málinu

Málinu is a grammatical form used in Icelandic, not a separate word with a distinct meaning. It is the definite singular form of the noun mál, which covers meanings such as matter, issue, affair, and, in some uses, language. The term appears when a speaker refers to a specific matter in the context of a sentence.

In Icelandic, mál is a versatile noun with several senses. When definite and in the appropriate case, it can be rendered as málinu in contexts requiring the definite dative singular form. The form is common in formal or written Icelandic, especially in legal, administrative, or academic language, where precise reference to a particular subject is needed. Its usage often involves prepositions or verbs that govern the dative or a related syntactic position.

Usage notes: málinu signals that the speaker is talking about a specific matter already identified in the discourse. Because Icelandic grammar uses definite suffixes, the same noun will appear in other definite forms (for example, a different ending for other cases or numbers). Distinct from the indefinite mál, málinu helps anchor reference to a particular topic within a sentence or larger text. The word’s core meaning remains tied to subjects and issues under discussion, rather than to language itself as a separate concept.

Overall, málinu exemplifies how Icelandic uses case and definiteness to direct attention to a particular matter, illustrating the language’s reliance on grammatical form to convey precise reference.