samningu

Samningu is an Icelandic noun that denotes the act of gathering or assembling items, information, or people, as well as the resulting collection itself. The term is used across several domains to describe both the process of collecting and the finished corpus or set that results from it.

In statistics, research, and information management, samningu is commonly used to refer to data collection or data compilation. Typical collocations include samningu gagna (collection of data) and samningu efnis (collection of material). In archival and library contexts, the word can describe the process of assembling documents, artifacts, or other resources into a collection or archive. In social and cultural contexts, samningu can also refer to a gathering or assembly of people, such as a meeting or event, though other words like samkoma or fundur may be used depending on register.

Etymologically, samningu is related to the broader Icelandic concept of gathering or bringing things together, with related terms such as söfnun (the act of collecting) and safn (a collection or archive). The word is neutral and versatile, suitable for formal and academic prose as well as descriptive writing about both intellectual work and social occasions.

See also: data collection, archive, gathering, söfnun, safn.