sunnudagr

Sunnudagr is a historical and linguistic term for Sunday in Old Norse and in early Icelandic sources. In contemporary Icelandic, the day is usually referred to as sunnudagur, while sunnudagr appears in older texts and scholarly contexts as the archaic form of the name. The term denotes the day associated with the sun and is part of the common Germanic-origin naming of the days of the week.

Etymology and cognates: Sunnudagr derives from sunna, meaning sun, and dagr, meaning day. It is cognate with the English Sunnandaeg, Danish søndag, and Norwegian/Swedish søndag, all of which reflect the same sun-based root for the day of the week. The evolution of the form in Icelandic shows a parallel shift from the older -agr ending to the modern -agur in sunnudagur, with variations preserved in historical texts.

Usage and calendar context: In the ISO week date system, Sunday is the seventh day of the week, though some cultural traditions treat it as the first day. In Iceland, the workweek commonly begins on Monday, making Sunday the concluding or weekend day for many people. The term sunnudagr is primarily encountered in linguistic, historical, or literary discussions, whereas sunnudagur is the standard modern term.

Cultural and religious significance: In Christian-influenced contexts, Sunday is observed as a day of worship or rest. In Icelandic tradition, Sunday has historically been treated as a day of leisure and family time, with religious observance shaping its social role. The archaic form sunnudagr remains of interest mainly within philology and historical studies.