staðinn

Staðinn is the definite form of the Icelandic noun staður, meaning "place" or "location." It refers to a specific place identified by context. In Icelandic grammar, the definite form marks a known or unique referent; thus staðinn translates to "the place." The root stað- denotes position or site, and the suffix conveys definiteness in masculine nouns. The word is widely used in everyday speech and literature to indicate a particular site, whether a city, a building, or a location within a broader discussion.

Etymology: Staður derives from Old Norse staðr, a cognate of Danish sted and Norwegian sted, all from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "place" or "site." The concept is common across Scandinavian languages, and related terms appear in place names and general discourse.

Usage and nuances: Staðinn can refer to a physical location or to a figurative or ceremonial "place" in cultural contexts. It also occurs in geographical expressions and in historical or literary descriptions when a specific site is meant. Distinguishing staðinn from the indefinite staður helps indicate whether one speaks of a known place or of any place in general.

See also: staður, staðsetning, staðarheiti.