rauður

Rauður is the Icelandic word for red and functions as a color adjective used to describe red-colored objects, materials, or light. In Icelandic, color adjectives are inflected to agree with the nouns they modify for gender, number, and definiteness, so the exact form of rauður varies with the noun it accompanies. Beyond everyday use, rauður appears in phrases and compound terms related to color description, clothing, art, and design.

Etymology and cognates show a common Germanic origin. The form rauður derives from Old Norse rauðr, which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root *raud- or *raudaz. Cognate terms appear in other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish rød, Norwegian rø d, and Swedish röd, all referring to the color red. The Icelandic word has preserved the broad semantic field associated with the color, including associations with warmth, intensity, and vitality in literary and cultural contexts.

Usage in Icelandic extends from practical description to symbolic meaning. Red is employed to describe objects, signals, or elements with a reddish hue, and it also occurs in literature and art to convey emphasis, passion, or danger, as in descriptions of landscapes, garments, or heraldic symbols. As with other color terms, rauður participates in nuanced expression through grammar and style, reflecting Icelandic grammatical conventions and stylistic choices.

See also: Icelandic color terms, color symbolism in Icelandic literature, Old Norse language, Proto-Germanic roots.