samsetninga

Samsetninga is a term used in Icelandic linguistics to describe the process by which smaller linguistic units are combined to form larger ones. In practice, the concept covers word formation through compounding as well as the broader idea of assembling units into larger expressions. The core idea is that many Icelandic words are created by joining two or more free morphemes to yield a new lexical item, with the head typically determining the grammatical category of the compound.

In compounding, two main patterns are common: noun–noun compounds and other combinations such as adjective–noun or verb–noun, with the head usually occupying the central position and the modifiers providing specification. The resulting compound can be written in several ways: closed (as one word), open (as two words), or hyphenated; different conventions apply across registers and periods, and new compounds may shift from open to closed over time.

The concept also intersects with naming and terminology in various fields, where many terms are created by combining existing words. Semantically, samsetningar often allow new concepts to be expressed succinctly, though some compounds exhibit idiomatic or opaque meanings that cannot be inferred from their parts. The term is closely related to general linguistic concepts of morphology and word formation and is part of the broader study of how languages generate vocabulary and expression. See also compounding, morphology, syntax, and the Icelandic language.