svarandi

Svarandi is an Icelandic adjective and present participle with two related senses. In its core use, svarandi means pertaining to, related to, or relevant to a topic, matter, or text. It is commonly found in formal writing, academic discourse, and legal or journalistic contexts to flag information or items that bear on the subject under discussion. For example, svarandi atriði can be translated as “relevant matters” or “pertinent items.” In its participial sense, svarandi can also mean “answering” or “responding,” derived from the verb svara (to answer).

Etymology and development: svarandi originates from the verb svara, meaning “to answer.” The form with the -andi suffix yields a present participle that in modern Icelandic functions as both a participle and an adjective. Over time, its primary usage broadened to indicate relevance or relation, so the word is a standard part of the vocabulary used to connect statements to the matter at hand.

Usage notes: In Icelandic, svarandi generally modifies a noun and agrees with it in the usual ways adjectives do in the language. It helps to signal focus or importance by directing attention to material that is pertinent to the discussion. While svarandi is most common in formal contexts, speakers may encounter it in everyday writing when precision about relevance is desired. The term is distinct from, though sometimes overlapping with, words like viðkomandi or varandi, which can convey related notions in specific contexts.