nafnorða

Nafnorð, or nouns, are the word class in Icelandic that denote persons, places, things, or abstract concepts. They are the main building blocks of noun phrases and serve as the subjects and objects of clauses. Nafnorð inflect for number and case, and they can appear with or without a definite article within a noun phrase.

In Icelandic, nafnorð are categorized by gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and by their declension pattern. They decline across four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) and in two numbers (singular and plural). This inflection affects not only the noun itself but also accompanying determiners and adjectives, which must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Definiteness is expressed through suffixes rather than a separate article. A definite noun is typically formed by attaching a definite suffix to the noun, with additional adjustments to adjectives in the noun phrase. Indefinite forms lack such a suffix, and Icelandic uses possessives or demonstratives to convey specificity when needed.

Nafnorð can be divided into common nouns (which denote general items) and proper nouns (names of specific persons, places, or institutions). Proper nouns generally do not take a separate article in Icelandic when used alone, though they can appear with determiners in some constructions. Adjectives and possessive pronouns agreeing with nafnorð reflect the noun’s gender, number, and case.

Etymology traces naf­norð to Old Norse, from a combination of words meaning “name” and “word.” The term remains central to Icelandic grammar in describing how language names and references entities. See also fornafna (pronouns) and lýsingarorð (adjectives).