snúða

Snúa is a word most commonly encountered as a verb in the Icelandic language, where it generally means to turn or twist. In everyday use, snúa covers both literal turning—such as changing the direction of movement—and metaphorical turning, such as shifting focus, attitude, or approach. As with many verbs in Icelandic, snúa participates in standard tense, aspect, and mood formations and forms part of broader verb constructions that convey sequence, completion, or intention when paired with auxiliary elements.

Beyond its primary linguistic role, snúa can appear as a proper noun in some contexts, including as a surname or place name in languages with historical ties to the region. Such uses are comparatively rare and highly dependent on local naming conventions and transcription practices.

In linguistic study, snúa is of interest because it illustrates regular verb behavior within Icelandic grammar and its capacity to participate in idiomatic expressions related to movement and change. Its versatility makes it a common example in textbooks and lexicons when describing motion verbs and their semantic extensions in the language.

See also

- Icelandic language

- Verbs in Icelandic

- Direction and motion in language

Notes

- This article focuses on the Icelandic usage of snúa; other meanings or uses may exist in different languages or historical contexts.