orðaflokkur

Orðaflokkur, in Icelandic linguistics, is the category that groups words by their grammatical function and inflectional behavior. It is the foundation for understanding how words work together in sentences and how they are formed and declined. Like the concept of parts of speech in other languages, orðaflokkur helps explain what a word does and how it changes.

Common orðaflokkar include nafnorð (nouns), sagnorð (verbs), lýsingarorð (adjectives), fornöfn (pronouns), atviksorð (adverbs), forsetningar (prepositions), samtengingar (conjunctions) and upphrópanir (interjections). Some grammars also treat numerals as a separate subcategory or as a type of adjective. In Icelandic, many words can function as more than one class depending on usage, though typical patterns apply.

Morphology and syntax distinguish orðaflokkur. Nafnorð inflect for gender, number and case and determine article use and adjective agreement; sagnorð conjugate for tense, mood, person and number; lýsingarorð agree with the noun they modify; fornöfn inflect for person and number; atviksorð usually do not decline; forsetningar govern case; conjunctions link clauses. Participles may behave as adjectives or verbs, reflecting fluid boundaries between classes.

Understanding orðaflokkur is essential for analyzing Icelandic texts, learning grammar, and using dictionaries, as class membership influences form and syntactic role in sentences.