nokkrum

Nokkrum is a dative plural form of the Icelandic determiner nokkur, meaning “some” or “a few.” It is used when a plural noun is in the dative case and conveys an indefinite, non-specific quantity. The form arises from the set of inflected forms for nokkur, which has nominative plural variants such as nokkrir (masculine) and nokkrar (feminine), with nokkrum serving as the corresponding dative plural across gender when the noun is in the dative.

In modern Icelandic, nokkrum typically accompanies a noun in the dative after prepositions or verbs that govern the dative case. For example, in the sentence “Ég talaði við nokkrum vinum” (“I spoke with some friends”), nokkrum modifies vinum in the dative plural. Nokkrum can also appear in more formal or literary registers and is part of the broader set of forms built from nokkur.

Usage notes include that nokkrum is not used as a free-standing pronoun; it functions as a determiner that accompanies a noun. Its nominative counterparts are nokkrir (masc.), nokkrar (fem.), and nokkur (neut.), while the dative plural form nokkrum is shared across genders. The form is attested in contemporary Icelandic and has parallels in Old Norse, where similar dative plural patterns occur.

See also: nokkur, nokkrir, nokkrar.