svipaður

Svipaður is Icelandic an adjective meaning "similar" or "alike." It is used to describe a resemblance between two or more things, ideas, events, or circumstances, indicating likeness without implying identity. The word comes from Old Norse svipaðr, formed from svip- meaning appearance or look, with the adjectival suffix -aðr, and it belongs to adjectives that decline according to gender and number.

Grammatical notes: svipaður is declined like other Icelandic adjectives, agreeing with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. In comparative constructions, it is commonly combined with the conjunction og or with the phrase svipað og, meaning "similar to." The sense of svipaður is broader than “identical,” allowing for partial or approximate likeness.

Usage: The term is widely applicable across contexts, from everyday speech to academic writing, and it often appears in phrases comparing objects, situations, or ideas. It can be contrasted with stronger terms for resemblance, such as lík, sambærilegur, or eins og, depending on the degree of similarity intended. Its antonyms include ólíkur or ólíkt, indicating dissimilarity.

See also: lík, sambærilegur, eins og, ólíkur, samhengisviðburður.