snúið

Snúið is an Icelandic word with several grammatical uses, most notably as a participle and adjective derived from the verb snúa, meaning to turn. As an adjective, snúið describes something that has been turned or oriented in a particular way, such as objects or directions that have been rotated.

The form also appears in the language as the imperative plural of snúa, used on signs and in directions to tell groups of people to turn. This usage is common in road signage and instructional text, for example in phrases equivalent to “Turn to the right.”

Etymology and relation to other forms: snúið derives from the Old Norse verb snúa, and it shares a common root with related Germanic words for turning or rotating. In modern Icelandic, snúið can alternate with other participial or adjectival forms depending on gender, number, and case, as with many Icelandic adjectives and participles.

Usage notes: In everyday speech and writing, snúið appears in descriptive passages to indicate that something has undergone a change of orientation, as well as in procedural or navigational contexts where a turn or reorientation is required. It is closely related to the base verb snúa, and to related nouns such as snúningur (rotation) and synonyms describing turning or twisting.

See also: snúa, snúningur.