ræður

Ræður is the Icelandic term for speeches or orations, referring to formal spoken addresses delivered to an audience. It can denote both the act of delivering a speech and the speech itself, and it is used across various contexts in Icelandic language and public life.

Ræður appear in political settings, at official ceremonies, religious services, academic events, and cultural or public commemorations. In news and media, reports often mention or quote ræður given by politicians, leaders, or public figures. The concept also figures in everyday usage, where individuals may deliver a ræða to inform, persuade, or honor an occasion.

In form, a ræða typically seeks to engage listeners through a clear structure: an opening that frames the occasion, a central message or argument, and a concluding segment that reinforces the purpose or issues a call to action. Rhetorical devices such as repetition, parallelism, and appeals to credibility or emotion are common elements, though the tone can range from ceremonial to persuasive or inspirational depending on context.

Etymologically, the term is connected to the Icelandic verb ræða, which means to speak at length or address an audience. Ræður as a plural noun thus encapsulate the practice of formal spoken address within Icelandic culture and public life.