective lítil, which itself has roots in older Germanic languages, mirroring the general development of the word for "small" across Scandinavia. See also Icelandic grammar, adjectives, genitive case, and the distinction between strong and weak adjective inflection.