stöðugur

Stöðugur is an Icelandic adjective meaning stable, steady, or constant. It describes things that resist change, remain relatively unchanged over time, or are reliable and predictable. The term is used in everyday language as well as in scientific, economic, and technical contexts. Common collocations include stöðugt verðlag (stable prices) and stöðugt veður (steady weather). In general, stöðugur conveys a sense of continuity and dependability.

Etymology and grammar: Stöðugur is formed from the noun stöð, which conveys ideas of steadiness, base, or position, combined with a productive adjectival suffix. The word belongs to the standard class of Icelandic adjectives that inflect for gender, number, and definiteness to agree with the noun they modify. This means the form of stöðugur changes to match masculine, feminine, or neuter nouns and to reflect singular or plural usage, as well as definite or indefinite phrases.

Usage notes: Stöðugur is often contrasted with terms implying variability or volatility. It is used across domains such as economics (stability of prices), physics and engineering (steady state or constant conditions), and everyday description of people or situations characterized by reliability. For instance, "Verðlag er stöðugt" states that prices are stable, while "Hún hefur verið stöðugt starfandi" would describe someone who has maintained steady employment.

Related terms include stöðugleiki (stability or steadiness) and related derivatives used to discuss the quality or state of being stable. See also: stöðugleiki, stöðugæti.