slóðum

Slóðum is the dative plural form of the Icelandic noun slóð, which denotes a path, track, or trace. In Icelandic, slóð has plural forms such as slóðir in the nominative plural and slóðum in the dative plural. The exact form used depends on the grammatical function within a sentence.

Slóðum is used when a plural noun in the dative case is required. This occurs in constructions with certain verbs or prepositions that govern the dative, or in phrases indicating location, possession, or indirect objects where the dative plural is appropriate. The form is part of Icelandic noun declension, which marks number and case to show grammatical relationships.

Etymology and cognates: Slóð comes from Old Norse slóð, with related terms in other North Germanic languages. The core meaning has long included both a physical path and a figurative sense of a trace or mark left behind.

Usage notes: In modern Icelandic, slóð remains common in everyday language as the word for a path or track. The phrase slóðum appears mainly in contexts involving multiple paths or traces that are grammatically in the dative. As with other inflected forms, its exact usage is guided by the syntactic requirements of the sentence.

See also: slóð, slóðir, Icelandic grammar, article on Icelandic noun declension.