mælanlegir

Mælanlegir is the masculine plural nominative form of the Icelandic adjective mælanlegur. The word means “measurable” or “quantifiable” and is used to describe properties, variables, or outcomes that can be assigned a precise numerical value or assessed by a defined method. In Icelandic grammar, mælanlegur declines like other adjectives, and mælanlegir is used for masculine plural nouns.

Etymology and meaning stem from the verb mæla, “to measure,” and the noun mæling, “measurement,” with the adjectival suffix -legur indicating capability or susceptibility. Thus mælanlegur conveys that something can be measured or quantified in a reliable way.

Usage of mælanlegir typically appears in scientific, statistical, and policy contexts, where clarity about data and definitions is important. Examples: “Mælanlegir þættir í rannsókninni eru aldur, staða og fjöldi tilvika,” meaning measurable factors in the study include age, position, and number of cases; “gögnin eru mælanleg,” meaning the data are measurable. The term is often paired with nouns such as gildi (value) or þættir (factors).

Related concepts include mæling (measurement) and mæld gildi (measured value). The opposite of mælanlegir is ómælanlegir or ómælanlegt, used for things that cannot be measured or quantified.

Overall, mælanlegir functions as a standard descriptor in Icelandic for attributes that are capable of being quantified, aligning with broader scientific and analytical vocabulary.